Page 20 - Education Issue

Women of Distinction

Bettie Youngs, Ph.D., Ed.D.

A WOMAN WHO MAKES THINGS HAPPEN

By Judith A. Habert

Photos courtesy of Bettie Youngs
ego was an amazing ca- various publishers. Stellar Jenny Craig; former US
reer opportunity. In 1980 reviews followed, the likes President Bill Clinton; Rev.
Bettie was SDSU’s finalist of movie producer Joan Robert Schuller, Founder,
in a national search for a Marx, "Bettie has an ab- Crystal Cathedral; Rosalynn
Graduate School Professor solutely beautiful style of Carter, former First Lady of
in Administration, Manage- writing—passionate, poetic, Georgia and the US; Larry
ment, Leadership. As Bettie strong and intelligent. But King; Deepak Chopra; sing-
explains, “It was an exciting what elevates her to an elite er-songwriter Naomi Judd,
time and change was in the league of writers is that actress Jane Seymour—to
air. Finally, it was no longer through her writing she name a few. Oprah Winfrey
enough to have been a good has an indelible voice. You named “The House That
Photo By Martin Mann Photography
coach to be at the helm don't see that all that often. Love Built, The Story of
of a school or university. It's rare, it's special, and it's Millard and Linda Fuller
r. Bettie Youngs is truly However, more and more simply a captivating style as an “Oprah & Friends”
Da woman who makes women were vying for ad- for the reader." selection.
things happen. After spend- ministrative jobs in school
ing some time with Bettie, I leadership. So, we put new
can honestly say that I have credentialing standards
never been as impressed in place at the State level,
with a woman as I am by revamped the program, and
her. Not only will you be im- opened the Calexico and
pressed by her remarkable north county campuses—
accomplishments over the for starters.”
years, but she is probably She also started In-
one of the nicest and most ternational Leadership
unassuming women I have Conferences for Women.
ever met. I have known Bet- Through these conferences,
tie casually for many years, Bettie brought together
as our paths have often the thought-leaders of the
crossed, but it was an extra times. In the early years,
privilege of sitting down for it was Bella Abzug, F. Lee
this interview. Bailey, Gloria Steinem,
Born and raised in Iowa, Millard and Linda Fuller,
a Midwest girl, Bettie grew Betty Friedan, Governors,
up on a farm and went on Congressman, and many of Her list of reviewers are In addition to her books
to attend Drake University, San Diego’s power players. as dazzling as her reviews, for adults, she has authored
in Des Moines. She began These conferences were a and include a long list of the wildly popular 12-book
her career as an educator huge success, drawing from notables, among them, poet teen series with her daugh-
in the Des Moines public audiences around the coun- and playwright Maya An- ter, Jennifer. The series,
school system, and in her try. With this foundation, gelou; Stephen Covey; Ruth “Inspirational Short Stories
fourth year was awarded the she created the popular an- Stafford Peale; former Sec- and Encouragement on Life,
Distinguished Iowa-Teach- nual meetings in San Diego, retary of Defense William Love, Friendship and Tough
er-of-the-Year. She went on “101 Powerful Women and Perry; Mother Teresa (who Issues—has more than
to earn a Ph.D. in Psychol- a Few Good Men.” said, "Your words create 2 million books in print
ogy and later, an Ed.D. in Along the way, she happiness and soothe suffer- worldwide. She has even
Administration. wrote some twenty-plus ing"); Football Hall of Famer written two children's books
What brought this books (which are translat- Terry Bradshaw; Florence with her granddaughter
Midwest girl to San Di- ed into 28 languages) with Henderson, actress, singer; Kendahl.

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