Beclee Wilson is a longtime supporter of the School of Social Welfare, having committed one of the largest planned gifts in the school’s history to promote social justice in the school and at UC Berkeley. Both Beclee and her husband John Wilson have fought for social and racial justice throughout their long careers and deep involvement at UC Berkeley.
Beclee has long been involved in social justice issues regarding women’s rights. She served eleven years as a National Vice President for Church Women United, was a member of a special women’s delegation to Eastern Europe, was sent to the Netherlands for the United Nations Year of Women to teach women communications and leadership skills and has served on the Board of the Center for Women and Religion at GTU.
Her doctoral dissertation at the University of Minnesota explored the founding of the War on Poverty. Beclee subsequently earned an MSW in public policy and aging at the School of Social Welfare while simultaneously pursuing postdoctoral training. Upon completion of her program she worked for the Area Agency on Aging in Contra Costa County and then the American Society on Aging headquartered in San Francisco.