Senator Yvonne S. Wilson (Democrat) was elected to the Senate in 2004, following 5 years experience in the Missouri House of Representatives, and holds a leadership position as Minority Caucus Secretary in the Senate. Sen. Wilson represents part of Jackson County.

A native Kansas Citian, Sen. Wilson completed undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate studies in higher education in the state of Missouri. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Lincoln University - Jefferson City in 1950; later earning a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; adding the educational specialist degree in education in 1976. Lincoln University bestowed Sen. Wilson with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree in 1991.

Prior to her legislative duties, Sen. Wilson spent 35 years with the Kansas City School District as a teacher, consultant, principal, and retried from the position of Director of Elementary Education in 1985. The first African-American to serve as President of the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals, Sen. Wilson later was a candidate for President-elect of the 25,000 member National Association of Elementary Principals.

Senator Wilson is a member of the Missouri Legislative Women's Caucus, Vice President Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation; an executive member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and a member of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislators NOBEL/Women. As a member of the NBCSL Education Committee, she co-authored the committee's nationally published "Closing The Achievement Gap: Improving Education Outcomes for African American Children."

Numerous community involvements for Sen. Wilson include membership on the Kansas City City of Fountains Foundation Board of Directors; Mid-America Regional Council Early Learning Board; the Kansas City Sister Cities Association Board of Directors; Sheraton Estates Neighborhood Association; Lincoln University Alumni Association; St. Louis Catholic Church; and has been the recipient of many local, state and national awards and recognitions.

Sen. Wilson has traveled extensively including trips to Russia, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, England, France, Tanzania and China.

Sen. Wilson currently resides in Kansas City with her husband of 53 years, Jim. They have three children: Berishia Wilson Chamberlain, Alycia Rodriguez Nichols and James E. (Jay) Wilson (deceased); six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.