Supporters chanted Shirley Weber’s name Tuesday evening as she entered Golden Hall in downtown San Diego as the newly elected State Assemblywoman.

“It’s a great feeling to have the support of my community and to win this election,” Weber said. “It’s an awesome honor to be selected as the first African- American to be in Sacramento from San Diego.”

Weber attributed her inspiration to run for public office to education. She said her first plan of action will be to “(work) on behalf of California State Universities, making sure that we stop the bleeding and the cuts at our universities and as well as in our K-12.”

Weber is currently an Africana studies professor at San Diego State and was a pivotal advocate for the passing of Proposition 30. Since it passed, Weber predicts a brighter future for California’s educational system.

Weber emphasized that while education is her “passion,” she will also work to create new jobs.

“It’s really important that young people have a career and have an option and their families have good jobs,” she said.

Weber will make it one of her goals to increase the opportunities for college graduates to obtain a job after graduation.

“I’ve always worked very hard to create and establish good jobs in the community because I know the best social program we can ever have is really a job,” Weber said.