Shirley McKellar, PhD., (D-TX-1)
Shirley McKellar, PhD., Congressional Candidate Texas District 1
Campaign links: Shirley Jonetta McKellar (D-TX-1) 
Biography of Shirley McKellar, PhD.
Biography from Elect McKellar for U.S. Congress 2012
Dr. McKellar, United States Army Nurses Corp (Ret)…
In December 2002, she was called to active duty, serving 18 months overseas in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” and “Enduring Freedom”. During that time in service to her country, she received two war ribbons & two medals, the Meritorious Service Medal (highest non-battle award) and Army Accommodation Medal. Among other accomplishments during her entire 11 active years in the military; received five other medals and served as Officer-In-Charge in many areas; a favorite was Combat Life Saving School and established the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center in the European Theater and served as Chief Nurse. Shirley McKellar, when only 18, began volunteering behind the scenes in the campaigns of other candidates for office. And now, as an accomplished and highly educated business woman, nurse clinician, motivational speaker, wife of a retired educator, mother of two successful grown children, war veteran and human right activist, she is the “One” Texas and our country needs NOW. Shirley McKellar, a dedicated and proven leader with experience and integrity, is Ready To Serve.
Over 40 year’s professional nursing, military, education…
Shirley McKellar, PhD., grew up around the family owned and operated Mitchell Erwin Roses of East Texas, which, at that time, provided a large portion of the roses for the annual Rose Festival of Tyler. This combination of environment and success established a great regard for hard work with Shirley and prepared her for a life of accomplishment and service. Firmly believing in preparing herself educationally, she has obtained numerous degrees (with honors). She is currently pursuing another degree in Political Science.
Accomplishments/Services
A professional who has been inspired by many passions, Dr. McKellar has pioneered more than one grassroots initiative. She established a non-profit organization to aid abused women and children, provided mediation services and managed the African American Breast Cancer Outreach Program (ABCO). She initiated a children’s evening care program that was open until midnight. As she states, “We live in a 24/7 society and our children must be cared for at all times.” She is a national and international motivational speaker on breast cancer and other women’s issues; having stood and addressed the 4th European Congress on, “Healthcare Disparities” in Berlin.
Doctor Shirley JoNetta Erwin McKellar, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Shirley J. McKellar, Retired American Soldier, United States Army, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of McKellar-McKellar-Ntaka and Associates, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. In 1983, McKellar joined in partnership with two other nurse clinicians and started a company that later developed into a corporation with several subsidiaries. It was named MacSands and Associates, Inc., dba Relief Health Care Services, Kids Creative Learning Academy, Rose City Mediation Services, Grant Navigators, Nursing Research Service and many other initiatives to aid in the growth and development of her community. MacSands, Inc. later became McKellar-McKellar-Ntaka and Associates, Inc.
Under McKellar’s leadership the grass-roots non-profit 501c (3) organization has launched many successful projects in East Texas. The corporation has held many state contracts from working with sexually and physically abused women/children in twelve (12) counties in Texas, a Legal Mediation Consultant, to serving as Site Manager for the African American Breast Cancer Outreach Project (AABCO). The ABCO Project was designed by the University of Texas, School of Nursing at Austin and Dr. McKellar was based at the Tyler, Texas location. Dr. McKellar is a professional who has many passions however you will hear her speaking almost daily on health, Christian wellness and the education of African-American women and children. One of her favorite mottos is, “Reach One-Teach One” for children. And another one of her favorite is, “Until we all have succeeded-none of us have succeeded.” This is in regards to women being treated for breast cancer.
In 1991, Dr. McKellar and her friend, Mrs. Sally Sanders, RN, MSN started an early childhood education school, ages 6 Weeks-Kindergarten. This included an after school mentor-mentee program. The two (2) clinicians realized that education had to start earlier than the first grade, also that everyone could not pick their children up from their learning centers by 6:00 P.M. Therefore, their school started evening care and remained open until 12:00 midnight. “Our society is governed 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Our children must be cared for at all times,” states McKellar.
A veteran of both corporate and federal institutions, Registered Nurse Clinician McKellar, is also Major McKellar (Retired) from the United States Army Nurses Core. Her ranking (MOS) was a 66 H-8A, for the 94th Combat Support Hospital, Seagoville, Texas. Dr. McKellar also served as the Officer-in-Charge of Combat Life Saving School, Equal employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Consideration of Others and the Sexual Harassment Team Officer for her unit. Great military accomplishments have been made within the short period of time the she has served her country. Dr. McKellar was called to active duty December 2002 to prepare medical records for soldiers preparing for deployment. Her awards and honors are many and reflect her leadership expertise and entrepreneurial business advancement. However some of her most noted ones include being a national and international motivational speaker on breast cancer and women’s issues. Dr. McKellar was deployed overseas to the war for 18 months in support of, “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” and “Operation Enduring Freedom,” where she received two war ribbons and two war medals for her work. The medals were a Meritorious Service(3.) Medal (MSN), the highest non-battle award and Army Accommodation Medals.
In addition to these awards during her eleven active years in the military she has received five (5) other Army Commendation Medals. Due to her expertise in the field of breast cancer, while she was deployed Dr. McKellar was selected as one of 16 clinicians from around the world to travel to Berlin and establish, “The Best Clinical Practices for Treating Breast Cancer” around the globe. To her credit and skill in detecting lumps she was selected by the Baylor University Health Care System to be the, “International Breast Cancer Advocate” for Europe, representing America. Of the (16) clinicians selected, five were picked to speak before the 4th European Congress and Dr. McKellar spoke on “Healthcare Disparities Among African-American Women.” The conference was aired to over 250 Comprehensive Breast Cancer Centers in the world and this included The University of Texas @ M.D. Anderson, Houston. Dr. McKellar has many accommodations, other awards and honors but states that she was humbled by this grand opportunity.
Major McKellar along with assistance from COL Rose Hazlett, LTC Joice Carter and others, established the First Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center in the European Theater. She served as Chief Nurse of the Center. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2004, McKellar developed and implemented a fundraiser among the troops on Post. She held a Fun Run, a High Tea & Fashion Gala using the troops as models, where she raised $5000 for the International Komen Foundation. As if that was not a major task, Dr. McKellar recognized the need for more Critical Care Clinicians, so she developed and implemented a Certified Critical Care Course while deployed and save the military over $20,000 by teaching the course in-house. More (4.) awards for Dr. McKellar are “Outstanding Professional Female of America” (given by the National Black Mayor’s Association), The Black Chamber of Commerce Award, The Black Business Women’s Association Award, and Texas 2000 Most Notable Women, Texas Transitional Award of Excellence, the Minnie Hudnall Foundation Scholarship Award, serving as President of the Emmett J. Scott High All-School Reunion Alumni 2000-2003, Tyler, Texas, which was an honor and most prestigious; and the Texas Outstanding Distinguished Business Woman of The Year Award, just to name a few.
Dr. McKellar received her undergraduate degree from Texas Women’s University in Nursing and Chemistry; her Master’s Degrees from the University of Texas with honors in Community Health Nursing, Criminal Justice and Organizational Speech Communications, Community Minority Business Advancement and a Doctorate Degree in Nursing Management from the Columbus College of Public Health & Administration with a 3.74 GPA. Her dissertation was written at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler, Texas, studying and defending spirituality among breast cancer patients.
She is a member of many civic, social and professional organizations. Some of her favorite is the Gamma Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the American Biographical Institute Research Association, and American Business Women’s Association, National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, National Black Nurses Association, The Intercultural Cancer Association, The National Clinical Trials Advisory Group, and the National Sisters Network, Inc., (which is the only national breast cancer awareness organization for black woman), the founder and (5.) survivor is Ms. Karen Jackson. Since being on injured reserve from the military and now retired, Dr. McKellar host a weekly Radio Talk Show entitled, “A View From The Top,” covering the latest topics locally and nationally.
Dr. McKellar is a member of the Tyler Church of Christ, Tyler, Texas, and Minister is Brother James Wilson. She is married to Brother Danny C. McKellar, Retired Educator of the Dallas Independent School District. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Dr. Danna Ntaka, Post Doctorate Research Fellow at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey; one Son D. Carl McKellar II., General Motors Division & Owner of McKellar Trucking & Freight Company, a Criminal Justice Major, Dallas, Texas; Son-in-Law, Dikela, Daughter-in-Law, Nadya, and five grandchildren, Tulani, Tovio, Themba, Mizani, and Makali.
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