Dr. Betsee Parker
Distinguished Alumni 2019
Dr. Betsee Parker : Class of 1969
Dr. Betsee Parker’s induction into the Southwest Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, was a resoundingly unanimous election by the Southwest Foundation Board of Directors. Her contributions to every community she embraces, coupled with a core conviction to act selflessly while raising the most underserved, compel the board to declare her as a model that we, and our entire Southwest Community, should strive to emulate.
The list of direct accomplishments and associated deliverables derived from Dr. Parker’s hard work and philanthropic efforts, is incredibly long and prestigious. As a Southwest student, born into modest means, and with a family that stoked her competitive and humble demeanor, Dr. Parker was always determined to make her surroundings better than how she found them and equal to all.
In addition to being, the 17th Baroness of Locheil, Scotland, Dr. Parker is a noted philanthropist, naturalist, conservationist, and an early woman ordained as an Episcopalian priest. Betsee is a decorated member of the United Nations, serving in multiple capacities, with an emphasis toward sustainable development and climate-change issues in Africa. Most recently, Dr. Parker was nominated to the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations to become a Goodwill Ambassador to the continent.
Concurrent with her U.N. involvement, Dr. Parker began to meet with heads of state for think tank discussions about collapsed health care systems and sustainable development issues in Africa. Among them was President Alpha Conde of Guinea, with whom she met during the Ebola crisis in Conakry, Guinea.
Dr. Parker’s team was asked to create a model to attack the health care crisis caused by Ebola. They were able to contain it in two-and-a-half years.
Following these successes, Dr. Parker was invited to be a speaker at the Vatican Pontifical Academy youth seminar, where global stakeholders bring ideas from all over the world to find solutions for the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. (She is the only Protestant woman ordained clergy currently working with the Cardinals).
In 2001 at the World Trade Center Disaster, Dr. Parker was a First Responder Leader for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City and received two Honorary Doctorates and Distinguished Service Awards for her service in 9/11.
Dr. Betsee Parker operates with an understanding that the entire world and all its citizens, are interwoven. While her impact reverberates across the globe, she acknowledges the power that Southwest High School, paired with the International Baccalaureate, and equitable student activities, carries toward our collective progress.
In 2018, Dr. Parker made a substantial financial gift to the Southwest Foundation with the requirement that it be equitably distributed with maximized impact. Half of the contribution will be allocated to women’s athletics while the remaining portion is provided to teacher development and innovation.
Betsee has always seen her calling in life to be a simple servant to the people, in whatever capacity that may require.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is a recognition designed to honor alumni of Southwest High School. Honorees are selected for their outstanding contributions to their community, alma mater, or country in their chosen career or community service.
In honoring Southwest High School alumni, we hope to inspire current students to be lifetime learners and community leaders beyond Southwest. This recognition will be bestowed upon alumni who have exhibited or continue to exhibit a diverse array of admirable qualities such as leadership, generosity, integrity, dedication, and creativity and who have shared of their talents via their occupation, special interest or contributions to Southwest.