Betsy Bolding

Chair, Emeritus, SARSEF

Betsy Bolding is a native Arizonan, and a Tucsonan, essentially, since she enrolled in the University of Arizona eons ago.

She recently retired after 25 years at Tucson Electric Power (TEP), her third career. The first was teaching high school journalism and English for 15 years in TUSD, where she “opened” Palo Verde HS in 1963 and Santa Rita HS in 1969.  During this time, she also hosted a weekly television interview program, “Women’s Place/Every Place” which fed her fascination with politics, and her passion for women’s issues.  

 After successfully co-chairing his campaign in southern Arizona, Betsy served as Special Assistant to Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt and managed the Tucson Governor’s office for Babbitt’s two terms, 1979 – 1986 — her second career.  

 As manager of Consumer Affairs at Tucson Electric Power Company, Betsy coordinated the company’s K-8 education programs and facilitated community outreach, also managing TEP’s programs designed to assist vulnerable families and serving as liaison with local agencies serving at-risk customers.

Betsy is immediate past chair of SARSEF and remains a director there, as well as on the Boards of the Loft Cinema and WOSAC, which supports UA Gender and Women’s’ Studies.  She is also an active member of the League of Women Voters and the Black Women’s Task Force.  Further, Betsy is a past president of the Boards of the Community Food Bank, Arizona Theatre Company, the LOFT Cinema and Prescott College.  She also serves on the Arizona Public Media Community Advisory Board, and as such, can be heard occasionally fundraising on AZPM’s radio outlets.