Board Member of:

• Pittsburgh Board of Education, Riverset Credit Union

Member of: 

• Democratic National Committee
• PA State Democratic Committee
• National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs
• Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Sylvia C. Wilson, has been a member of the ALCOSAN Board of Directors since February 20, 2000 as the joint (city and county) representative. Sylvia was the first woman and first African American to be elected as board chair on January 24, 2017 and served for three years (term limits for board chair).  She has served in various capacities on the board – chair, vice-chair, secretary, and is currently the board treasurer.

Wilson’s service to ALCOSAN is only one piece of her lifetime of community service.  An elementary education teacher in Pittsburgh for 26 years. She was a long-time assistant to the president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and also was a member of the union’s executive board from 1979 until 2010. She also was active in various roles on the union’s behalf at the state and national levels as well.

Wilson has been an elected member of the Pittsburgh School Board,  where she represents District 1 – the east end neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Her leadership roles with the board include first vice president and president. She is now serving in her third elected term.

She has served in many capacities with Allegheny County Labor Council; currently COPE Director.  Additionally,  Sylvia is an elected democratic committee woman and the 12th ward chair, a member of the Democratic National Committee, and the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee.

Wilson is a life member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, a member of the board of Small Seeds, and, very proud of her more than 20 years as a leader and volunteer with community youth baseball and football organizations.

She has been honored by numerous organizations for her work. Among these honors: Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Public Service from the Nabhi Christian Ministries, honored by the Coalition of Labor Union Woman, named Labor Woman of the Year by the Labor Council, was recognized for outstanding community service by the Pittsburgh Chapter of A, Philip Randolph Institute, a very great honor – a highlight – she received the Al Fondy award from the PA Federation of Teachers. 

She was educated in public schools in the North Hills and Pittsburgh Public school districts. She attended both Westinghouse and Peabody High Schools in Pittsburgh.  She graduated from Peabody, earned a BA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an MEd from the University of Pittsburgh.