Congresswoman Barbara Lee of the United States joined two other House Democrats in the contest for the Senate seat currently held by the retiring Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday in the race in the nation’s most populous state.

She married Clyde Oden Jr. in 2020 when she was 73 years old, which was three years ago. She has been married once previously and is currently 76 years old.

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Who is Clyde Oden?

Oden Jr. has led a healthcare organization, served as a pastor, and earned not one, not two, not three, but six degrees during the course of his lengthy, brilliant career.

He holds a doctorate in optometry from the University of California at Berkeley as well as a master’s degree in public health. He also holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in divinity from the Claremont School of Theology. The other two are, we assume, his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from before his optometry doctorate.

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Clyde Oden Jr. initially intended to work as a clinical practitioner. In his native San Diego, he aspired to become the city’s first Black optometrist. However,  following his graduation from Berkeley’s optometry school, he learned about public health and “the idea of serving the community rather than individual patients.”

Later on, he felt the need to connect his principles, faith, and career. This is how his path to becoming a pastor and divinity studies came along.

Oden Jr. has worked as an associate director for Alameda County Care Alliance since June 2021. It operates an advanced illness program that mostly treats adult African Americans.

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Previously, Oden Jr. worked as a senior consultant for The Manna Group and served as a mentor for the doctor of ministry program at Payne Theological Seminary. The UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Visual Science presented Reverend Dr. Clyde Oden Jr. with the Alumni Of The Year honor in July of last year. He graduated from the class of 1968.