Secretary of Aging, March 20, 2007 to January 15, 2015. Acting Secretary of Aging, February 7, 2007 to March 20, 2007. Member, Governor's Executive Council, 2007-15.
Co-Chair, Government Review Task Force for Public Safety, Prince George's County, 1982.
Member, House of Delegates (Democrat), representing District 26, Prince George's County, January 14, 1987 to January 9, 1991. Member, Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1987-91; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1987-91.
Member of Senate (Democrat), representing District 26, Prince George's County, January 9, 1991 to January 10, 2007. Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2001-07. Member, Budget and Taxation Committee, 1995-2007 (capital budget subcommittee, 1999-2007; chair, health & human services subcommittee, 2003-07, member, 2001-07; chair, health, education & human resources subcommittee, 1997-99; chair, public safety, transportation & environment subcommittee, 2000). Member, Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee, 1991-94; Joint Committee on Investigation, 1991-2007; Joint Legislative Work Group on Community College Financing, 1994-95; Special Joint Task Force on Transportation, 1995; Executive Nominations Committee, 1995-2000; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 1996, 2003; Spending Affordability Committee, 1997-2000; Joint Audit Committee, 1998-2007; Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, 1998-2007; Senate Committee on Redistricting, 2001-02; Legislative Policy Committee, 2001-03; Special Commission on Legislative Prayer, 2003; Joint Committee on the State's Emergency Medical Response System, 2003-05. Senate Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Protocol, 2003-07. Chair, Prince George's County Delegation, 2004-07 (vice-chair, 2001-03). Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (formerly Maryland Legislative Black Caucus), 1999-2007 (chair, international affairs committee, 2001-07; member, state budget committee, 2000, judicial nominating committee, 2000-07, redistricting committee, 2000-07, historically black colleges & universities committee, 2001-07); Women Legislators of Maryland, 1991-2007 (member at large, executive board, 2001-02; 2nd vice-president, 2002-03; president, 2003-04). Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (economic development, trade & cultural affairs committee).
Member, Advisory Committee for Educational Block Grants, 1992-94; Child Care Administration Advisory Council, 1992-95; Woodrow Wilson Bridge Improvement Study Coordination Committee, 1992-96; U.S. 301 South Corridor Transportation Study Task Force, 1993-96; Sound Barrier Review Panel, 1995-96; Council on Management and Productivity, 1995-97; Maryland School Performance Assessment Program Review Panel, 1997-; Task Force to Study the Governance, Coordination, and Funding of the University System of Maryland, 1998-99; State Interagency Coordinating Council [for Infants and Toddlers Program], 1998-2000; Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, 1999-2002; Task Force to Study College Readiness for Disadvantaged and Capable Students, 2000-01; Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation, 2000-03; Governor's Commission to Study Poverty in Maryland, 2001-03; Commission on Aging, 2002-07; Task Force on Child Welfare System Accountability, 2003-04; CommunityChoice Advisory Group, 2004-05; Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology, 2004-07; Auto Insurance Task Force to Study Rates in Urban Areas, 2005; Mental Health Transformation Working Group, 2005-07. Past member, National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Member, State Board of Elections, 2016-18; Interagency Commission on School Construction, 2018-. Vice-Chair, Responsible Legacy Task Force, Prince George’s County, 2020-21.
Born in Newberry, South Carolina, March 12, 1939. Hampton University, B.S. (social studies), 1960; Trinity College, M.A. (English & administration), 1970; Teacher and Administrator, District of Columbia public schools, 1965-95. Federal Liaison, Office of External Relations, Bowie State University, 1995-2007. Member, National Hook-up of Black Women; National Council of Negro Women (life member); National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Alpha Kappa Alpha; Public Access Cable Corp., 1980-85; Coalition on Black Affairs, 1980-90; Family Crisis Center, 1982-84. Member, Hillcrest-Marlow Planning Board, 1982-90. Member, National Political Congress of Black Women, 1984-90; Prince George's County Alliance of Black Elected Officials; National Association of Minority Political Women; Center for the Aging, Greater SE Community Hospital Foundation, 1985-87. President, Prince George's County Chapter, The Links, Inc., 2006-. Chair, Board of Directors, Women in Government, 2006-. Member, Oxon Hill Democrats; John Hanson Women's Democratic Club; Black Democratic Council. Member, Democratic State Central Committee, 1982-86. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2020. Maryland Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellow, Center for Dispute Resolution, University of Maryland School of Law, 2012. President, National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), 2013-14. Prince George's County Women's Hall of Fame, 1991. Edgemeade Honor for Outstanding Service to Maryland Youth and Families, 1999. Citizen of the Year, Prince George's County Board of Trade, 2000. Champion Against Oral Cancer, University of Maryland Medical System, 2001. Award of Excellence, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 2002. Honor for Building the Bridge to Educational Excellence in Maryland's Public Schools, State Board of Education, 2002. Humanitarian Award, University of Maryland Dental School, 2003. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2004. Legislator of the Year, Health Facilities Association of Maryland, 2006. Maryland Power Player, The Gazette of Politics and Business, 2010. Married; three children, six grandchildren.
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