Diana M. Bailey of Columbia, Md., has more than 30 years experience as an educator in Howard County and administrator with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Currently, she works in the Division of Career & College Readiness to provide career development, workforce development, and transitional skills focused on youth in the juvenile justice system, returning to their schools, communities and employment.

An advocate for underrepresented populations in educational programs and the workforce, Diana Bailey has facilitated creative partnerships to better address the needs of employment readiness and re-entry programs.

In addition to her work at MSDE, she has served on the Maryland Commission for Women, as an advisory board member of the Howard County Women’s Giving Circle, and a board member of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, among others.

She spearheaded the first “Girl Power” STEM Career Expo in Howard County, with assistance by the Howard County Women’s Giving Circle, where she was a member of the board, Maryland Space Business Roundtable, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, which has become one of the primary partners of this event.

The STEM Expo continues to help empower girls to believe that science-based careers are within their reach. With women having been underrepresented in STEM and other higher salary careers throughout the years, it is important that girls are encouraged to pursue their interests. Diana believes that “with access people get to fly!”

Taken from an article published in The Maryland Women’s Journals (October/November 2010)