Board of Directors
Charlene M. Dukes
Dr. Charlene M. Dukes is the eighth and first female president of Prince George’s Community College (PGCC). With more than 44,000 students at 6 locations, including the Largo Campus, PGCC offers 200 credit workforce development and continuing education programs. The college is home to the National Cyberwatch Center, an ATE site funded by the National Science Foundation, and was designated a 2014-2021 Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance at the two-year level. PGCC is also the location of the first middle college high school in Maryland, the Academy for Health Sciences, which is a partnership with the Prince George’s County Public Schools. The first graduating class received high school diplomas and associate degrees simultaneously on May 21, 2015.
Dr. Dukes holds membership in a variety of professional organizations, including the boards of directors of the American Association of Community Colleges; the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U); the Community College Advisory Panel of the College Board; the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHELP); the President’s Round Table; and the National Council on Black American Affairs. Dr. Dukes is a member of the board of directors of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, the Business Round Table, Doctors’ Community Hospital, the Harlem Renaissance Foundation, College Summit, and Hillside-Works Scholarship Connection. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with an English concentration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s and doctorate in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Catherine R. Gira
| Dr. Catherine R. Gira was born in Pennsylvania on October 30, 1932, and has resided in Maryland for over forty-one years.
Since 1991, Dr. Gira has been the president of Frostburg State University, retiring in 2015. When Dr. Gira assumed the presidency of Frostburg State University, she had already established a reputation as a masterful consensus builder, stemming from her exceptional ability to bring together diverse members of the community during her tenure as provost of the University of Baltimore. She was responsible for much of the academic growth, budgeting and strategic planning that helped the University of Baltimore thrive in the 1980’s. In a challenging economic environment, Dr. Gira has provided the leadership to expand the University’s role as a comprehensive institution for the Western Maryland region. Under her direction, Frostburg State University is now a vital cultural and intellectual center, as well as an important resource for residents of Maryland’s westernmost counties and the adjoining areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In addition to being a highly regarded university administrator, Dr. Gira is also an accomplished Shakespearean scholar and a respected teacher. She is the author of numerous publications including a two-volume bibliographical and critical study of Shakespeare’s Henry IV published by Garland Press. Her most recent awards and recognition’s include, Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Women Legislators of Maryland (1992), Maryland’s Top 100 Women by Warfields’ Business Record (1996), and inclusion in 1997 Maryland Women’s History Month Kit: Maryland Women Leading the Way. Dr. Gira has held leadership positions in numerous national and state professional associations. A representative listing includes: President of the American Association of University Administrators, Vice-Chair of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, Chair of the Maryland Humanities Council, and the President of the Maryland Association of Higher Education. She sits on several regional and national boards, including those of the Western Maryland Health System, the Rocky Gap Foundation, and the national Joint Military Intelligence College. In support of Dr. Gira’s nomination, a colleague wrote, “The path Dr. Gira has paved for herself, and other women, has not been easy. Like many women of her generation, she had followed the traditional careers of marriage and motherhood. Only later did she pursue her own education and, eventually, a career in higher education. Her success and rapid rise to top leadership positions are indicative of her intellectual acumen, her commitment to higher education, and her deeply held value of recognizing individual merit in others… For women faculty, staff, and students, her presence and quality of leadership say everyday that women belong in leadership positions.” |
Joanne T. Goldsmith
<p>Joanne T. Goldsmith</p><p>Joanne T. Goldsmith is past president of Har Sinai Congregation in Owings Mills, MD. She served on the Executive Committee of Women of Reform Judaism and as secretary of the Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland. She is a board member for Doctor’s Community Hospital in Lanham, Md., and a member of the Council on Legislative and Regulatory Policy of the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA). She is also a member of the Workforce Investment Board in Prince George’s County where she is chair of the Business Industry Committee. She was the first woman to chair the Maryland State Board of Education and the first woman to chair the National Association of State Boards of Education. In addition, she has served on the Boards of the Prince George’s Mental Health Association, hospice of Prince George’s County, and as a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland. Goldsmith was the Executive Director of the National Coalition for Public Education and Religious Liberty, Vice President for John Hanson Savings Bank and Director of Community Relations for Doctors Community Hospital. She is included in the books, “Women of Achievement in Maryland History” and “Women of Achievement in Prince George’s County History.”</p>
Sally T. Grant
Sally Grant was born in Maryland and for years has worked passionately in the field of women’s rights and civil liberties. She served as a role model for women and young girls by working in business and legal fields at a time when few women did.
In 1982, Governor Harry Hughes appointed Ms. Grant to the Maryland Commission for Women and he later elevated her to the Commission’s Chair – a position Ms. Grant held from 1984 to 1988. As Commission Chair, Ms. Grant encouraged other women to become actively involved in social issues by advocating for bills that established pay equity and flex time for State employees. She also had Commission meetings held throughout the state in order that women from across Maryland could participate and Commission members would become aware of geographically diverse issues. During her tenure, she led in the creation of the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.
Ms. Grant continuously worked within many other service-oriented organizations, including both the Maryland and Baltimore divisions of the League of Women Voters, where she served as Vice-President of each. She was a founder of the Women’s Alliance of Maryland, and served as Vice President of the National Council of Jewish Women and the Girl Scouts of Maryland. Ms. Grant also worked as President of the House of Ruth and was involved in the Maryland New Directions, the Maryland Volunteer Network and the HIAS of the Associated Jewish Charities. In 1993, Ms. Grant became involved with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland by joining the Board of Governors’ Executive Committee. For ten years, Ms. Grant served as President of the Board, and continues to work as the Maryland representative to the ACLU’s National Board, where she is involved with the Budget Committee and the Executive Committee.
Jill Moss Greenberg
Founder and Executive Director, Emerita
Maryland Women’s Heritage Center
<p><strong>Jill Moss Greenberg</strong><br><em>Founder and Executive Director, Emerita <br>Maryland Women’s Heritage Center</em></p><p>Jill Moss Greenberg has been the Executive Director of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center since its inception in 2004. She was named to the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in 1995.</p><p>Jill represented Prince George’s County on the Maryland State Commission for Women and led in the creation of the Prince George’s County Commission for Women. She founded the Maryland Women’s History Project and played a significant role in the passage of the Maryland Equal Rights Amendment, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Title IX. She served on the Maryland Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and worked to create the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday.</p><p>Jill co-founded the Maryland and Prince George’s County Women’s Political Caucuses, served on the original Finance Committee of the National Women’s Political Caucus, and was a “Founding Mother” of the Women’s Center and Referral Service.</p><p>Jill worked as the Race Equity Specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education, Director of Multicultural Education at the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, and was the first Executive Director at the Washington, D.C., national headquarters for the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME). For a number of years, Jill coordinated Homeless Education in Baltimore County.</p>
Linda Mahoney
Linda Mahoney
Linda Mahoney was a 3-term President of Maryland NOW, which in 2011-12 successfully organized and led a coalition to pass Maryland legislation to install a Harriet Tubman statue in the U.S. Capitol. Her work with the National Organization for Women culminates almost four decades of participation and support of political organizations in Maryland and Arizona. Her political activist background has been in program development, organizing and training volunteers, leadership development, coalition building and organizing election campaigns.
During her tenure as a statewide NOW officer and leader, Mahoney has repeatedly sought opportunities to showcase the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, reflecting her belief that young and old need toknow that it is individuals working in coalitions who successfully work for change. "Too many people sit around waiting for the Movement to happen, not realizing that it is individuals stepping up who improve people's lives. We are the movement."
Serving for several years on the Board of the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women [MLAW], a statewide coalition advocating for legislation on women and family issues, and the Steering Committee of the Women’s Legislative Briefing (Maryland), Mahoney also serves as political action liaison of the Prince George’s County Lesbian ZIP Code Group (an area-wide – MD, DC, VA - social group). In 2013, the Governor appointed her to the Harriet Tubman Statue Fundraising Commission.
Rachel Mygatt
<p><strong>Rachel Mygatt</strong></p><p>Rachel Mygatt is currently Administration and Development Manager at Maryland Nonprofits. Before joining Maryland Nonprofits in 2015, Rachel spent fifteen years as a stay-at-home-mom and active community volunteer, having served in leadership positions on several Baltimore nonprofit boards, including Hampden Family Center, Junior League of Baltimore and Baltimore Outreach Services. A social worker by training, Rachel earned a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University Graduate school of Social Service in 1994. She also holds a B.A. from Dickinson College.</p>
Jo-Ann Mayer Orlinsky
<p><strong>Jo-Ann Mayer Orlinsky</strong></p><p>Jo-Ann Mayer Orlinsky served in various positions during her 23 years with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, including Chief Administrator of the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) program and Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Labor. She is the current Chair of the MOSH Advisory Board.</p><p>Active politically, she has worked as a staff member of the Democratic National Committee and as Special Assistant to then U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings. A former Chair of the Maryland Commission for Women and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Rape and Sexual Offenses, she has also served on the National Boards of WEAL (Women’s Equity Action League) and the American Jewish Congress.</p><p>Jo-Ann is currently the Chair of Voices of Jewish Women, an email network of more than 150 progressive Jewish women, and is on the boards of the Greater Homewood Community Corporation, the Baltimore Jewish Council, and the Greater Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah.</p>
Mark L. Shaffer, Esq.
Counsel, Maryland Women's Heritage Center (ex officio)
<p><strong>Mark L. Shaffer, Esq.</strong><br><em>Counsel, Maryland Women's Heritage Center</em></p><p>Mark L. Shaffer is the firm principal at The Shaffer Law Firm where he successfully prosecutes and defends civil and criminal actions before trial and appellate courts in all District of Columbia metropolitan area jurisdictions, and other states around the country.</p><p>Mr. Shaffer's areas of expertise include government contracts, real property disputes, intellectual property, and employment law. He also teaches Trial Practice for the George Washington University Law School as an Adjunct Faculty Member. He previously has lectured on the rights and obligations of government contractors, protecting intellectual property and trade secret rights, minimizing liability exposure in real estate acquisition and development transactions, and legal ethics.</p><p> In addition to the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, Mark is involved with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the National Capital Area and Harmony Through Education. He also serves on the Town of Martins Additions Land Use Task Force.</p>
Susan Morris Shaffer
<p><strong>SUSAN MORRIS SHAFFER</strong><br><em>Director, Parental Information Resource Center, and<br>Deputy Director, Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium</em></p><p>Susan is nationally recognized for her work in the development of comprehensive technical assistance and training programs on education equity and multicultural gender-related issues.</p><p>She has authored or co-authored several publications related to gender equity, mathematics and science education, women's history, multicultural education, and disability. Susan has managed a number of grants from the U.S. Department of Education and has spent more than 30 years teaching and working in public schools. Shaffer holds an undergraduate degree in history and a graduate degree in education from the University of California, Berkeley.</p><p>r of The Great Blacks in Wax Board of Trustees and the Maryland Humanities Council, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. 40th Anniversary Advisory Council.</p>
Linda Shevitz
<p><strong>Linda Shevitz</strong><br><em>Program Chair, Emerita<br>Maryland Women's Heritage Center</em></p><p>Linda has recently retired as Senior Associate in Education Equity for the Maryland State Department of Education. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Maryland Women's History Project. Linda Coordinates the statewide multicultural education network, composed of representatives of every Maryland school system, and serves on the Board of COVE (Coalition Opposed to Violence and Extremism). Linda is the past national chair of the Association for Gender Equity Leadership in Education and works with the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education.</p>
Kate Campbell Stevenson
<p><strong>Kate Campbell Stevenson</strong></p><p>Kate Campbell Stevenson is a professional singer, actor, producer and a devoted catalyst for women’s issues, families and communities. In 1995 she combined her passion for the arts and activism to create a series of one-woman shows, Women: Back to the Future. www.katecampbellstevenson.com Through song, monologue, poetry and sign language Stevenson brings to life historical American women who have changed the world. Today her motivational programs inspire audiences of all ages throughout the United States and provide positive role models for a new generation of leaders.</p><p>A life long community activist, Stevenson served as Board Chair of Empowered Women International (www.ewint.org )from 2009-2013 and continues on their advisory board. She was recognized as “2012 and 2015 Maryland Top 100 Women” by The Daily Record for her “significant professional accomplishments, outstanding community leadership and inspirational mentoring.” She served 5 years as a National Delegate (MD) to Vision 2020 http://www.drexel.edu/vision2020/ --a national coalition of organizations and individuals united in the commitment to achieve women’s economic and social equality. It is funded and administered by the Institute for Women's Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine. Stevenson created Forging Frontiers for her Vision 2020 Maryland state and national initiative to encourage shared leadership and to motivate students to study and pursue STEM careers. She has been recognized as Maryland BPW (2014) Maryland AAUW (2018) Woman of Achievement. In Jan 2015 The Maryland State Education Association honored Kate with the MSEA Dorothy Lloyd Women’s Rights Award. The award honors persons, groups, or programs for their accomplishments in the field of girls’ and women’s rights. She also serves as board member for The Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance; and as Cultural Ambassador for the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center (http://mdwomensheritagecenter.publishpath.com.)</p><p>Stevenson resides in Silver Spring, MD with her husband John, who recently retired from The Voice of America serving 24 years as Division Director of World Wide English and Music. They originally met through music and continue to perform vocal concerts together to raise money for their favorite charities. They are the proud parents of Juliana, a social worker In Harlem and Owen, a professional singer-songwriter --who continue to build a better more compassionate world through their unique talents.</p>
Danita Terry
<p><strong>Danita Ferguson Terry</strong></p><p>Danita Ferguson Terry is a seasoned communications professional with experience in feature writing, production management, editing, public and media relations and special event planning. Adept at building coalitions and developing relationships; she is able to collaborate across hierarchical boundaries to set and meet goals.</p><p>From 2004 to present she has served as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland council located in Baltimore, MD. In this capacity she annually generates over $300,000 in in-kind media support for the Council and the 24,000 girls it serves in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. She also served as Chair of the Girl Scout Research Institute subcommittee of Girl Scouts of the USA’s MARCOMM committee from April 2009-April 2010.</p><p>Prior to working for Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Mrs. Terry provided public relations and communications consultant services for Walls Communications, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and the United Negro College Fund’s Sports Ball. She also served as the director of public relations for the Congress of National Black Churches, Inc. (2000-2002).</p><p>Mrs. Terry has written several magazine articles that include:<br><ul><br><li>“Innovative Israeli School Teaches Students to Reach Out,” Near East Report, 1993</li><br><li>“Going Away to School: Blacks and Boarding School,” Independent School, 1995</li><br><li>“The Dance of Meaning, The Meaning of Dance,” Independent School, 1997</li><br><li>“Technology Enters the Auditorium of Ideas,” Independent School, 1998</li><br><li>“Developing a Legacy of Leadership,” Focus on Women Magazine, 2009</li><br><li>“Volunteering Empowers Others…And Yourself,” Focus on Women Magazine, 2010</li><br><li>“Scouts Honor,” Her Mind magazine, 2013</li><br></ul><br>In addition she has been a guest on WNAV, WRNR, WBAL/98Rock and WCBM’s WomanTalk Live radio programs; a Maryland Business Roundtable Education Scholars Program speaker and speaker for the National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference opening session in Dallas, TX (1999).</p><p>Mrs. Terry received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications Arts from Howard University and her Master of Arts from Trinity College (Washington, DC).</p>