Tenure

Member of the House of Delegates January 11, 1995 to January 8, 2003, representing District 17, Montgomery County. First elected to the Maryland Senate in 2014. Member of the Senate since 2015.

Current Assignments

2023 Vice Chair, Committee on Education, Energy and the Environment

2023 Chair, Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Education, Energy and the Environment

2023 Education Subcommittee of the Committee on Education, Energy and the Environment

2016 Joint Committee on Federal Relations

2019 Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee

2024 9-1-1 Specialist Recruitment and Retention Workgroup

2015 Women Legislators of Maryland

2015 Maryland Veterans Caucus

2019 Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, Associate Member

2024 Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus

Past Senate Service

Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee (Vice Chair 2020-2023), 2015-2023; Chair, Health Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2020-2023; Environment Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2019-2023; Education Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2015-2019; Health Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2015-2019; Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation, 2016-2024; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2016-2019; Joint Committee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation, 2016-2024; Joint Audit Committee, 2015-2019; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR), 2019.

Past House Service 1995-2003

Appropriations Committee, 1999-2003; Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1995-1999; Joint Audit Committee, 2001-2003; Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2001-2003.

Public Service

Open Data Council, 2023-; Maryland State Arts Council, 2023-, 1995-2003; Workgroup on English Language Learners in Public Schools, 2021-; Commission to Advance Next Generation 911 Across Maryland, 2018-2022; Governor's Workforce Development Board, 2018-2020; Commission on the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, 2016-2020; Maryland Public-Private Partnership Marketing Corporation, 2016-; One Maryland Blue Ribbon Commission, 2015-2016; Department of Transportation, Board of Advisors, 1997-1998; The Universities at Shady Grove, 2002-2007; Charter Review Commission, Montgomery County, 2003-2006; Alternative Community Service Commission, City of Rockville; Study Group on Organizational, Commemorative and Personalized License Plate Programs.

Memberships

Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, Maryland; Americans for Democratic Action, National Board, 1981-; Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, 2003-; Montgomery County Democratic Trustees, 2009-; Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, 2006-2008.

Awards

Government Leader of the Year, NG9-1-1 Institute, 2023; Friend of Municipal Government, Maryland Municipal League, 2019; Senator William H. Amoss Memorial Legislative Award, Maryland State Firemen's Association, 2019; National Leader Award, Next Generation 9-1-1 Institute, 2018; Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2017, 2003; Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2005; Woman of Achievement, Montgomery County Business and Professional Women, 2006; Leader of the Year, Greater Washington Board of Trade, 2001, 1998; Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland Municipal League, 1998, 1997.

Biographical Information

Born in Washington, D.C., July 2, 1961; Winston Churchill High School, Potomac, Maryland; Vassar College, A.B. Political Science 1983; The American University (Washington Semester Program), Fall1981; University of Maryland, College Park, graduate study, School of Public Affairs 1991-1995; Maryland House of Delegates (District 17, Montgomery County) 1995-2003; Vice President, Strategic Message Design Group, 1999-2000; Executive Director, Carl M. Freeman Foundation, 2003-2007; Professor, Montgomery College 2008 - 2009; Executive Director, Education Fund, Americans for Democratic Action, 2010-2012; Director of Community Engagement, Mid-Atlantic Hub, Bnai Brith Youth Organization 2012-2014.