Tenure

First elected to the Maryland Senate in 2018. Member of the Senate since January 9, 2019. Member of the House of Delegates 2011-2019.

Current Assignments

2023 Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment

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

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

2023 Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR)

2020 Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Areas

2023 Joint Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) Workgroup

2019 Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus

2010 Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (Financial Secretary, 2023-2024)

2019 Women Legislators of Maryland

Past Senate Service

Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2020-2023; Education Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2020-2023; Alcohol Subcommittee of Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2021-2023; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness, 2019-2023; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2019-2023; Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, 2022; Judicial Proceedings Commmittee, 2019-2020; Chair, Task Force to Study Crime Classification and Penalties, 2019-2021; Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup, 2021-2022.

Past House Service

Deputy Majority Leader, 2015-2017; Ways and Means Committee, 2015-2019; Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, 2015-2019; Election Law Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, 2017-2019; Finance Resources Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, 2015-2017; Revenues Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, 2015-2017; Appropriations Committee, 2011-2015; Oversight Committee on Personnel of the Appropriations Committee, 2011-2015; Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2011-2013; House Chair, Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness, 2015-2019; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR), 2017-2019; Joint Committee on Children Youth and Families, 2015-2019; Tax Credit Evaluation Committee, 2015-2019.

Public Service

Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2024-; Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission, 2024-; Workgroup on Social Worker Requirements for Licensure, 2023-; Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Task Force, 2023-; Workgroup on Adaptive Reuse of Vacant Commercial Spaces, 2021-2022; Maryland Commission on Health Equity, 2021-; 2020 Maryland Complete Count Committee, 2019-; Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board, 2019-; Advisory Council to the Children's Cabinet, 2019-; Reform on Tap Task Force, 2017; Maryland School for the Blind, Board of Directors, 2016-2019; Commission on Sustainability, Baltimore City, 2008-.

Memberships

Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, 2023-; Legislative Transit Caucus, 2019-.

Biographical Information

Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1962; Philadelphia High School for Girls; Antioch College, B. A. , Human Services, 1989; The Johns Hopkins University, M.A. 1992, Ph.D, Sociology, 1997; Assistant Professor, Lehigh University, 1995-2000; Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 2000; Interim Director, Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators, 2005; Adjunct Faculty, Maryland Instiute College of Art, 2006-2008; Assistant Director, Urban Resources Initiative, 2006-2008; Associate Director, Great Parks, Clean Streams and Green Communities, Parks and People Foundation, 2008-; Maryland Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellow, Center for Dispute Resolution, University of Maryland School of Law, 2013; Elder, First & Franklin Street Presbyterian Church, 2002-2005.