Tenure

First elected to the Senate in 2010. Member of the Senate since 2011. Elected President of the Maryland Senate, January 8, 2020.

Current Assignments

2020 Senate President

2020 Chair, Legislative Policy Committee (Member, 2019)

2019 Spending Affordability

2020 Rules Committee

2017 Executive Nominations Committee

Past Senate Service

Budget and Taxation Committee (Vice Chair, 2019), 2015-2020; Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee, Budget & Taxation Committee, 2015-2020; Chair, Senate Executive Nominations Committee, 2017-2018; Pensions Subcommittee, Budget & Taxation Committee, 2015-2019; Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Biotechnology, 2015-2020; Joint Committee on Pensions, 2015-2020; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2011-2020; Chair, Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup, 2021-2022; Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission, 2021-2022; Senate Chair, Joint Covid-19 Response Workgroup, 2020; Marijuana Legalization Work Group (Chair, ), 2019; Assessment and Funding of School Facilities Workgroup, 2019-2021; Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-2014; Labor, Licensing, and Regulation Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2011-2014; Environment Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2011-2014; Education Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2011-2014; Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2011-2014; Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law, 2011-2012; Joint Committee on Welfare Reform, 2011-2014; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government, 2011-2014.

Public Service

Hall of Records Commission, 2021-; Education of the States Steering Committee, 2021-; State House Trust, 2020-; Maryland Tourism Development Board, 2019-; Educational Development Specifications Workgroup, 2018-2019; Task Force to Study Tax Sales in Maryland, 2017-2018; Workgroup to Study the Implementation of Universal Access to Prekindergarten for 4-year olds, 2017-2018; Maryland Task Force to Study an Adult High School Concept, 2016-2017; Council on Open Data, 2014-2021; Chair, Local (Video Lottery) Development Council, 2014-; Task Force to Study the Impact of Ocean Acidification on State Waters, 2014-2015; Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, 2011-2015; Early Childhood Development Advisory Council, 2011-.

Memberships

Patterson Park Neighborhood Association, 2015-; Downtown Baltimnore Family Alliance, Board of Directors, 2013-2016; Baltimore EdTech Advisory Board, 2013; Education Equality Project, 2010-; Envision Baltimore, Ambassador, 2010; Canton Community Association, 2006-2015.

Awards

Power 100 List, The Maryland Daily Record, 2023, 2022, 2021; Maryland League of Conservation Voters Legislator of the Year, 2022; Cunningham Award for Public Service and Academic Achievement, University of Maryland School of Law, 2010; Distinguished Presidential Citation, Baltimore City Council President, 2006.

Biographical Information

Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, April 15, 1983; Davidson College, B. A., political science and economics, 2005; The Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, M. A. T, 2007; University of Maryland School of Law, J. D., (magna cum laude), 2010; Teach for America, Baltimore City Schools, 2005–2007; Attorney; Director, Reform Initiatives, School of Education, The Johns Hopkins University, 2012-2020; Program Director, America Achieves, 2020-2024; General Counsel and Senior Vice President, CI Renewables, 2024-; Member, St. Casimir Catholic Church, Baltimore; Married; two children.