Gloria Aparicio-Blackwell is the Founding Director of the Office of Community Engagement at the University of Maryland College Park under the Division of Administration.

With over 26 years of dedicated service to the University, is a dynamic force in fostering connections between the institution and its surrounding neighborhoods. Leading a team that utilizes advocacy, planning, service, partnerships, and storytelling, Gloria is a central figure for local governments, civic groups, faith-based organizations, and businesses. As a familiar face at city and town meetings, she represents the university and showcases community-centered student projects.

Beyond her role, Gloria serves on nonprofit boards such as the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, Nonprofit Prince George's, the Association of Community Colleges Trustees (ACCT) Latino Caucus, and the Upcounty Hub, emphasizing her commitment to community development. Her advocacy spans local and state levels, securing funding for impactful programs and community initiatives.

Gloria holds degrees in safety and fire science, industrial technology, and management. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, she recently received the University of Maryland President’s Medal, The Daily Record 2023 Maryland's Top 100 Women award, the University of Maryland President's Commission of Women Issues-Women's of Excellence Award, and the State of Maryland Census Champion designation.

In her leisure time, Gloria cherishes moments with family and friends. Her hobbies include running, walking, virtual spinning, and crocheting. Residing in Gaithersburg with her husband, Stephen Blackwell, Gloria Aparicio Blackwell exemplifies a leader dedicated to both professional excellence and community enrichment.

My teaching experience started with Baltimore City Public Schools; I taught 4th-6th grade for 10 years with Baltimore City Public Schools. My career transitioned to Anne Arundel County Public Schools as a Gifted/Talented Resource Specialist, Assistant Principal, and Principal for the last nine years. In 2023, the National and Maryland Association of Elementary Principals named me a National Distinguished Principal. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Johnson & Wales University and Master's Degrees from Towson University and The University of Maryland Baltimore County. I am a Doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park. 

My time spent on staff at five different diverse community elementary schools within HCPSS, has afforded me the opportunity to hold a number of positions and to work with a variety of professionals. The result has been an ever-increasing awareness of how various aspects of the school are intertwined. One benefit of having worked in both primary and intermediate grades as a classroom teacher was the insight gained about how student skills and abilities translate from one grade level to the next. As a reading specialist, I learned the importance of data analysis, and made use of both formative and summative information in order to better support students and to facilitate the articulation and scheduling processes. I have been able to call upon my varied experiences for planning with teachers, grade-level analysis of data, and providing staff development that meets teacher needs. My experience as a principal and an assistant principal has allowed me the opportunity to see the absolute need for on-going professional development in order to allow all staff members to have access to the techniques and methodology that will allow the effective and purposeful delivery of the curriculum. It is of utmost importance to remain an instructional leader that listens and leads staff in a supportive manner that keeps the demands of a rigorous curriculum intact and is through a lens of equity. 

I have been in education for seventeen years. I taught special education and middle school reading and English. I was an assistant principal for eight years and am now in the second year of my principalship at Clarksville Middle School in the Howard County Public Schools System. I am a student in the UMD Ed.D. program and am currently working on my capstone which focuses on how the teacher's mindset impacts African American/Black students sense of belonging and acheivement in the math classroom. I believe that school should be a place where all students are guarenteed a quality education, have a sense of belonging and safety, and are empowered to make a positive difference in the school community and world. 

Margret Bower has taught in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) since 2005. From 2019-2022, she served as the co-chair of the Elementary Council of Teaching and Learning (CTL), a partnership between MCPS and the Montgomery County Educational Association. During her tenure as co-chair, she participated in Continuity of Learning meetings and worked in partnership with key MCPS staff. She currently serves as a Third Grade Representative on the Elementary CTL. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Tulane University and her Master's Degree from Trinity University in DC, and holds graduate certificates from the University of Notre Dame in Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and George Washington University. 

Liz has lived, studied, and taught in the Baltimore/DC metro are since 2004. At the University of Maryland, she completed an MA in English, the Graduate Certificate in Critical Theory, and a PhD in English. Since 2017, she has been teaching English at Arundel High School. There, she prepares her students for college and career while working to advance equitable policy initiatives at the department, school, and district level. 

Robert A. Motley enters his eighteenth year as principal and his FIRST year at River Hill High School. He began his educational career as a French teacher twenty years ago at Atholton High School and has taught at both the middle and high school levels. His administrative career includes assistant principal at Howard and Centennial High Schools and principal at Patuxent Valley Middle, Glenwood Middle, and Atholton High Schools. His undergraduate degree was earned in French Language and Foreign Language Secondary Education at the University of Maryland-College Park. His Master's degree was earned at The George Washington University in Elementary and Secondary Educational Administration and Supervision. He is seeking his Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership at Notre Dame Maryland University. Additionally, Mr. Motley served as the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) President in 2021. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) and the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA). Additionally, Mr. Motley serves as the Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (HCASA) president. Most importantly, Mr. Motley strongly believes in fostering positive relationships with students, parents, and staff. He is an ardent proponent of elevating student voice and making school a place where all students are successful. 

I began a career in education after graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in Educational Foundations. I joined Teach for America: Massachusetts, where I taught third grade and received a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Development from Boston University. For the past nine years, I have taught fourth grade at a Title 1 school with a beautifully diverse student population. In recent years, I have facilitated school-wide trainings for staff members to enhance our understanding of educational equity and to operationalize equitable practices in our schoolhouse. I am a mother of two young children and coach high school lacrosse. 

Talitha Simeona-Stewart boasts a distinguished 25-year career in Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS), excelling as an educator, mentor, and consultant.With a background in psychology and a master's in elementary education from Hofstra University. Talitha's teaching journey spanned grades, including founding the F.O.R.W.A.R.D. Mentoring Group, fostering middle school students' self-esteem and academic growth. Complementing her academic journey, she pursued a certification in Adm/Sup with a specialization in Instructional Technology from Johns Hopkins University, which enhanced her dedication to advancing pedagogy.Within the Office of Professional Learning and Leadership, she mentors novice teachers,National Board certification candidates, and new district members. Talitha's roles as Gallup Strengths Coach and Engagement Coaching Certification holder empower educators. Certified by Jim Knight's Instructional Coaching Institute and participating in Shirzad Chamine's Positive Intelligence Coaching Grant program, she showcases a commitment to continuous professional growth. As a member of the advisory board for Reading Reimagination, Talitha participates in innovative research, engaging seasoned educators to support priority students' literacy. Noteworthy contributions to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, she contributed to the creation of a robust diversity, equity, and inclusion toolkit. Highlighting her dedication to progressive pedagogy. 

Dr. Sonya Riley is the Manager of School & Program Partnerships and UMD Middle College Teacher Preparation Pathway Program in the College of Education. As the liaison between UMD and local school districts, she serves to ensure equitable and meaningful preservice experiences in Teacher Education. Her research interest includes writing as a tool of personal transformation and educational initiatives targeting special needs, underserved, pre-service teachers, correctional, faith-based, Middle College and nontraditional students’ populations. 

Dr. Hunter is a Fellow at the Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement and the Project Manager for the Maryland PDS 2025 Project at the University of Maryland. She brings expertise in executing large scale policy and research agendas in the areas of education, workforce development, and the post-secondary transition of youth with disabilities.  Recently, Hunter was the Policy Manager for the Howard County Public School System where she served under the Deputy Superintendent as the policy liaison to the Board of Education and was responsible for overseeing the development and adoption process of system-wide policies.  Hunter also spent over eight years as a Senior Research Analyst with the U.S. Department of Labor where she managed a multi-million dollar portfolio of workforce development evaluations and co-led a cross-agency federal committee to establish a youth transition research agenda.  In 2007, Hunter was awarded a doctoral fellowship from the University of Maryland’s Institute for the Study of Exceptional Children and Youth.  Prior to that, Hunter was a Governor’s Fellow with the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services. She earned her Bachelors’, Masters’ and Doctorate degrees from the University of Maryland in Special Education. Hunter proudly began her career as a Special Education Transition Teacher/Coordinator.

Brandi Slaughter brings a wealth of public policy experience to her roles at the University of Maryland having served nonprofits and government in advocacy and lobbying roles. At the outset of her career, Brandi offered direct service to children and families—mainly those considered high-risk youth at several Columbus settlement houses. As an advocate for policy change, she has supported the development of state and federal policy which has impacted people with disabilities, the health of Ohioans, and children and families. She worked in the Ohio Senate as a legislative staffer and has lobbied on behalf of the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. While at Public Children Services of Ohio, she advocated for reforms to the foster care system. She has coordinated and mobilized advocates from across the country to pass a bi-cameral, bi-partisan federal bill, “Fostering Connections to Success Act” to support children in foster care. At Voices for Ohio’s Children, Slaughter led policy reform and system change to maximize the well-being of Ohio’s children, most notably work to expand Medicaid in Ohio and defense of the Affordable Care Act at the congressional level. Through teaching, Brandi has inspired graduate students to use there power and influence to advocate for reform. Her passion of bringing voice to marginalized communities is apparent in all of her work.

Slaughter is an ordained clergy with the Church of God in Christ and has served in various ministry positions. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morgan State University, and a Juris Doctor from Capital University with a concentration in Child and Family Law. 

Dr. Douglas W. Anthony is the Director of the Doctorate of Education in School System Leadership and the Senior Fellow at the Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement at the University of Maryland. Anthony has over 30 years in public education working with school districts, universities and state departments of education across the country as a consultant and executive level coach. Prior to joining the university faculty, Anthony served as consulting program officer with the Wallace Foundation and a consultant with The Leadership Academy and Policy Studies Associates. Anthony served as an Associate Superintendent for one of the largest school districts in the country and brings a wealth of experience developing, securing and leading grants on school system leadership and teacher development. Anthony served in several roles throughout his career including: teacher; school development program facilitator; assistant principal; principal; director of school leadership; director of human capital management; interim chief of human resources; and executive director for talent management. He is recognized for successfully creating leadership development programs and opportunities, developing a principal pipeline, and developing strategic, meaningful partnerships. Anthony has presented nationally on several leadership topics, spoken on Capitol Hill and has been featured in several articles, podcasts and research reports on leadership.