Former UMSSW Board of Advisors member Michele Speaks Appointed to University System of Maryland Board of Regents.
Michele Speaks, a former member of the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) Board of Advisors, has been appointed to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.
The appointment, made by Gov. Wes Moore and confirmed by the Maryland State Senate, recognizes Speaks' distinguished career in community advocacy and her commitment to addressing systemic barriers.
Speaks' professional background includes significant work in connecting underserved communities with essential resources, focusing on fostering equity and opportunity. She serves as co-chair of The Warnock Family Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Baltimore's thought leaders for positive change. From 2011 to 2017, she was Principal of Apples and Oranges Fresh Market in Baltimore City, an initiative that addressed food disparities by providing fresh produce and health programs.
Her prior roles include serving as Chief of Development and Communication for the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, Director of Institutional Advancement for the Irvine Nature Center, Manager of Major Gifts and Planned Giving for the NAACP, and Director of Annual Giving for the University of Baltimore, where she also earned her undergraduate degree.
University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay A. Perman welcomed Speaks and her new fellow Regents at their June 13 meeting. “I look forward to our work together,” Perman said, welcoming Speaks and new Regents Dana Stebbins, Sherri Nadine Blount and Rayne Rivera-Forbes.