The graduate of two UMB schools — the School of Social Work and Maryland Carey Law — is a leader with more than two decades of experience advancing access, equity, and opportunity for Marylanders.
Tisha Edwards, MSW ’00, JD ’01, a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, has been appointed to the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents.
Edwards joined the USM board in December 2025. She is a renowned leader with more than two decades of experience advancing access, equity, and opportunity for Marylanders through leadership roles in government, education, and the nonprofit sector.
In April 2025, she was named president and CEO of the Maryland Bankers Association, where she advocates for the banking industry while strengthening connections between financial institutions and communities across the state.
Previously, Edwards served as secretary of appointments for Gov. Wes Moore, overseeing the process of filling state board and commission positions. She also served as chief of staff during Moore’s gubernatorial campaign.
Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles across Baltimore’s public and nonprofit sectors, including interim CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, chief of staff to the mayor of Baltimore, president of BridgeEdU, and founding executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success.
Edwards also is a past member of the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc., Board of Trustees and currently serves on the UMSSW Board of Advisors. In 2023, Edwards was recognized by Maryland Carey Law’s Black Law Students Association as its Alumni of the Year.
Edwards joins fellow UMB alumnus William T. “Bill” Wood, JD ’66, on the USM board.
Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD, welcomed Edwards to the board and highlighted the perspective she brings to the system’s governing body.
“We’re so fortunate to welcome Tisha Edwards to the USM Board of Regents. She brings to the board not only a clear vision of what academic and operational excellence looks like, but a comparably clear vision of how we achieve it, how we make it real,” Perman said.
“Add to that her extensive knowledge of Maryland’s civic and economic landscape and her deep commitment to public service — a career-long belief in the power of public universities to strengthen communities and expand opportunity. All of these qualities will improve our service to our students, our state, and its people. So, I look forward to Regent Edwards’ partnership and the wisdom she’ll bring to our work.”