Maryland Humanities Accepting Nominations for Fall 2019 Election to Board of Directors
Maryland Humanities Accepting Nominations for Fall 2019 Election to Board of Directors
(Baltimore, MD) – Maryland Humanities is seeking nominations for new members to join its dynamic volunteer Board of Directors. Nominees should have a passion for the humanities as well as a deep commitment to our mission of engaging Marylanders in lifelong learning in the humanities, inspiring the open exchange of ideas, and enriching Maryland communities.
Maryland Humanities is an educational nonprofit established in 1973. We directly serve more than 50,000 people—from youth to seniors—through hundreds of free events in 170 communities across the state each year. The role of Maryland Humanities is to inspire and promote lifelong learning and stimulate dialogue about our histories, cultures, and futures as Marylanders. Our programs—like One Maryland One Book, Maryland History Day, and Chautauqua—use the humanities to foster understanding among people with diverse perspectives and to strengthen our ability to interact meaningfully.
Maryland Humanities specifically seeks humanities enthusiasts with experience in advocating local and state government, candidates in corporate or business leadership roles, and professionals with training in the humanities who work inside or outside of the university classroom. Candidates who have experience guiding organizational growth and change are of particular need this year. Nominees should have deep community connections and a willingness to activate them. They should be proactive in generating ideas, perspectives, or approaches that help clarify, strengthen, and advance the mission of Maryland Humanities.
Maryland Humanities also seeks to add members who reflect the state’s demographic diversity, as well as those who offer a broad geographical representation of the state. Currently, Maryland Humanities hopes to find interested community members from Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Prince George’s, and Washington Counties.
Board members’ primary responsibilities include strengthening and monitoring the organization’s programs and services, ensuring effective fiscal management, fundraising, strategic planning, selecting and orienting new Board members, allocating grant funds, hiring and evaluating the Executive Director, and promoting Maryland Humanities activities. Nominees must be available to attend quarterly Board meetings, periodic committee meetings, and Maryland Humanities events throughout the state. Candidates are expected to make Maryland Humanities a philanthropic priority, with the capacity to contribute or secure from private or public sources the minimum board contribution or possess the availability and willingness for active solicitation. Members serve without pay and are eligible to serve up to three three-year terms.
The current Board includes attorneys, business professionals, nonprofit and museum professionals, current and former educators, and financial advisors among others.
Currently, 24 members comprise the Maryland Humanities Board of Directors. They are: Cynthia Raposo (Chair), Montgomery County; Keith Stone (Vice Chair), Baltimore City; James (Jim) Cornelsen (Treasurer), Charles County; Silvia Golombek (Secretary), Baltimore County; Ronald (Pete) Lesher, Jr.* (Government Liaison), Talbot County; Allyson Black, Anne Arundel County; Elizabeth (Liz) Cannon, Frederick County; Scott Casper, Howard County; Mary Kay Finan, Allegany County; Rian Hargrave, Baltimore City; Mary Hastler*, Harford County; Mark Irwin, Montgomery County; Julia (Julie) Madden*, Howard County; Tahira Mahdi, Baltimore County; Tiffany McGhee, Baltimore County; Heather Mitchell, Howard County; Maarten L. Pereboom, Wicomico County; Jeanne Pirtle, St. Mary’s County; Gale Rasin, Kent County; Thomas (Tom) B. Riford, Washington County; Nancy Rogers, Montgomery County; Stephen (Steve) J. Sfekas, Baltimore City; Jennifer Shea, Montgomery County; Guffrie M. Smith, Jr., Calvert County.
*Indicates a Gubernatorial appointee
Both self-nominations and those of others are welcome. Please complete the Board Nomination Form to nominate yourself or someone you know. All nominations must be received by August 5 to be considered for election in October.