Women's History Month is a time to honor the achievements of women who have shaped our world and continue to inspire us. We celebrate the women working alongside us in the field, labs, and communities—helping protect our environment and build a healthier, more sustainable future.
Strong leadership is at the heart of this progress. We celebrate biologist and author, Rachel Carson. Oceanographer Sylvia Earle and Wangarĩ Maathai, activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Women actually tend to outnumber men in the environmental field, but you often see them more in research and policy than in leadership roles.
I’m proud to serve as an example of someone who has broken the glass ceiling. In addition to becoming the first African American woman Secretary of the Environment in Maryland history, I’ve had the opportunity to lead initiatives at the federal and state levels. Before returning to Maryland, I served as Under Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, advancing climate resilience and environmental justice. I also held senior roles at the U.S. EPA. These experiences continue to guide my focus on collaborative, community-centered solutions as we shape Maryland’s path toward a healthier, more sustainable future.
Like the women who paved the way for me, I’m committed to protecting our natural resources and taking bold action for clean land, water and air. I’m also grateful for the women in leadership positions at this agency, including Deputy Secretary Suzanne Dorsey and Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice Aneca Atkinson.
As we prepare for spring, let's remember that progress is built when we work together. Whether it's giving overburdened communities a voice, or implementing new technology to clean up our waterways, or finding new ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions, we are all in this together. Let’s continue to support each other and build a Maryland where everyone thrives.
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