2017 Women's Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
Congratulations to the following five Howard County women, who have made significant contributions to public service and were inducted into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame in March: pictured above from left, Mary Catherine Cochran; Stacie Hunt; Sandy Harriman; Abbie Diane Martin; and Peggy Schultz. Here is more information about the achievements of each of these outstanding women:
- Mary Catherine Cochran: As the founder of Preservation Howard County, a nonprofit organization that supports historical and cultural preservation and education, Mary Catherine Cochran has helped to preserve and restore historic properties in Howard County, from barns and slave quarters to bridges, homes and schoolhouses. In 2014, Mary Catherine was named Howard County Preservationist of the Year for her achievements. In addition to her preservation work, she has served as Director of the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center for ten years. Under her leadership, the center has grown from serving 614 patients a year to over 5000.
- Sandra Harriman: Since 1990, Sandy Harriman has raised philanthropic funds to support important priorities for educational and medical institutions, including Howard Community College and Howard County General Hospital, where she secured a $5 million gift believed to be the largest individual charitable gift to a nonprofit in Howard County. She served as an advocate for education for deaf children as a member of the Maryland School for the Deaf Board of Trustees, and was selected in 1997, 2005 and 2008 as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and named to the Circle of Excellence, in recognition of her extraordinary professional and community service leadership.
- Stacie Hunt: Stacie Hunt’s distinguished professional career includes years of service at the United Way of Central Maryland, and as president & CEO of Leadership Howard County. Through LeadershipU, Leadership Essentials and Leadership Premier, her passion and professionalism has had a positive impact on the non-profit, faith-based, public service and business communities. Since 2002, she has mentored more than 2,000 community leaders of all ages to help develop engaged citizens for the future. She was recently recognized as one of the Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women, and received the Smart CEO Brava Award, which honors exemplary female leaders.
- Abbie Diane Martin: Dr. Abbie Diane Martin has been a committed servant leader in the Howard County community for over 30 years. She currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS); over her long and distinguished career, she has made a significant impact on the lives of women and children in the county in the areas of Education, Science and Technology, Human Services, Civil Rights and Family Life. Her volunteer and professional accomplishments have touched the lives of thousands of youth in Howard County.
- Margaret Schultz: As a teacher in the Howard County Public School System for 52 years, Peggy Schultz has spent her adult life advocating for and developing programs that serve the youth of Howard County. Peggy’s impact in Howard County goes beyond education as demonstrated by her efforts to preserve and promote the agricultural heritage of Howard County. She has served as a member of the Howard County Fair Board for 24 years; was one of the original organizers of the Lisbon Farmers' Feed the Hungry Christmas Parade; and has been an officer of the Maryland Western Horse Association since 1952.
View the complete list of all members of the Howard County Women's Hall of Fame.
About the Howard County Commission for Women:
The Howard County Commission for Women was established by statute in 1980 to promote the economic, social and political equality of women. The Commission has the authority to conduct studies, review progress, recommend action, and carry on activities to support this purpose. This may include:
- Collecting, analyzing and disseminating information to assist in changing attitudes and eliminating discriminatory behavior
- Studying conditions which demonstrate inequalities and unmet needs concerning women, issuing position papers, and recommending procedures or legislation to remedy them
- Stimulating efforts to expand educational and employment opportunities for women
- Promoting recognition of women’s accomplishments
- Publicizing activities and services of interest to women
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN NEWS:
MEETING UPDATE:
The Commission meets on the second Tuesday of most months at 7:00 pm in the Gateway Building, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046. Meeting time and place is subject to change; please call 410-313-6400 to verify. All meetings of Howard County boards and commissions are open to the public, except under those circumstances in which a closed meeting is permitted by law. NOTE: If you need accommodations to participate in these meetings, please call 410-313-6400 (voice/relay) at least seven days in advance.
MEETING MINUTES & AGENDAS
MEMBERSHIP:
The Commission is comprised of twelve members, including one high school student, who are appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council. Current members are:
- Neveen Kurtom, Chair
- Jessica Epps, Vice-Chair
- Nina Basu
- Mariam Bennett
- Alice S. Giles
- Joyce Kim
- Shaharbano (Bano) Rizvi
- Cindi R. Rubin
- Joan Webb Scornaienchi
- Jackie Scott, Executive Secretary
- Suellen Seigel
- Megha Sharma, Student Commissioner
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Commission, please contact Jackie Scott, Executive Secretary, at jrscott@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-6400 (voice/relay).
Additional information and resources:
Contact us:
To contact the Howard County Commission for Women, email women@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-6400 (voice/relay).