Members of Our Board of Trustees

Dr. Michael A. Brintnall has been appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve a second six-year term beginning on July 1, 2023. Dr. Brintnall was initially appointed to the Board of Trustees by Governor Larry Hogan for a six-year term in 2017.

Dr. Brintnall currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees, having been elected to a one-year term in 2022 and again in 2023. Dr. Brintnall has served as first vice chair for two one-year terms (2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022) and as second vice chair for one term (2019 to 2020). 

Dr. Michael A. Brintnall has played a leadership role in higher education for over 30 years. He was Executive Director of the American Political Science Association (APSA) from 2002 to 2013, where he lead the establishment of the Conference on Teaching and Learning in political science as well as advanced the Association's continuing work in promoting scholarship, public engagement, and diversity and inclusion. In 2013, the Association established the Michael Brintnall Teaching & Learning Award in his name to support future faculty professional development.

Dr. Brintnall's earlier positions include Executive Director of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, an organization that promotes public service and accredits professional degrees in public administration and policy; and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mount Vernon College in Washington, DC. He previously led an office of program evaluation at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and held a faculty appointment in political science at Brown University.

He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and has served as president of the National Humanities Alliance and on the boards and working groups of many organizations, including the Consortium of Social Science Associations, the Environmental Investigation Agency, the American Society for Public Administration, and networks of schools and institutes of public administration in Central and Eastern Europe, and in Latin America.

A long-time resident of Montgomery County, Dr. Brintnall is a former city council member in Glen Echo. He now lives in Cabin John. He is an active dancer of Argentine Tango and co-edits the D.C. area Capital Tangueros calendar. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.A. degree from Amherst College.

Dr. Frieda K. Lacey was appointed to the Board of Trustees on November 1, 2018, by Governor Larry Hogan and is serving a six-year term through June 30, 2024.

Dr. Lacey has served as second vice chair for two one-year terms (2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022) and was elected first vice chair of the Board of Trustees for a second one-year term (2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024). 

Dr. Lacey has had a distinguished career as a professional educator that spans more than 40 years. She holds a doctorate in educational policy and leadership from George Washington University, a master of education degree in Special Education from the University of Maryland and a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education from Norfolk State University. 

Prior to her retirement in 2012 from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Dr. Lacey served as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools. Over the years she has held a variety of positions in MCPS including Chief of Staff, Equity Assurance Officer, Supervisor of Special Education, and principal. After retirement from MCPS, she served as the Director of Development for the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, a non-profit community based tutoring and mentoring program for 4 years.

Dr. Lacey previously served on the Board of the Foundation Schools as well as a three-year term on the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board. She has received numerous awards and honors during her career that include the Frieda K. Lacey Distinguished Scholar scholarship presented annually by the Montgomery County Alliance of Black Educators; the Bernie Scholarship Community Service Award; the Identity Theresa Wright Award of Excellence in Service to Latina Youth; the Middle States Regional Assembly of the College Board William U. Harris Award of Excellence; and the Maryland State Department of Education Excellence for Minority Achievement Award.

Ms. Gloria Aparicio Blackwell was appointed in 2009 to serve for the remainder of a six-year term that had begun on July 1, 2008. She was later appointed to a full six-year term in 2014, and again in 2020 by Governor Larry Hogan.

Ms. Aparicio Blackwell was elected second vice chair of the Board of Trustees for a fourth one-year term to begin on July 1, 2023. She has served as second vice chair for three prior, non-sequential terms (2015 to 2016, 2016 to 2017,  and 2022 to 2023); as first vice chair for two terms (2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019); and  as chair for one term (2019 to 2020). 

Aparicio Blackwell is the Director of the Office of Community Engagement at the University of Maryland College Park under the Division of Administration & Finance. She has worked for the University more than 19 years. Her primary role is to contribute to the University’s commitment to the land grant mission, as well as, the overall efforts in making the University of Maryland a “Greater College Town”.

Ms. Aparicio Blackwell earned an associate’s degree in safety and fire science from Instituto Tecnológico de Seguridad Industrial in Venezuela and a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology with a concentration in safety and fire science from the University of Maryland. In addition, Blackwell earned a master of science in management from University of Maryland Global Campus. Prior to joining the University in 1997, Gloria worked in safety and fire management at Potomac Electric Power Company and for higher education institutions, including American University and Montgomery College as a student worker.

Ms. Aparicio Blackwell has recently received the prestigious President’s Distinguished Service Award under the category of Public Service at the University of Maryland, adding to other awards such as UMD’s Outstanding Woman of Color Award.

Outside of her service to Montgomery College, Gloria volunteers with several organizations. She is a graduate and board member of Leadership Maryland and Leadership Montgomery, and serves as a board member of the International Town/Gown Association.

To maintain work/life balance, she is an avid runner/walker and more importantly, finds time to enjoy family and friends. Ms. Aparicio Blackwell resides in Gaithersburg with her husband, Stephen Blackwell.

Dr. Sheryl Brissett Chapman was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to a six-year term on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees. 

Dr. Chapman is a passionate advocate and internationally recognized expert in child and family welfare. She has served as Executive Director of The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) for 30 years. Dr. Chapman publishes and presents on a wide range of topics including juvenile justice, systems reform in child and family welfare, poverty and homelessness, childhood trauma, domestic violence, and cultural competency. Her most recent research and upcoming book, Black Male Youth Raised in Public Systems: Engagement, Healing, Hope is focused on Black male youth removed from their families and placed in public child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Dr. Chapman is a Governor’s appointee to the Maryland Procurement Improvement Council (PIC), a member of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence’s Fatality Committee, a Board Director, Congressional Research Institute for Social Work Policy (CRISP), and a member of MCAC Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, in Montgomery County.

Dr. Chapman received a B.A., Brown University, a Master’s in Social Work, University of Connecticut, a Doctorate in Education, Administration, Planning, and Social Policy, Harvard University, and a Stanford University Graduate School of Business Certificate, Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders.

She has received numerous awards and recognitions, and served on the boards of the Maryland NonProfit, National Association of Social Workers, Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth (MARFY).

Dr. Chapman is a former adjunct associate professor at Howard University School of Social Work for over 30 years, teaching family and child welfare and organizational behavior. She has a home with her husband both in Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, and in Dakar, Senegal.

An adoptive and biological mother of five, she is extraordinarily proud of four grandchildren.

Ms. Annice Cody was appointed to her first term on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees by Governor Larry Hogan on July 1, 2022. 

Ms. Cody is the president of Holy Cross Health Network, Holy Cross Health's community-based operating division. Holy Cross Health Network operates safety-net health centers and primary care sites; provides more than 200,000 community health encounters annually through programs such as Senior Fit, perinatal education, Chronic Disease Self-Management and community health worker outreach; leads community engagement to promote health equity; oversees Holy Cross Health's $57 million community benefit program; leads Holy Cross Health's population health initiatives and guides the organization’s advocacy initiatives.

Ms. Cody serves as the board chair for Nexus Montgomery Regional Partnership, a joint venture of all six Montgomery County hospitals, focused on reducing avoidable utilization and improving health in our community in ways that no single hospital could accomplish on its own. She is on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the leadership group of Montgomery Moving Forward, a community collaborative using the collective impact framework to create a better early care and education system for our community.

Prior to joining Holy Cross Health, Ms. Cody worked as a vice president at the Lewin Group, a health care consulting firm in Fairfax, Virginia. She previously served as vice president, strategic and community planning at Advocate Health Care, a regional health system in Chicago.

Ms. Cody has an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.A. from Brown University. She and her husband have lived in Montgomery County since 1998 and have two children.

Dr. Judith Docca was appointed to the Montgomery College Board of Trustees by Governor Wes Moore to serve the remainder of a six-year term, which began in 2018. 

Dr. Docca spent 38 years with Montgomery County Public Schools—as a teacher, human relations specialist, assistant principal at Montgomery Blair High School, and principal at Argyle Middle School.

Dr. Docca also served on the Montgomery County Board of Educations, having been elected to four, four-year terms. She chaired the Board’s Communications and Public Engagement Committee and was a member of the Special Populations Committee.

Dr. Docca has been an officer, education chair, and youth council sponsor of the Montgomery County NAACP. She has served as chair of the Multicultural Community Partnership, president and treasurer of the Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators, a member of the Hispanic Educators Association, and a member of the Asian American Educators Association. Dr. Docca led the charge in the 1990’s to save Montgomery County’s Head Start program, working with the community to convince the Board of Education, the County Executive and the County Council to continue the unique educational program and ancillary services provided to families.

Dr. Docca is a  Montgomery County Human and Civil Rights Hall of Fame inductee.

Mr. Omar Lazo was appointed to his first term on the the Board of Trustees by Governor Larry Hogan in 2021.

Born in Washington, D.C. and the son of immigrants from El Salvador, Mr. Lazo went on to study at the University of Maryland in College Park, where he received his Bachelor's in General Business and Management. After college, he worked on a government contract with the Department of Justice for four years, while at the same time running a family-owned restaurant. At the Department of Justice, he played a vital role in the finance department's implementation of a nationwide monetary intake system, along with other duties. In 2004, he obtained a real estate license and worked as a realtor in the D.C. metropolitan area. After taking over the day-to-day operations for Los Chorros Restaurant, he has solidified the business as a staple in the Wheaton, Maryland, community. He has become very involved in social media campaigns and community outreach.

Mr. Lazo has been very involved in the community and is 2nd Vice-President of the Board of the Wheaton and Kensington Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed by the County Executive to the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee that advises the Montgomery County Council and the County Executive. He is the treasurer for the Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County. Recently, he was appointed by the County Executive to the Board of Workforce Development for Montgomery County. Mr. Lazo has been very actively involved in the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence, working with Identity and the NAACP. He is also a member of the Greater Capital Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has been heavily involved in pedestrian safety and small business advocacy, leading walking tours and helping to get bicycle lanes and crosswalks installed in Wheaton. He is a founding member of the Montgomery County Latino Restaurant Association. Mr. Lazo is a husband and a father of three smart and beautiful Latina daughters. 

Mr. Robert F. Levey was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to the Board of Trustees in 2015 to fulfill a partial term and was re-appointed in 2019 to serve a full six-year term.

Mr. Levey spent more than 36 years on the editorial staff of The Washington Post. His daily column about local life, “Bob Levey’s Washington,” appeared for more than 23 years. Through the column, Levey raised more money for charity than any journalist in history.

In addition, Mr. Levey worked for nine radio stations and four television stations as a commentator or talk show host. Since accepting an early retirement buyout from The Post, Mr. Levey has been senior vice president for development at Washington Hospital Center Foundation and a senior fellow in the Montgomery County Government. He now runs Bob Levey LLC, a consulting firm that helps non-profits write better so they can raise money better.

Mr. Levey was chosen a Washingtonian Of The Year by Washingtonian Magazine in 1999. He has served on seven non-profit boards, including the Montgomery College Foundation Board. He has also been a journalism professor at five major research universities. He is the author or co-author of three books and dozens of magazine articles. He writes a regular monthly column for The Senior Beacon, and free-lances as a commercial voice talent.

Mr. Levey first came into contact with Montgomery College through his children, who both starred in productions at the college’s Summer Dinner Theatre. In 1995, Mr. Levey played the role of Wally Womper in a Montgomery College production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying,” causing massive embarrassment and amusement among his children.

Mr. Levey received a B.A. in English with special honors from The University of Chicago. 

Ms. Maricé Morales was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to serve a six-year term, beginning on July 1, 2019. 

Ms. Morales is a personal injury and criminal defense attorney at her own firm and has experience both at the district and circuit court levels in 15 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions.

Ms. Morales was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates as the first Latina representing District 19 in Montgomery County in 2014 and was the youngest Latina to serve at the state level in the country. She served as founding member and vice chair of the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus.

During her time in Annapolis, Ms. Morales sponsored legislation to reform the criminal justice system, protect immigrant communities, protect workers’ rights, and combat the rape culture in our country. She sat on the Judiciary Committee for her first two sessions where she worked on major criminal justice reform, including Justice Reinvestment, the elimination of mandatory minimums, bail reform, and police accountability. She was later assigned to the Health and Government Operations Committee, where she focused on insurance coverage and mental health issues.

Ms. Morales was awarded the Governor’s Award for her work combating Human Trafficking, and was the recipient of the Outstanding Public Service Award in recognition of her work and contributions to the welfare of the Latino community through public service from several local organizations

Ms. Morales sits on the boards of the Jewish Council on Aging and Emerge Maryland, and is a contributing writer with Maryland Matters. She has a JD from the University of Maryland, School of Law, a master’s in public policy, and a bachelor’s in global affairs and French from George Mason University. Ms. Morales is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.

Mr. Rishi G. Nixon was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to the Montgomery College Board of Trustees for a one-year term in July 2023.

Mr. Nixon is a homeschooled high school junior and dual enrollment student at Montgomery College. He began part-time at the College in his first year of high school and is now pursuing an Associate of Science in Mathematics with a full-time course load.

Mr. Nixon has been twice elected a student member and then vice chair of the Montgomery College Operational Services Council — the College governance council that hears matters on administrative and fiscal affairs. This has given him thorough experience advocating for student interests in College operations and a deep understanding of the higher education environment the College navigates within today.

As student trustee, Mr. Nixon is committed to being a strong advocate for the College and its role as a pillar of opportunity within the Montgomery County community.

Mr. Nixon has served as vice chair of the Montgomery County Commission on Children & Youth — the youngest person to hold that office — where he worked to shape county policy on educational equity and substance use in schools; a Youth Advisor to Montgomery County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles; and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Storytelling Network —  a notable national performing arts organization.

Dr. Jermaine F. Williams became the president of Montgomery College on February 28, 2022.

Dr. Williams’ work in higher education has focused his energies on improving access for students, as well as retention, graduation, and post-completion success. He has paid special attention to mitigating institutional societal and racial inequities, strategically creating programs and policies that support historically underrepresented and/or marginalized groups. He has years of experience designing, managing, and enhancing institutional and statewide programs and initiatives that have yielded positive student outcomes.

Dr. Williams has been widely lauded for his inclusive leadership style and for building teams that create strategic programming and policies to improve student outcomes. His professional approach to student success is deeply rooted in equity-minded systems and data-informed analysis. Dr. Williams’ view of higher education as a public good informs his personal passion about enhancing access, completion, and post-completion success, goals that are shared across Montgomery College.

2020 – 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no honorary degrees were awarded in 2020, 2021, and 2022.