The Board of Advisors is a formally constituted body established under the auspices of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. Its principal responsibility is to represent broad community interests and to ensure that student, business, local and state government, and higher education needs are addressed in the development of the Universities at Shady Grove. Within this framework, the role USG's Board of Advisors members is to:
- Provide advice and support to the Executive Director.
- Offer guidance on strategic development and implementation in the following areas: program identification, advocacy, fund-raising, cooperation and partnership building, marketing and promotion, financial and facilities planning, and evaluation and assessment.
- Demonstrate their commitment to access in higher education for all students, in accordance with the Board of Advisors' Statement on Commitment to Equity.
The Board of Advisors and the Executive Committee hold several meetings throughout the year which are open to the public for viewing. Agendas are typically posted a few days prior to the scheduled meeting dates. The meeting schedule and agendas can be found below.
Officers
Kevin Beverly, Chair
Executive Committee Member
Education Advocate
Dr. Bernadette Johnson-Williams, Liaison, Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member
Senior Regulatory Health Project Manager
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
*Ms. Johnson-Williams is serving in her personal capacity.
Dr. Eric Lin, Liaison, Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member
Acting Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Andrew Schell, Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member
Director of Fraud Prevention
Morgan Stanley
Members
Gloria Aparicio Blackwell
Executive Committee Member
Chair
Montgomery College Board of Trustees
Audrey Awasom
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Luminary Branded Solutions
Dr. Charles Barnett
Executive Committee Member
Senior Vice President, Engineering
Hughes Network Systems
John Clarke
Executive Committee Member
Former Regional Partner
Elm Street Development
Daniel Cochran
Executive Committee Member
President
Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center
Todd Cohen
Senior Manager of Strategic Workforce Initiatives
Lockheed Martin
Amanda Cowley, J.D.
Chief Growth Officer & Executive Vice President - Programs, Regional Operations & Strategy
US Pharmacopeia
Debbie Driesman
Vice President
Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation
The Honorable Marc Elrich
Montgomery County Executive
Anthony Featherstone
Executive Director
WorkSource Montgomery
Angela Franco
President & CEO
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
Ellen Her
bst, ex-officio
Executive Committee Member
Sr. Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
University System of Maryland
The Honorable Patrick (“P.J.”) Hogan
Executive Committee Member
Former Principal
Cornerstone Government Affairs
Frank Islam
Owner
FI Investment Group
The Honorable Will Jawando
Councilmember
Montgomery County Council
Howard Jean
Executive Committee Member
CEO & Founder
Black Meta Agency
Dr. Anne Khademian, ex-officio
Executive Committee Member
Executive Director
The Universities at Shady Grove
The Honorable Nancy King
Senator
Maryland General Assembly
The Honorabl
e Nancy K. Kopp, Emeritus
Former Maryland State Treasurer
The Honorable 
Isiah "Ike" Leggett
Executive Committee Member
Board of Regents
University System of Maryland
Lisa Mandel-Trupp, Esq.
Chief of Staff to Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe
Montgomery County Council
Essie McGuire
Chief of Staff to the Superintendent
Montgomery County Public Schools
Ken Mills
Chief Executive Officer
Tagworks Pharmaceuticals
Michael Priddy
Owner
Interim Healthcare
Dusty Rood
Executive Committee Member
President and CEO
Rodgers Consulting, Inc.
Scott Royal, Ph.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Westat
Jeff Rule
Education Advocate
Retired Product Director, Machine Learning
Capital One
Kelly Schulz
Chief Executive Officer
Maryland Tech Council
Jared Smith, MBA, CEcD
President & CEO
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
Debbie Spielberg
Special Assistant to the County Executive
Montgomery County Government
Dr. Thomas W. Taylor
Executive Committee Member
Superintendent
Montgomery County Public Schools
Christopher Williams
Undergraduate Representative
2025-2026 Student Council
Dr. Jermaine Williams
Executive Committee Member
President
Montgomery College
Teresa Wright, Emeritus
Retired Parent Resource Teacher - ESOL Hispanic Alliance
Montgomery County Public Schools
Dr. Alison Wrynn, ex-officio
Executive Committee Member
Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs
University System of Maryland
Jennifer Yu
Graduate Student Representative
2025-2026 Student Council
2025-2026 Meeting Schedule & Agendas
Agenda
I. Welcome & Introductions | Kevin Beverly & Anne Khademian
- Introductions
- Primary Objectives for the Meeting:
- Receive an update from the Executive Director
- Engage in discussion regarding the next steps for USG and the BOA in the integration of talent development & economic development
II. Executive Director Update | Anne Khademian
III. Discussion: USG 2.0 Integrating Talent Development & Economic Development | All
IV. Next Steps and Closing | Kevin Beverly & Mary Lang
Agenda
I. Welcome & Introductions (8:30-8:35) | Kevin Beverly & Anne Khademian
- Introductions & Announcements
- Primary Objectives for the Meeting:
- Hear from invited guests on the
- the state of the Montgomery County economy
- strategic importance of talent development on economic development in Montgomery County and the region
- Understand USG’s role and strategy on driving higher education talent development in support of economic development
- Discuss the kick-off of the BOA Committees in support of that strategy
II. State of Montgomery County and the Region’s Economy (8:35-8:55) | Kevin Beverly
- Economic Regional Analysis by Dr. Keith Waters, Assistant Director of the GMU Center for Regional Analysis
- Question & Answer
III. Talent Development & Economic Development (8:55-9:20) | Kevin Beverly & Invited Guests
- Montgomery County Workforce & Talent Development – Anne Khademian, Facilitator
- Jared Smith, President & CEO, Montgomery County Economic Development
- Angela Franco, President, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
- USG’s Strategic Role in Bridging the Gap: Academic Institutions, Employers - Partners
III. Discussion: BOA Committees’ Strategic Role (9:20-10:10) | Kevin Beverly & All
IV. Next Steps and Closing (10:10-10:15) | Kevin Beverly
Agenda
I. Welcome & Introductions (8:30-8:45am) | Eric Lin & Anne Khademian
- Introductions & Announcements
- Primary Objectives for the Meeting:
- Conversation with Scott Royal and Anne on alignment between Westat and USG strategic development
- Discuss next steps for USG BOA to engage with employers and to develop employer champions
II. Discussion: Scott Royal, President, Westat (8:45-9:00am) | Scott Royal & Anne Khademian
III. Discussion: USG Employer Champions (9:00-9:20am) | Anne Khademian
IV. Discussion: BOA Committees’ Strategic Role (9:20-10:00) | Anne Khademain & All
V. Next Steps and Closing (10:00-10:15am) | Eric Lin
- June 10th Member Reception
The Board will gather to recognize outgoing board members and to celebrate the 2026 Board of Advisor's Kendall Service Award recipients.
Agenda
I. Welcome & Announcements | Kevin Beverly
- Introductions
- Primary Objective for the Meeting:
- USG Strategic Update
- BOA Committees Work
- Feb 4th Board of Advisors Meeting Draft Agenda
II. Executive Director Strategic Update | Anne Khademian
II. Advancing USG 2.0 BOA Committees | Anne Khademian & All
IV. Next Steps & Closing | Kevin Beverly
- Board of Advisors February 4th Meeting DRAFT Agenda
- Committee Convenings
- Spring Calendar