Bright Minds Foundation Announces New Executive Director

July 26th, 2018

Bright Minds, the official foundation of the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), announces the appointment of Liz Crammond to the position of Executive Director for the foundation.

Ms. Crammond comes to Bright Minds with more than ten years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she served as Development and Grants Manager with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. She has also worked with Community Action Council of Howard County and United Way of Central Maryland. Ms. Crammond earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

“Liz’s successful fundraising and effective marketing and communications skills make her an ideal choice to lead Bright Minds at this critical point in the organization’s history,” said Dr. Clarissa B. Evans, chair of the Bright Minds board of directors. “Bright Minds has accomplished much in the past, but transitions are challenging. We are confident that with the able leadership of Ms. Crammond and in partnership with the school system, Bright Minds will grow and be able to help many more students and staff in the future. We are looking forward to several new programs, including supporting the school system’s dual high school and community college enrollment program and working with the school system and the community to support improvement in kindergarten readiness in selected schools.”

Ms. Crammond succeeds Patricia Sasse, who was the first Executive Director of Bright Minds. The foundation was established in 2006 and Ms. Sasse was hired in 2009. She has played a critical role in the organization’s development and success. Under her leadership, the foundation accomplished the following:

• Provided more than 1,400 families with economic need with refurbished or new computer technology.
• Awarded more than $144,000 in teacher grants to provide HCPSS students innovative and high-quality instruction.
• Worked with local partners to expand the number of after school activity buses.
• Secured a major donation from an alumnus to support the purchase of cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality equipment for use by students in the Architectural Design and Visual Arts Academies at the HCPSS Applications and Research Laboratory.
• Launched the Annual Bright Minds Fall Golf Tournament and the Spring Strutting with the Staff Contest.
• Helped to implement a viable scholarship process that enables community members to establish memorial scholarships within the Foundation. For example, a scholarship named for Laura E. Wallen, former teacher at Wilde Lake High School, has just awarded two $2,500 scholarships to recent WLHS graduates.
• Partnered with government agencies, local foundations, and previous and current HCPSS leaders to address student needs and support achievement of student aspirations.

Current officers and members of the Bright Minds Board of Directors include:

• Chair: Clarissa B. Evans, Ph.D., Retired, HCPSS Executive Director
• Vice Chair: Suzi Padgett, Vice President and Branch Manager, Long and Foster Columbia
• Secretary: Julie Myers, Kinetics Dance Theatre, President of the Board of Directors
• Treasurer: Michael Iwanczuk, CPA, Iwanczuk and Associates, P.C.
• Assistant Treasurer: Leslie Barnett, Director, Community Services Division, Columbia Association
• Ex Officio: Michael Martirano, Ed.D., Superintendent, HCPSS, delegated to Jahantab Siddiqui, Chief Communication, Community/Workforce Engagement Officer, HCPSS
• Immediate Past President: Lisa Olivieri, Vice President and General Counsel, MileOne Automotive

Directors:

• Lance Cook, Owner, Tino’s Italian Bistro
• Bradley Myers, Vice President, M & T Bank
• Bevin Philip, Vice President and General Manager at 2U Inc
• Dr. Vikram Shah, Medical Director, Cigna
• Lisa B. Terry, Executive Director, Howard County Office of Military Affairs
• Kim Young, Consultant and Culinary Activity Specialist, Founder “Healthy LIttle Cooks”
• Bright Minds also wishes to acknowledge two board members who have recently completed three-year terms before transitioning off the board. Sincere thanks to Susan Jameson of Care First Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Ryan Frederic of Applied Defense Solutions for their service.

Those wishing to help the foundation with its mission of supporting education, aspirations, and the opportunity to succeed for all HCPSS students, may make a donation at www.brightmindsfoundation.org or by check to the Bright Minds Foundation, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042.

For more information about Bright Minds and its programs, please contact Liz Crammond at 410-740-0707 or liz@brightmindsfoundation.org.