Nancy Grasmick honored for lifetime achievements in leadership
Grasmick among five women recognized at the Center Club鈥檚 2022 Women in Business Trailblazer Awards
By Rebecca Kirkman on September 7, 2022
On Tuesday night, the Center Club鈥檚 Women in Business group celebrated Nancy Grasmick 鈥�61, Towson University鈥檚 first presidential scholar and the visionary behind the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute, as the recipient of its first Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award honors women who in leadership who paved the way for other women to succeed. It was presented at the Center Club鈥檚 2022 Women in Business Trailblazer Awards on Sept. 6, with Grasmick, TU President Kim Schatzel and other university leaders present. Erin Moran, the Institute鈥檚 inaugural executive director, and other members of her staff also attended.
鈥淚 am constantly inspired by Dr. Nancy Grasmick and her work to empower the next generation of leaders for greater Baltimore,鈥� Schatzel says. 鈥淚t was a true honor to celebrate her at the Women in Business Trailblazer Awards dinner. Towson University is proud to be the home of the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute.鈥�
As part of the recognition, a room at the club overlooking the Inner Harbor and downtown Baltimore was named in honor of Grasmick.
In her remarks, she shared three keys to great civic leadership: There is no straight line to leadership for women in business, people are at the core of effective leadership, and ethics and the ability to speak truth to power are vital.
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At TU, Grasmick's leadership has led to the implementation of pioneering programs that put the university, its students and community partners in positions to lead the nation.
The Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute creates transformational outcomes for leaders at every level through a portfolio of leadership development opportunities for individuals and organizations.
Upcoming Institute Events
Cultivating a Vibrant & Winning Culture supported by St. John Properties
Sept. 13, 9 a.m.鈥�3 p.m. | South Campus Pavilion, TU
This one-day seminar offers best practices, skills and tools to attract and retain
top talent in a competitive market and is designed to support any leader in an organization,
regardless of position or function.
Uplifting a Region through Courageous Leadership鈥擜 Conversation with Danny Meyer
Oct. 18, 4鈥�8 p.m. | Columbus Center, Baltimore
Join the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute and Danny Meyer to learn about his
experience, expertise and insights as an ethically driven and influential business
leader.
The Institute builds on TU鈥檚 ongoing commitment to community and business engagement while serving as a key regional asset鈥攗niquely supporting leadership recruitment, development and retention.
Grasmick鈥檚 pioneering leadership story began when she suffered temporary deafness as a teenager. Early in her career, the TU graduate taught deaf children and continued her leadership journey throughout Baltimore County Public Schools. She became the first female superintendent of the Maryland Department of Education, a position she held for 20 years until her retirement. Under Grasmick鈥檚 leadership, Maryland schools were propelled to No. 1 in the nation.
The 2022 Trailblazers also include La Keita Carter of the Institute for Healing, Kimberly Groves of KCW Engineering Technologies, Sarah Hemminger of Thread, and Ferrier Stillman of Tydings & Rosenberg.
The Center Club Lifetime Achievement Award is the latest in a string of prestigious awards recognizing Grasmick鈥檚 leadership. In 2019, she received the Maryland Association of Boards of Education鈥檚 Excellence in Education Award. Previously, she was honored in the 鈥淒aily Record鈥檚鈥� 2017 Icon Honors, the 鈥淏altimore Sun鈥檚鈥� 2016 Business & Civic Hall of Fame and as the 2015 Baltimore County Woman of the Year.