Adrienne Jones ’76 is Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates.
A Legislative Voice in Annapolis
In the 70s if you were majoring in psychology or sociology, you wanted to save the world, remembers Adrienne Jones, psychology 76.
More than two decades later, Jones is the first African-American woman to serve as the Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates, where she has served as a Baltimore County delegate for over six years.
I was very honored to be asked by Speaker Michael Busch and elected by my fellow House members to this prestigious position and to serve in this leadership position as the first African-American female Speaker Pro Tem, Jones says.
I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in the House, by keeping an open mind while maintaining the values of what we each believe is right for the hardworking, diverse and deserving constituency the citizens of Maryland.
Jones will attend her alma maters annual Alumni Reception in Annapolis on February 20. She believes that students and alumni who attend the reception send a powerful message about the positive impact of adequate funding and continued support. To me, its far better as a fiscal leader in Annapolis hearing from a student about the needs of the University than hearing from a lobbyist, she says.
She first became interested in politics after becoming an assistant to former Baltimore County Executive Donald Hutchinson in 1979. I learned all about county government, Jones says. And it fascinated me.
UMBC prepared Jones for her career in public service through her psychology courses and through her interactions on campus with people from all areas of the State. I grew up in a close-knit community — Cowdensville in Arbutus — so UMBC was my first real outside community experience.
Respected by colleagues and constituents alike, Jones takes great satisfaction in the opportunity to be an advocate for Baltimore County. I see my work as another level of community service, she says. Often people say why dont they do something about this. Well, I see myself as being they.
