The AAUW MD Nominating Committee recommends the following slate for the two-year term beginning July 1, 2021:

• Secretary:  Edie Allison (incumbent),
• Co-Vice Presidents, Public Policy: Roxann King (incumbent) and Debby Chessin,
• Vice President, Membership:  Christine Schmitz, and
• Vice President, Finance/Treasurer:  Carol Mueller.

For Secretary:  Edie Allison

Edie Allison has been active in the AAUW Gaithersburg branch for 24 years. She currently is branch president and hopes to resume helping with the used book sale and AAUW Lobby Corps when public gatherings are again safe.  Edie has served as Maryland AAUW president, membership co-VP, and newsletter editor at various times. Her special interest is increasing the employment, retention, and advancement of women in STEM careers.

Away from AAUW, Edie is a mostly retired geologist, consulting on geoscience and energy policy. She has a bachelor’s degree in geology from West Texas State University and a master’s degree, also in geology, from the University of Utah. She worked as a petroleum geologist in Texas and Oklahoma before moving east to work for the U.S. Department of Energy. After retiring from the Energy Department, she worked as policy director for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists until the Washington, DC, office closed, then wrote “Petroleum and the Environment” with the support of the American Geoscience Institute.

When foreign travel is again safe, Edie is looking forward to traveling with her grandson and his parents to visit active volcanoes in Central America.

 For Treasurer:  Carol Mueller

Carol Mueller is a developmental education specialist.  After retiring in January 2020 from teaching mathematics and Earth science classes at Harford Community College, she was appointed to the Harford County Public Schools Board.  She also serves as the treasurer for the National Association for Student Success.

She just completed a two-year term as AAUW MD Vice President for Membership and is a former president of the Harford County Branch.

Carol earned a B.Ed., M.Ed., and Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, with emphases on Earth science and on curriculum and instructional design.  She also earned independent certification in developmental education and in higher educational leadership.

For Membership Vice President: Christine Schmitz

Christine Schmitz most recently served for two terms as the Treasurer for AAUW Maryland.  Previously, she served as Vice President for Fundraising.  She has been a long-time advocate for AAUW, having served as President of the Towson Branch and as a Board Member of the Baltimore Branch.  She has experience on several national AAUW Committees: She completed two terms on the AAUW National Investment Committee and currently serves on the National Finance Committee as well as the Governance Committee.

Professionally, Christine is Director of Wealth Advisory Services for Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors, LLC.  She is an Investment Advisor, a Certified Financial Planner, and a Certified Public Accountant.

A graduate of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, she attained her Bachelor of Music degree prior to turning her focus to a career in business and investments.  She is also a graduate of the University of Baltimore and the College for Financial Planning.

In addition to Board service for AAUW, she has been treasurer of VGIF, now known as Women First International Fund.  She is also a member of the Peabody Institute Advisory Board as well as a member of the Vestry of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Sykesville.

For Co-Vice President for Public Policy: Roxann King and Debby Chessin

Roxanne King is currently Public Policy Vice President for AAUW MD and previously served as state co-vice president for programs and vice president for membership.  Previously, she was Public Policy Co-Chair for AAUW Anne Arundel County and local arrangements cochair for the 2020 AAUW state convention planned for Annapolis. Roxann served as co-president of the Anne Arundel branch for four years, book sale co-chair for six years and webmaster for 4 years.

Emeritus of Prince George’s Community college, she retired in May of 2016, having taught mathematics there for39 years.  She wrote several mathematics textbooks. Roxann believes very strongly in AAUW’s mission in shaping public policy to support the education, equity, and the well-being of women and families; she also believes that the NCCWSL is one of AAUW’s most powerful activities. On a more social level, she loves playing bridge with her AAUW ladies’ group.

Dr. Debby Chessin is currently serving as Co-President for AAUW Anne Arundel County (AAUW AAC). Also a member of the branch’s Public Policy Committee, she volunteered with Dr. Catherine Hill,  Executive Director of the Women’s Legislative Caucus to presented research summaries of upcoming bills for legislators, attend hearings, and provide general support.

Before moving to Annapolis in 2017, Debby served two four-year terms as a Planning Commissioner for the city of Oxford, Mississippi.  In that position, she sought to balance the needs of the individual with those of local developers to maintain the charming and historic nature of the town.

More recently, she served as the 2019 AAUW AAC Co-Chair of the “STEM Girls Count!” conference for fourth grade girls in Anne Arundel County featuring workshops in the STEM fields presented by women scientists, architects, and engineers. This very successful conference was a collaborative effort between the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, AAUW AAC, and Anne Arundel Community College

Dr. Chessin earned the BS and MS from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and the M.Ed. from The University of Mississippi where she served as Professor of Science Education and Coordinator of Study Abroad for the Department of Teacher Education. She enjoys spending time with her family in Annapolis, reading, keeping up with the news and local politics, riding her Honda Ruckus Scooter, sailing in the Bay, walking, hiking, and enjoying nature.