SHERO: We Salute Sheila Dixon (Baltimore’s Mayor)
Sheila Dixon is originally from Maryland and was born in December 1953. She is the forty-eighth mayor of Baltimore, Maryland and the first woman to run the city. She is Baltimore’s third African American mayor and the first African American female to serve as President of Baltimore’s City Council. Read MORE.
Sheila grew up in Baltimore and participated in many community based groups and events. She graduated from Northwestern High School and went on to get a bachelor’s degree from Towson University. She later earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Sheila entered the world of education as an elementary school teacher and adult education instructor. She later worked as an international trade specialist with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.
Sheila was elected to the Baltimore City State Central Committee representing the 40th Legislative District in the mid-80s. In 1987, she won a seat on the Baltimore City Council representing the 4th Council District. She served that district for twelve years and became the City Council President in 1999; becoming the first African-American woman elected to this position.
In January, Sheila was sworn in as the first female mayor for the very populous city, Baltimore. Since her induction, she has worked hard to curb violence in the city as well as started several initiatives including a smoking ban and cracking down on the possession of illegal guns. Sheila is an active member and former trustee of Bethel A.M.E. Church, and continues to serve as a member of the Stewardess Board. She also serves on several other boards including The Institute of Human Virology, The Urban Health Initiative, The Living Classrooms Foundation, The Walters Art Gallery and the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.
Tags: Baltimore, Mayor, Sheila Dixon, Sheroes
