Meet the Visionary

“ Leadership always matters. There are no great organizations without great leadership. ”

About Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick

Dr. Grasmick’s pioneering leadership story began when she suffered temporary deafness as a teenager. Inspired by Helen Keller, she devoted her life to education. After graduating from Baltimore’s Western High School, she earned degrees from Towson University, Gallaudet University and Johns Hopkins University. 

Early in her career, Dr. Grasmick taught deaf children, and her leadership journey continued as a classroom and resource teacher, principal, supervisor, assistant superintendent, and associate superintendent in Baltimore County Public Schools. She later became the state’s first female superintendent of the Maryland Department of Education, a position she held for 20 years until her retirement. Under Dr. Grasmick’s leadership, Maryland’s schools were propelled to No. 1 in the nation.

Dr. Grasmick has received numerous awards for her visionary leadership, both at the local and national levels. In 2011, she was inducted into The Daily Record’s “Circle of Influence,” recognizing her as a “Most Influential Marylander.” In 2012, she became TU’s first Presidential Scholar and, in 2016, she was inducted as an honoree into the Baltimore Sun’s Business and Civic Leader Hall of Fame.

Fueling the future of leadership

When TU embarked on the journey to explore a leadership institute, we could not have anticipated the challenges our state, region, nation and the world would encounter. 2020 underscored the demand for forward-thinking, visionary leaders far beyond our original expectations. At this critical moment, we are asking others to join us in challenging the status quo of leadership development.

Private philanthropy generously provided by Dr. Grasmick has been instrumental in the research and development of the Institute. Philanthropy will continue to shape the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute and allow individuals, institutions and organizations to thrive in our ever-changing world. Your contributions will:

• Fuel the launch and long-term success of the Institute and ensure a laser-focus on stakeholders, current events and emerging trends that shape leadership development. 
• Help organizations and institutions harness the collective leadership of the next generation to solve complex challenge and successfully navigate an ever-changing world. 
• Honor Dr. Grasmick’s powerful legacy of leadership and propel the Institute forward to achieve an ambitious vision. 
• Ensure resources are in place to identify, attract, hire and retain experts with the capacity to launch and deliver groundbreaking and impactful research and programming.