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Gloria Gary Lawlah
Commissioner
Prince George's County Planning Board
Commissioner Gloria Gary Lawlah was appointed to the Prince George’s County Planning Board in July 2026.
Background & Experience
A true trailblazer, the Honorable Gloria Gary Lawlah, M.A. served as the former Secretary of Aging for the State of Maryland (2007 – 2015) where she led policy initiatives to address the needs of the growing population of seniors and implemented strategies to encourage seniors to “age-in-place.” Ms. Lawlah was elected and represented Prince George’s County in the Maryland General Assembly in the Maryland House of Delegates (1986 – 1990) and Maryland State Senate (1990 – 2007). She was the first woman in history from Prince George’s County to be elected to the Maryland State Senate, and the second African American woman in the history of the State of Maryland. During her tenure in the Maryland General Assembly, Ms. Lawlah sponsored bills providing funding for education, secured funding and co-sponsored legislation that led to the construction of the National Harbor, and chaired the commission to rebuild the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Prior to her career in politics and public administration, she worked as a teacher and administrator in the District of Columbia Public Schools for thirty years.
Education
Ms. Lawlah holds a Master of Arts in English and Administration from Trinity University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Hampton University.
Recognitions
Ms. Lawlah was a 2023 Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame Honoree. She is also a recipient of numerous awards and accolades including:
- Prince George’s County Women’s Hall of Fame
- The Daily Record Maryland’s Top 100 Women
- Women in Government Outstanding Service
- Women Legislators of Maryland Lifetime Achievement Award.