Presented by BGE, An Exelon Company
“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
– Former First Lady, Michelle L. Obama
Black women have made landmark contributions to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the State of Maryland as
“The first …” in their fields and have often gone unrecognized. Join us as we honor pioneers from a broad cross-section of
disciplines and industries, offering the opportunity to learn about about their respective journeys.
LeGretta Y. Goodwin, Postmaster of Baltimore
First African American Woman Postmaster of Baltimore
Le Gretta Goodwin was appointed the 43rd Postmaster of Baltimore, MD with honorable mention that she is the first African American Female Baltimore Postmaster. She is responsible for over 1,804 employees and 43 delivery and retail/finance units. She oversees operations to ensure quality customer service is provided to over 568,206 city and rural delivery addresses and 28,096 post office and caller service boxes within the City of Baltimore.
Mrs. Goodwin has 28 years in the Postal Service with experience in operations and customer service. In addition to her current executive appointment, she has also held the position of PCES Postmaster of Charlotte, NC (First African American Female) and Postmaster of Las Cruces, NM (First African American). She has also served in a detailed capacity as Postmaster, Denton, TX, Manager, Post Office Operations, Capital District, PCES Plant Manager, Atlanta P&DC and Manager, Delivery Program Support, Capital Metro Area. She has also served in a detailed capacity as District Manager in the South Jersey District, Maryland District and the Kentucky- West Virginia District.
Mrs. Goodwin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University. She is a graduate of the Associate Supervisor Program (ASP), Advanced Leadership Program (ALP), Manager Distribution Operations Program, Manager Post Office Operations Program, Executive Foundations (EF) and Executive Leadership Program (ELP). She is also Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt trained.
LeGretta Goodwin is a member of National Council of Negro Women, Inc Greater Baltimore Section. She is a member of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce. She is a member First Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church. She is the proud mother of five children and nine grandchildren, all of whom she is totally devoted.
“To Whom Much Is Given, Much Will Be Required (Luke 12:48) I have been blessed with this wonderful opportunity as the
First African-American Female Postmaster for the City of Baltimore. I have been entrusted to manage wisely and unselfishly with focus on providing
world class service to my customers, both business and residential and enhancing the safety and wellbeing of my employees.”
Dr. Carla Diane Hayden, Librarian of Congress
First African American Woman appointed to the Library of Congress
Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on September 14, 2016. Dr. Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library, was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama on February 24, 2016, and her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year on July 13.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Hayden was the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, since 1993. She was the deputy commissioner and chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library from 1991 to 1993, an assistant professor of library and information science at the University of Pittsburgh from 1987 to 1991 and library services coordinator for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago from 1982 to 1987. She began her career with the Chicago Public Library as the young adult services coordinator from 1979 to 1982 and as a library associate and children’s librarian from 1973 to 1979.
Her vision for America’s national library, connecting all Americans to the Library of Congress, has redefined and modernized the Library’s mission: to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity. During her tenure, Dr. Hayden has prioritized efforts to make the Library and its unparalleled collections more accessible to the public. Through her social media presence, events and activities, she has introduced new audiences to many of the Library’s treasures – from Frederick Douglass’ papers, to the contents of President Abraham Lincoln’s pockets on the night of his assassination, to James Madison’s crystal flute made famous by Lizzo.
By investing in information technology infrastructure and digitization efforts, she has enabled the American people to explore, discover and engage with more with this treasure trove of America’s stories maintained by the Library of Congress, even if they never visit the Library’s buildings in and around Washington, D.C. With the support of a $15 million grant from Mellon Foundation, in 2021, Dr. Hayden launched the Of the People initiative, which is creating new opportunities for more Americans, especially Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and other communities of color underrepresented in the Library’s collections, to engage with the Library and add their perspectives to the Library’s collections.
In 1995, she was the first African American to receive Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year Award in recognition of her outreach services at the Pratt Library, which included an after-school center for Baltimore teens offering homework assistance and college and career counseling. Hayden received a B.A. from Roosevelt University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago. Among her numerous civic and professional memberships and awards, Dr. Hayden is an elected member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
“Some have noted that I am making history as the first woman, and the first African-American, in this post, and that is true.
As a descendent of people who were denied the right to read or write, to now have the opportunity to serve
and lead the institution that is our national symbol of knowledge, is indeed historic.”
Dawn Flythe Moore, First Lady of Maryland
First African American First Lady of Maryland
Dawn Flythe Moore is First Lady of the State of Maryland. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in government relations, non-profit work, building corporate partnerships, community organizing, campaign strategy, and fundraising, she is passionate about empowering women, fostering economic opportunity, and championing the arts. She has held positions in the highest levels of state government and has served on the board of non-profit organizations including Maryland’s State Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, and iMentor, which partners with high schools in communities where the majority of students served will be first-generation college graduates. She also served as chair of the Moore-Miller Inaugural Committee, whose inclusive efforts contributed to a reported 30 to 40 percent increase in business for Black-owned businesses during the week of Governor Moore’s inauguration, supported 34 jobs with minority-, women- and locally owned businesses, and generated more than $1.5 million in labor income.
The First Lady and Governor Wes Moore together established the Moore Family Foundation to make impact grants to local nonprofits, to provide thought leadership and organizational support and to create partnership alliances with community stakeholders, government entities and other philanthropic partners that are committed to place-based initiatives in Baltimore City. Under her leadership, the Moore Family Foundation has invested strategically in education, community enrichment, health research and development, veterans organizations, and the arts. A graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, Dawn holds a degree in Government and Politics and a certificate in Women’s Studies. The First Lady and Governor have two children, Mia and James, and recently adopted Tucker Balti Moore, the family’s dog.
“As women, we know that nothing is given – and everything is earned. But still, we know what it means to defy the odds, create
lasting change, and take control of our narratives. As First Lady of Maryland, I am working to create lasting change
for all Marylanders through the Moore-Miller Administration. My husband and I are committed to building a legacy
where although we were the first, we won’t be the last.”
Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew, Founder/CEO of Root Branch Media Group
First African American woman in the state of Maryland to purchase a block on Baltimore’s waterfront
Media Mogul Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew, HonD is the CEO, founder and visionary of the Root Branch empire consisting of: The RBMG Building, Root Branch OfficeSolutions, Root Branch Press Coffee & Co., 501(c)3 Root Branch Arts and Outreach Institute Inc., and Root Branch Media Group, an award-winning media production firm headquartered along Baltimore’s beautiful waterfront in Canton Harbor. In February 2024, she made history by kicking off Black History Month with being recognize by elected officials in the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland, as the first African American woman of Maryland to buy a block along Baltimore’s waterfront.
She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Maryland College Park. She is an alum of the 2023 Baltimore Leadership Class, and an alum of the Goldman Sachs 10KSB Program – Baltimore. In 2023 she received an honorary doctorate degree in Business Philosophy from Trinity International University of Ambassadors (TIUA). Also, in 2023 was named Top 100 Women in Maryland by the Daily Record and received the Women of Vision Award by the Women in Film and Video (WIFV) in Washington, DC. Other recipients of this distinguished award include Cicely Tyson, Ruby Dee, Gwen Ifill, Penny Marshall and Tipper Gore.
Dr. Pettigrew has over two dozen years of professional media experience as a filmmaker, writer, TV producer, director, media instructor and casting agent. She’s produced content for government agencies, corporations, universities and broadcast networks such as Discovery, TV One, and Baltimore’s Charm TV. Dr. Pettigrew has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Red Cross of Central Maryland. She also currently sits on the EXCEL- Excellence in Entrepreneurial Learning advisory board – a collaborative initiative of Annie E. Casey Foundation and Coppin State University andthe advisory council for Frostburg State University department of Communications.
“As the first African American woman in the state of Maryland to purchase a block on Baltimore’s waterfront,
I recognize that “I Bought The Building and I Bought The Block,” but it is ALL of us collectively
working together that will build our community #BuildingBlocks.”
Carolyn J. Scruggs, Secretary
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
First African American Woman Secretary of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Citing her vast experience in multiple divisions at the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Governor Wes Moore named Carolyn J. Scruggs, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, effective Friday, January 13, 2023. In becoming the Secretary, Ms. Scruggs made history as the first African-American female ever to be named the Department’s Secretary. Ms. Scruggs is a 29-year veteran of the Department and has served critical roles in pre-trial, corrections, and the DOC, including oversight of CJIS and programs, treatment, and services.
Ms. Scruggs played vital roles in developing both the statewide fingerprint and case management systems, as well as the award-winning Crisis De-Escalation Training. Starting as a correctional officer at Central Booking in 1995, Ms. Scruggs eventually became the facility’s warden, along the way working on the development of critical public safety components, including OCMS and MAFIS. In 2019, she assumed oversight of the department’s COVID-19 Response Operations, guiding the Department’s efforts during an unprecedented pandemic.
A graduate of Baltimore’s Western High School, she also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Towson State University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Coppin State University. Served as the first Assistant Secretary of Programs,treatment and reentry services developing pathways to successful transition for the incarcerated individuals.