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Horgan sworn in for fourth term as ��һ�Թ��� College Trustee

Published on July 10, 2025

NORTH EAST, Md. – Public service as a community college trustee plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of ��һ�Թ��� County, bridging education, workforce development, and community growth. Through her 18 years of dedicated service as a member of ��һ�Թ��� College’s Board of Trustees, Donna Horgan has exemplified this impact, championing initiatives that expand access to education, strengthen local job training programs, and forge strategic partnerships with county industries.

“��һ�Թ��� County has a lot to offer now and moving forward. And ��һ�Թ��� College plays a major role in preparing our residents for what is to come,” said Trustee Horgan, a lifetime resident of ��һ�Թ��� County. On July 8, Trustee Horgan was sworn into her fourth six-year term as a member of ��һ�Թ��� College’s Board of Trustees. Gov. Martin O’Malley initially nominated her for her first term in 2007, and she was re-nominated by Gov. Larry Hogan, with her current nomination made by Gov. Wes Moore.

Trustee Horgan’s leadership has not only enriched the College but also fueled broader economic development, helping the county prosper with a more skilled workforce and vibrant local economy. The outcome of her commitment is clear: empowered students, stronger communities, and a county better equipped to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

For more than three decades, Horgan has been a powerful advocate for ��һ�Թ��� College and other Maryland community colleges at the Maryland State House in Annapolis.

��һ�Թ��� College has been “near and dear” to Trustee Horgan’s heart ever since attending classes back in the 1970s. Since then, both of her daughters – Kimberly Elder and Blair Burkhardt – have graduated from ��һ�Թ���. Her eldest daughter went on to graduate from Wilmington University and now teaches at Perryville High School.

Trustee Horgan was sworn in by ��һ�Թ��� County Clerk of the Court Charlene M. Notarcola during a ceremony at the County Courthouse on July 8. Also present were ��һ�Թ��� College Board of Trustees Vice-Chair Kathy Kunda, ��һ�Թ��� College President Dr. Mary Way Bolt, and Trustee Horgan’s family, which included her grandson, Jack.

“��һ�Թ��� County is very fortunate to have ��һ�Թ��� College, which is making a difference for a lot of families. We have had several important programs established at the College, such as the Physical Therapist Assistant program, that have opened doors and allowed our students to be trained in professions that provide them with more than just a living wage,” said Trustee Horgan. She is looking forward to her grandson attending ��һ�Թ��� College, where his interest is in engineering. “My mother instilled the value of public service in me from an early age. She made me realize how important it is to help others around you,” added Trustee Horgan.

During her time at ��һ�Թ��� College, the institution has added the Engineering and Math Building, the first Gold Certified LEED building in ��һ�Թ��� County. In 2019, she was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Charlie O’Brien Practice Facility—the first privately funded structure to be built on a Maryland community college campus. She will take part in the ribbon-cutting of the College’s nearly completed second access road, the Mary Maloney Boulevard, and a new Facilities Building that will take place this Fall.

“I have been fortunate to watch the growth at ��һ�Թ��� College during my time on the Board. Working with the administration, the College has kept pace with the times,” said Trustee Horgan.

On the state level, Horgan was President of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges from 2014-2016, where she advocated for all of Maryland’s 16 institutions. She then served on the Board of the Association of Community College Trustees, an educational organization representing more than 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States.

Before retiring, Horgan’s advocacy work extended to Annapolis, where she developed positive working relationships with elected officials for more than 30 years. She kept them informed of the significant benefits that community colleges, notably ��һ�Թ��� College, provide to local communities and the state’s economy. In her position as Reading Clerk of the Maryland State Senate, she kept her ear to the ground to learn of any legislation that would impact community colleges.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for ��һ�Թ��� County residents to be able to get a college education without having to leave home. I know that going away to College and living on your own is a wonderful experience, but not everyone can afford it,” said Trustee Horgan. “��һ�Թ��� College has articulation agreements with so many four-year colleges and universities that the opportunities for ��һ�Թ��� County residents are endless now.”