BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Commission for Women announced March 13, 2026, the eight women selected for induction into the 2026 class of the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, recognizing their leadership and lasting contributions in public service, health, science, advocacy and business.
The inductees will be formally recognized during a special ceremony held in March as part of Women’s History Month. The Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, established in 1985, honors women whose achievements have shaped the state’s social, cultural, political and economic landscape and continue to inspire future generations of Maryland women and girls.
The 2026 inductees are Dr. Sharon Camp, Sen. Delores Kelley, Susan Turnbull, Lieutenant Emily J.T. Perez, Elda M. Devarie, Wendy Chun-Hoon, Dr. Margaret Oakley Dayhoff and Annunciata “Nancy” Lombardi D’Alesandro.
Dr. Sharon Camp is a nationally recognized public health leader and advocate for women’s reproductive health. She founded her own pharmaceutical company to bring emergency contraception to market, with the goal of placing it directly in the hands of women and making abortion safer.
Sen. Delores Kelley served nearly three decades in the Maryland General Assembly, breaking racial and gender barriers. She held key leadership roles including chair of the Finance Committee and vice chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Her legislative work advanced protections for abortion rights, victims of domestic and sexual violence, and incarcerated women.
Susan Turnbull has led in political organizing, community activism, philanthropy and public service for more than 50 years. She served as a Democratic national committeewoman from 1992 to 2011, championed leadership opportunities for women, co-founded Emerge Maryland, chaired the Maryland Democratic Party and was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018.
Lieutenant Emily J.T. Perez made history as the first African American and first Latina woman to serve as cadet command sergeant major at the United States Military Academy. She became the first African American female officer in U.S. military history killed in combat and the first female West Point graduate to lose her life in the Iraq War.
Elda M. Devarie built EMD Sales, Inc., one of the fastest-growing international foods distributors in the Mid-Atlantic region. Started in 1989 from the back of a van, the company now employs more than 150 people and serves major supermarket chains, restaurants and ethnic stores.
Wendy Chun-Hoon has advanced equitable labor and economic policies throughout her career, elevating voices of women and historically marginalized communities. She has held senior roles in state and federal government and nonprofit organizations, known for strategic advocacy and coalition-building.
Dr. Margaret Oakley Dayhoff, a pioneering scientist and mathematician, is called the “mother and father of bioinformatics.” Her foundational work in protein sequencing, including insulin, continues to influence biochemists today.
Annunciata “Nancy” Lombardi D’Alesandro served as one of Baltimore’s longest-serving first ladies and was the only woman in the city’s history to be both wife and mother of Baltimore mayors. Known as a “one-woman social services agency,” she advocated tirelessly for housing, employment and medical care for immigrant communities and low-income residents.
The Maryland Commission for Women, a 25-member advisory board, identifies areas where laws, policies, practices, programs and procedures impact women or girls disparately and advocates for changes to make Maryland more equitable and inclusive.
The Hall of Fame induction continues a long-standing Maryland tradition of celebrating women’s achievements. Biographies and additional details on each inductee are available through the Maryland Department of Human Services.
Southern Maryland residents in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties can connect with the commission’s work through statewide initiatives that support women’s leadership and equity. The 2026 class highlights diverse contributions that strengthen communities across the state, including advancements in health access, legislative protections, military service, business growth and scientific innovation.
