Constance Ross Beims (1938- )
MSA SC 3520-13605
Biography:
Constance Ross Beims devoted her life to bettering women's and minorities' lives and opportunities in the work force. As Maryland’s first female Appointments Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff, Beims worked hard to give Maryland one of the country's highest female to male ratios in the state work force. She continued to advocate for women and minorities through her various positions with groups like the Governor’s Task Force on Violence and Extremism and the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.
Beims was born in Maryland on August 24, 1938.1 As an adolescent, Beims was involved in the extra-curricular activities she would later support and encourage as an adult. She credits her participation in Girl Scouts and athletics as giving her confidence, a desire to help others, and teaching her cooperation and teamwork.2 Beims’ passion for community service sparked while volunteering with speech-impaired children during her summer vacation. At only 14 years old, she learned the importance of helping others and serving her community, which would translate to her career as an adult.3 Beims claims that her activities as a young woman strongly supported her success as an adult, telling the Maryland Commission for Women, “I believe that diversity of my experiences in this part of my life laid the foundation for my professional life—a life that required articulating issues, building consensus, and working at serious and important tasks until they were finished.”4
After marrying William “Bill” Beims, Constance decided to earn her baccalaureate degree while raising their four children. She excelled at the challenge, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Goucher College with a degree in Political Science in 1976.5, 6 During her undergraduate education, Beims worked as a substitute teacher and continued volunteering. She also became the legislative analyst for Maryland State Senator Aruthur Henry Helton, Jr., of Harford County, a year before graduation.7
After fifteen years away from the workforce, Beims transitioned to professional life at a time of major change for working women. Women were still expected to perform secretarial duties, such as typing and providing administrative assistance.8 But as the numbers of women entering the workplace increased, women’s responsibilities also accumulated. This trend put Beims and other women in newly found leadership positions. Beims used this power to remove barriers that hurt minorities’ ability to succeed, a theme that would repeat itself in her work in public and community service.
One of Beims first leadership positions was as Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women. She was appointed in 1978 after initally serving as a legal liaison.9 She advocated for the Commission to support programs furthering women’s issues and helping women in crisis. She also worked to include women at all levels of academic and government positions.10 During Beims tenure as director, the Commission also lobbied tirelessly for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution.11
In 1981, Beims became the first female Appointments Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff for the state of Maryland.12 She was appointed by Governor Harry Hughes and served for six years. During her tenure, Beims was in charge of over fourteen thousand new appointments to the governor’s cabinet, commissions, and judiciary boards and often served as a media contact for these appointments, patiently explaining budgeting or hiring conflicts to local papers and other media outlets.13 Within her first month on the job, Beims developed a favorable relationship with state politicians. “I'd never met her before that, but she seemed very knowledgeable about the county, and she was very warm,” said Senator Mike Miller, after Beims took her first “green bag,” a famous bag filled with the Governor’s appointments, down to the state legislature.14 Beims continued her good relations within state government and was able to increase the number of minorities in appointed state government positions. In just two and a half years, the percentage of women in state jobs increased from eighteen to twenty-eight percent.15 Beims and Governor Hughes changed the atmosphere surrounding political appointments. Instead of appointing jobs purely as political favors, Governor Hughes began asking for resumes and looking for qualifications instead of connections. Beims sought out the opinion of black caucuses, women's networks, and professional organizations to find qualified minorities for positions.16 She used this position to increase minority presence and power in Maryland government, "I don't mean raw power to bludgeon people, but to affect change of the status quo," she told The Frederick Post.17 Beims succeeded. During Beims tenure as Appointments Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff, Maryland had one of the highest ratios of women to men in state government.18
Beims experience as Appointments Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff demonstrated her ability to detect issues, organize the help of others, and find solutions. These skills, along with her passion of advocating for minority groups, led to her appointment as chairperson of the Governor’s Task Force on Violence and Extremism, a new commission established by Governor Hughes.19 The Task Force contained law-enforcement leaders, agency department heads, college presidents, and court appointees with the purpose of assuring that the State of Maryland, through its laws, procedures, and policies, did not support racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination or intimidation.20 Beims and her colleagues ensured that acts like offensive graffiti or the burning of crosses did not go uninvestigated.21 The task force went on to establish the Institute for the Control and Prevention of Violence and Extremism, which served as a national clearing house for information and research on acts of ethnic, religious, and racial violence.22 As the first institute to combat prejudice-based violence, the Institute for the Control and Prevention of Violence and Extremism led to the creation of the National Institute Against Prejudice and Violence.23
After serving under Governor Hughes, Beims left her positions under Governor Hughes to work as the Vice President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), in 1987.24 Beims' skills as a moderator between diverse groups eased pressure surrounding the building of new facilities and general tasks as a University leader. Beims' most memorable undertaking as Vice President was fund raising for the $19 million library tower that currently stands on UMBC’s campus.25
In the mid 1990s, Beims took on another leadership position where she could continue have a positive impact on women’s lives, when she became the first Vice President of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.26 Beims, an avid Girl Scout since her childhood, began serving on the board for Girls Scouts of Central Maryland in 1994 before rising to the position of Vice President. Beims worked toward the goals of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, which are to empower girls by teaching them lifelong skills while improving their self-esteem. Beims accomplished this in numerous ways. Displaying her ability to unite different groups, she organized the Maryland Commission for Women, the Girl Scouts, and the Maryland American Association of University Women to cosponsor the first Maryland State Conference on Girls, which Beims co-chaired.27 She also served as chair of the Fund Development Committee for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, where she created the capital campaign committee to raise funds for the 21st Century endowment and Girl Scout Service Center.28 Once again, Beims used her skills as a fundraiser and group organizer and moderator to further the advancement of women in the state of Maryland.
Beims’ reputation as an advocate for women’s and minorities rights led to her involvement and placement to many groups and events in Maryland. Governor Parris Glendening named her to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities. The commission works to ensure fair practice in the Maryland judicial branch and Beims was one of five members.29 Beims also planned numerous conferences including the first conference for Hispanic Women in Maryland, the Conference on Battered Women, Sexual Harassment in the workplace, and the first University of Maryland Conference on the Status of Women in Higher Education.30 Aside from planning conferences, she also speaks at events, usually on the subject of women’s rights and advancements in society and the workplace. She spoke at Hood College in 1983 to a group of women about job opportunities in politics and the requirements and processes of applying for government.31 She also spoke about the history of women fighting for a higher political and socioeconomic status at the Women in Washington County conference, sponsored by Hagerstown Junior College and New Directions for Women in 1981.32 These are just some of the conferences and groups she has spoken to, sharing her knowledge and inspiring Marylanders to continue to fight for women and minority’s rights and representation in government.
Beims’ work as a fearless advocate for minority’s rights has not gone unnoticed. Beims was chosen as the first woman to be honored in Harford County's Women's History Week in 1983.33 Some of her other awards include the Senator Charles McC. Mathias Award, given by the American Faculty of Public Administrators for service to the citizens of Maryland, the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Distinguished Woman Award, and the American Council of Higher Education-Maryland Chapter, Woman Administrator of the Year Award.34 In 2001, she received the Goucher College- Alumnae Award for Excellence in Public Service for demonstrating outstanding commitment and leadership in public service.35 She was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in March 1998.36
Beims shared advice for young women during an interview with the Maryland Commission for Women and Department of Education. She encouraged girls to, “Complete as much of your formal education as possible while you are young because you will have to build continuously on that foundation throughout your life.”37 She also expanded on what the future will bring for everyone, including women, saying, “The increased racial, religious, and ethnic diversity in our population, coupled with the rapidity of technological change, will present both exciting and difficult challenges. It will become even more important for bright, compassionate, and capable people to serve the citizens of our state and country in public and community service. Value your integrity-it cannot be regained.”38 Her words of wisdom are applicable today and will certainly continue to be relevant.
After dedicating her life to increasing opportunities for women and
minorities, Beims currently lives in Darlington, Maryland, with her husband,
Bill.39
Her story is inspiring to all who work to make a difference and better
our government and community. Everyone, especially young women, can learn
from Beims’ advice and gains from her accomplishments.
Endnotes:
1. “Constance R. Beims,” Maryland Commission
for Women, Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, 3 March 1998. http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshall/html/beims.html
Return
to text.
2. Carolyn Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History, Forestville, MD: Women of Achievement in Maryland
History Incorporated, 2002, pg. 120-121. Return
to text.
3. “Maryland Women Who Dare: Paving
the Way to the New Millennium,” Maryland State Department of Education,
Maryland State Commission for Women, Baltimore, MD, 2000. http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/16/ca/81.pdf
Return
to text.
4. Ibid. Return
to text.
5. Ibid. Retrun
to text.
6. Carolyn Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History, Forestville, MD: Women of Achievement in Maryland
History Incorporated, 2002, pg. 120-121. Return
to text.
7. Ibid. Return
to text.
8. “Maryland Women Who Dare: Paving
the Way to the New Millennium,” Maryland State Commission for Women,
Baltimore, MD, 2000. Return
to text.
9. Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History. Return
to text.
10. “Constance R. Beims,” Maryland
Commission for Women, Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. Return
to text.
11. Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History. Return
to text.
12. Ibid. Return
to text.
13. “Constance R. Beims.” Maryland
Women’s Hall of Fame. Return
to text.
14. Dale Russakoff, “Area Lawmakers
Confront a Potpourri of Problems and Politics; Hughes' Green Bag Has an
Olive Branch,”
The Washington Post, February 21, 1981. Return
to text.
15. CAROLYN BARRANCA, “Governors’
aide gives office female advocate,” The Frederick Post, March 31,
1989. Return
to text.
16. Ibid. Return
to text.
17. Ibid. Return
to text.
18. Ibid. Return
to text.
19. “Constance R. Beims.” Maryland
Women’s Hall of Fame. Return
to text.
20. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
21. Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History. Return
to text.
22. “Maryland plans center to fight
religious, racial violence.” The Frederick Post. January 17, 1984.
Return
to text.
23. “Constance R. Beims.” Maryland
Women’s Hall of Fame. Return
to text.
24. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
25. Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History. Return
to text.
26. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
27. Stegman, Women of Achievement
in Maryland History. Return
to text.
28. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
29. “Governor names five to panel
of judicial watchdogs,”
The Baltimore Sun, February 27, 1997. Return
to text.
30. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
31. “Constance Beims to speak Monday
at Hood lunch,”
The Frederick Post, March 26, 1983. Return
to text.
32. “Transcript: Women in Washington
County. A Conference Cosponsored by Hagerstown Junior College and CASA/New
Directions for Women,” Hagerstown, Maryland, April 1981. Return
to text.
33. “Constance Beims to speak Monday
at Hood lunch,”
The Frederick Post, March 26, 1983. Return
to text.
34. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
35. “Awards.” Goucher College.
http://www.goucher.edu/x2544.xml
Return
to text.
36. “Constance R. Beims.” Maryland
Women’s Hall of Fame. Return
to text.
37. “Maryland Women Who Dare,” Maryland
State Commission for Women. Return
to text.
38. Ibid. Return
to text.
39. Ibid. Return
to text.
Biography written by 2009 summer intern Stephanie Berger.
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