Constance Ross Beims

Constance “Connie” Ross Beims is an extraordinary example of what it is to be a true humanitarian, exemplified by her many achievements through her work as an educator, state, and university official, volunteer, wife, and mother.

She was born in Maryland on August 24, 1938. Beims graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1956 and from Goucher College in 1976. She received the Elizabeth Statuta Baker Award for Excellence in Public Service from the college in 2001.

In 1997, Beims served as the Co-Chair of the first Maryland State Conference on Girls and was critical in establishing the sponsoring coalition of the Maryland Commission for Women, the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM), and the American Association of University Women, Maryland. In addition, Beims was the first to identify the need for a conference to help girls value themselves, learn life skills, and empower them to become healthy women.

Serving as First Vice President and Chair of the Fund Development Committee for GSCM, Beims formed the capital campaign committee to help raise funds for the Girl Scout Service Center and the 21st Century endowment.

As Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women and as the guiding force in establishing the University of Maryland’s Commission on Women, Beims has helped to open the doors for the inclusion of women at all levels of governmental and academic decision-making. Her accomplishments led to widespread recognition of the need to support women’s issues and programs to help women in crisis.

Beims’ dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed in Annapolis. She was the first woman appointed to the positions of Appointments Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Harry Hughes. As Appointments Secretary, she was responsible for more than 14,000 appointments to the Governor’s Cabinet, judiciary, boards, and commissions. Beims’ innate ability to recognize problem areas, identify solutions, and organize the support of others was reason enough for Governor Harry Hughes to name her chairperson of the Governor’s Task Force on Violence and Extremism. As chair, Beims brought together several disparate groups and agencies to promote tolerance. It was these efforts that brought about the formation of the National Institute Against Prejudice and Violence, which is recognized today for promoting understanding in a multicultural environment.

In 1987, as vice president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Beims’ problem-solving abilities were, once again, instrumental in bridging understanding between diverse groups and creating better relations between students and staff. Her skills as a coalition builder were essential in bringing academics, governmental officials, and community leaders together and raising the funding for the $19 million library tower that graces the UMBC campus today.

For her strong advocacy for racial harmony, nonviolence, and women’s rights, the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland honored Beims with the 1993 Distinguished Woman Award. At each step of her career, Beims has helped women by opening opportunities for them to achieve and excel. Constance Ross Beims’ selfless acts, extreme compassion, and tireless dedication to service have provided much-needed programs and resources for girls and women and the State of Maryland.

“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.” - Constance Beims, “Maryland Women Who Dare” (2000).

Biography courtesy of the Maryland Commission for Women, 1998; updated 2023.