Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵

Royal Banks ‘20, M.Ed. ‘22
Chair

Royal Banks graduated from Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵with a degree in history and secondary education in 2020 and a master of education in 2022. During her time at Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, she was actively involved on campus as the co-founder of Black Seed and Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵’s History Club. Royal has served as a social studies teacher in Baltimore City and currently works at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth as a program manager while pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education leadership. Royal is passionate about education, advocacy, and service, and she enjoys dancing, baking, and traveling. Royal is excited to serve as chair of BAAAAG and CREI liaison for AAGC and looks forward to strengthening alumni connections, fostering community, and creating meaningful opportunities for graduates to stay engaged with Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵.

Favorite Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ memory:

GIG was always a day I looked forward to. Awesome day with friends and amazing memories.

Fun fact:

I enjoy playing Sims 4!

Denise Glass ‘80
Vice Chair

After a distinguished 44-year career with the federal government, I retired in 2025 as a senior leader. In addition to my professional leadership experience, I serve as a deaconess in the Body of Christ Church, Waldorf, MD, where I am passionate about encouraging and uplifting others, especially women, as they grow in confidence and navigate their personal, professional, and spiritual journeys. My new career-to-calling is acceptance into the 2026 doctor of ministry in strategic leadership program at Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA. Through  strategic thinking, collaboration, and a strong commitment to excellence, I am excited to help support and elevate BAAAAG in advancing its mission and goals within the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ community.

Favorite Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ memory:

While at Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, one of my favorite memories was the lifelong friendship I formed with three other students: Katrina Cole Turner ’77, Hannah Gaylord Woodard ’77, and Valerie McClain Tate ’78. Our friendship was based on trust, inspiring each other to succeed, and lots of laughter. We even created a brand for ourselves, the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ettes. Fifty years later, the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ettes had lunch to continue our journey of love, respect, bonding, and having fun.

Fun fact:

I hugged a large white tiger when in Phuket, Thailand, in 2025, which means I am a daredevil.

Bessie Yvonne Everett ‘73
Communications Chair

B.A., Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ College; M.F.A., Howard University; M.S., Johns Hopkins University. Thomas J. Watson Fellow, 1973. Studied African art and textile design for one year in Ghana and Nigeria, West Africa. Davidson-Forman Graduate Fellowship, 1975-76. Retired from Verizon after 25 years of service. Serves on the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ Jewell Robinson Dinner Committee, as the BAAAAG communications chair, and as one of the original founders of the Imani Fund, which assists students in studying abroad. Painted the altar wall mural of Bethel A.M.E. historic church in Baltimore City. Maryland State Women's Fencing Champion, 1971. Captain of the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ fencing team,1971-73. Has one child and resides in Baltimore.

Favorite Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ memory:

Love to smell the flowers while meditating at Alicia Carter's memorial in the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ Community Garden.

Fun fact:

Being on the fencing team and traveling to various states to compete.

Marilyn Barber ‘79
Secretary

Marilyn is returning for her second term on the BAAAAG Executive Committee and remains an active member of the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵community. A dedicated supporter of BAAAAG and Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ programs, she regularly attends events, including the annual Jewell Robinson Dinner, and helped plan the inaugural Black Brilliance event during Alumnae/i Weekend 2026.

Favorite Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ memory:

Dinner at the Heubeck Hall and coming back and connecting with Dr. Velder, former education professor. Sharing about educational trends.

Fun fact:

I enjoy singing on Concert Choirs and doing crafts such as crochet and knitting.

Jordan Abrams ‘25
Social Chair

My name is Jordan Abrams, and I was a December 2025 graduate and an individualized interdisciplinary major. For my three disciplines, I chose education, economics, and public health, representing my long-term career goals of developing new system approaches in public health education and programming. During all four and a half years at Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, I was honored to be an executive board member, and eventually president, of the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ Black Student Union. This leadership experience set the foundation for my drive to work for and within the communities I care about. My goal as a first-time BAAAAG chair is to expand our communications, attract more Black alumnae, and create a new network for connection!

Favorite Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ memory:

My favorite Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ memory has to be bringing the GBSU Annual Student Showcase to life my sophomore year and seeing how it has expanded and changed as the club continues on its journey!  It's always an exciting time of the year, and it always brings new people together and allows us to see each other in a new light.

Fun fact:

I grew food at the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ garden during the summer of 2024 while living on campus. It was one of those moments where I felt like I had fallen into something meant for me—I love gardening and horticulture now!