Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has appointed three new commissioners and reappointed another to the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission effective July 1. Joining Maryland Public Television’s 11-member governing body are Richard J. Bodorff, Dr. Debra A. Bright, and Beth E. Suarez. Shelly L. Gardeniers, a commissioner since 2016, has been reappointed for a new, five-year term.
The Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission was created by statute in 1966 to establish and maintain a system of educational and cultural television programming for Maryland. The commission holds the federal license for broadcasting stations operated by MPT.
Richard J. Bodorff is senior counsel specializing in media law at Wiley Rein LLP, Washington, DC. He represents the nation’s largest radio broadcasting company and the largest television group owner. He has been a member of the board of the MPT Foundation, Inc. since 2019. Bodorff has also served on the boards of public TV’s advocacy organization, America’s Public Television Stations, and Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation, Richmond, Virginia, of which he was chair.
Bodorff holds a bachelor’s degree from Denison University and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He resides in Easton, Maryland, where he is chairman of the board of Governors of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and past chair of the boards of the YMCA of the Chesapeake, and the Academy Art Museum.
Dr. Debra A. Bright is associate dean of student affairs and immediate past chair of the President’s Advisory Committee on Equity and Inclusion at Montgomery College. She previously served for 13 years as director of admissions and student services at The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Dr. Bright is currently an advisory board member for the university’s National Council for Education and Human Development.
As a member of the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), she served on the NAGAP Executive Governing Board. She recently completed a six-year term on the steering committee for the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, as well as a six-year term on the Montgomery County Commission for Women, including two years as commission president.
Dr. Bright earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a master’s in education from Harvard University, and a doctoral degree in higher education administration from The George Washington University.
Beth E. Suarez is director of development for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Prior to accepting this position, she served as executive director of the Booz Allen Foundation. Earlier, she worked in development roles at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) over the course of 14 years, serving as the vice president of development for seven of those years. Suarez has also worked as senior director of development for Catholic Charities USA and as director of philanthropic relations for GuideStar. She also serves on the board of directors of the MPT Foundation, Inc.
Suarez is a graduate of Saint Lawrence University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in government. She resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Shelly L. Gardeniers is the principal of Artis Strategic Consulting, LLC, an Edgewater-based consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, oversight, and governance. She is also a member of the Maryland Board of Airport Zoning Appeals. She is a resident of Anne Arundel County.
Gardeniers holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service, international relations, law and organizations from Georgetown University. She also has a master’s degree in international affairs and international finance and business from Columbia.
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