Howard Community College Welcomes Four New Board Members to Board of Trustees
COLUMBIA, MD – Howard Community College (HCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Trustees: Alicia V. Altamirano, Esq.; Michele Douglas, Esq.; H. Russell Frisby Jr.; and Stacey Ullrich. These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to community service, further strengthening the board’s capacity to support the college’s mission and strategic direction.
“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional individuals to our Board of Trustees,” said Interim Board Chair Vivian Moore Lawyer, Esq. “Their diverse expertise and dedication to our community will be invaluable as we expand access to high-quality education and workforce training. The board looks forward to the diversity of ideas and exchange of knowledge with these individuals in support of the president and the mission of Howard Community College."
The board of trustees is appointed by the governor for six-year terms and is the college's legal governing body. In their role, the trustees have oversight of the college president and adopt a set of key performance indicators, (previously known as core ends) through which the operation of the college is directed.
"Our senior leadership team is committed to carrying out the trustees' vision of HCC as an economic driver for Howard County and a premier resource for our neighbors and residents' personal and professional development. We graciously embrace our new campus leaders and their commitment to building Dragon Country," stated Dr. Daria J. Willis, HCC President.
Dr. Carl Perkins was reappointed by Governor Wes Moore to the Howard Community College Board of Trustees to serve a term of 6 years from July 1, 2025.
The newly appointed trustees were also appointed by Governor Wes Moore. Their terms and brief backgrounds are:
- Alicia V. Altamirano, Esq., Managing Attorney at Ayuda and member of the Howard County La Alianza Latina Workgroup. Appointed to serve the remainder of a term beginning July 1, 2023.
- Michele Douglas, Esq., Partner at Public Policy Partners; State Policy Director for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Maryland Chapter. Appointed to serve the remainder of a term beginning July 1, 2022.
- H. Russell Frisby Jr., President of HRF Group LLC and Section Chair of the American Bar Association Board of Governors. Appointed to serve the remainder of a term beginning July 1, 2019, and a new term beginning July 1, 2025.
- Stacey Ullrich, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Exelon and active board member of several philanthropic organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the University System of Maryland Foundation, and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Appointed to serve the remainder of a term beginning July 1, 2024.
Read more about our new Board of Trustee Members:
Alicia Vanessa Altamirano, Esq.
Alicia Vanessa Altamirano is an accomplished immigration attorney and passionate advocate for immigrant communities. She currently serves as Managing Attorney at Ayuda, a nonprofit providing legal and social support to immigrants. Altamirano has also held key roles as Legal Director at Luminus Network for New Americans and ran her own immigration and family law practice for over eight years.
Her legal experience spans family law, humanitarian relief, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. She previously worked with organizations including the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland and HopeWorks of Howard County.
Altamirano holds a Juris Doctor from the University of the District of Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from the University of Utah. She has been named a “Super Lawyers Rising Star” from 2020 to 2024.
Bilingual and bicultural, Altamirano grew up between Costa Rica and the United States, primarily in New York City. She actively serves on the La Alianza Latina Workgroup in Howard County and chaired the Maryland Democratic Party’s Latino Diversity Leadership Council. Her interests include painting, poker, and her favorite film, “Good Will Hunting.”
Michele Douglas
Michele Douglas is a retired public policy expert and longtime advocate for social justice and healthcare equity in Maryland. As a partner at the influential lobbying firm Public Policy Partners, she played a central role in advancing legislation to expand earned sick leave, improve long-term care quality, and establish the state’s Alzheimer’s Disease Commission. In recognition of her impact, she received the George N. Manis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
Douglas’s public service career spans leadership roles including Director of Public Policy for the AIDS Administration at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and State Policy Director for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland Chapter. She has also contributed to reproductive health policy through her work with Planned Parenthood of Maryland.
A resident of Ellicott City, Douglas shares her life with her spouse, Laura Howell, Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Community Services. The pair was recently honored among Maryland’s “power couples” for their shared dedication to public service.
Russell Frisby Jr.
Russell Frisby Jr. is a nationally recognized regulatory and corporate counsel, currently serving as President of HRF Group LLC, a consulting firm focused on regulatory and corporate issues. With more than 20 years of experience advising energy, telecommunications, and technology companies, Frisby has earned a reputation as a thought leader in navigating complex legal landscapes shaped by evolving technology and policy.
His distinguished legal career includes more than a decade as a partner at Stinson LLP, where he led the energy and telecommunications practice group. He previously served as President of the Competitive Telecommunications Association (COMPTEL), where he championed network competition, and as Chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Frisby’s legal acumen has been recognized with repeated inclusion in “Super Lawyers” from 2010 and 2013–2019.
A graduate of Yale Law School and Swarthmore College, Frisby has represented clients before the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress, and federal agencies. Notable work includes advocacy for smart grid development, offshore wind energy approvals, and the introduction of ridesharing services in Maryland.
Frisby’s legacy is deeply influenced by his family’s history of excellence. His grandfather, Dr. Herbert M. Frisby, was an arctic explorer, educator, and biographer of Matthew Henson. His father rose from humble roots in rural Virginia to become a world-renowned prosthodontist and dean of Howard University’s dental school.
Stacey Ullrich
Stacey Ullrich is a seasoned communications and marketing executive with over two decades of leadership experience across the utility, energy, and apparel sectors. She currently serves as Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Baltimore Gas and Electric, a subsidiary of Exelon, the nation’s largest utility company. In this role, she leads strategic communication initiatives that engage stakeholders across Exelon’s multi-state footprint.
Prior to her current role, Ullrich spent nearly a decade at Under Armour, where she served as Global Head of Social Responsibility and Director of Global Philanthropy and Community Affairs. She also held the position of Executive Director of the Under Armour Foundation, where she drove corporate social impact initiatives. Her earlier experience includes leadership roles in marketing and outreach at Constellation Energy and Constellation NewEnergy.
A proud graduate of Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communications, Ullrich is also a graduate of Leadership Maryland (2012). She remains deeply committed to civic and philanthropic causes, serving on the Executive Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities (since 2010), the Board of Directors of the University System of Maryland Foundation, and as a participant in The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation’s Israel Mission & Alumni Scholars Program.
Howard Community College was recently named among the nation's top two-year colleges by Niche, an online college selection and data resource for families. HCC enrolls nearly 22,000 credit and non-credit students of all ages from more than 104 countries and yields more than $343 million in economic impact as one of Howard County's largest employers.