Maxine Gross

Chairperson

Maxine Gross, a lifelong activist and learner, serves as chair of the College Park Partnership’s Board of Directors. Her connections to the Partnership’s founding institutions, the City of College Park and the University of Maryland at College Park, run deep; at least five generations of her family lived in the City’s historic Lakeland community and served as employees to what we now know as the University of Maryland.  Apart from several leadership roles such as civic association president, city council member, and historical society chairperson, she was educated exclusively in public schools within Prince George’s County, including an undergraduate degree in theater from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in human resource development from Bowie State University.

Carlo Colella

Vice-Chairperson

Mr. Colella was named Vice President for Administration and Finance at the University of Maryland in June 2013. As chief business officer, Mr. Colella is responsible for the university’s business operations and 1,352-acre physical environment, including nearly 14 million square feet of facilities. The division’s 1,200 staff ensures a safe, well-maintained, and clean environment; facilitates planning for the future of the campus and manages construction; manages financial operations and provides business support services; and promotes partnerships with surrounding communities.

Edward J. Maginnis, J.D.

Treasurer

Mr. Maginnis is the Assistant Vice President for Real Estate at the University of Maryland. His prior post was in the Office of Legal Affairs, serving as general counsel with a concentration on real estate and commercial law. Mr. Maginnis attended The Johns Hopkins University (B.A., 1984) and The American University Washington College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1988). Before joining the University of Maryland, Mr. Maginnis worked for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. In private practice, Mr. Maginnis’ practice areas included real estate, leasing, public finance, bankruptcy, adult guardianship, and commercial litigation. Mr. Maginnis serves as treasurer for the Partnership.

Stephen Brayman

Mr. Brayman is the former Mayor of College Park. Mr. Brayman served as mayor from 2001-2009. He counts the city’s improved relationship with state officials, other municipalities, the University of Maryland, and College Park among his proudest accomplishments. Before his time as mayor, Mr. Brayman served as a Safety and Risk Management Administrator for the city of Rockville. He was the president of the College Park Estates Citizens Association. He received a Bachelor’s in Economics and a Master’s in Industrial Technology from the University of Maryland. Mr. Brayman is chair of the Partnership’s Public Safety Committee.

Patricia (Patty) A. Perillo, Ed.D

Dr. Perillo began her work as the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) at the University of Maryland in 2019. The institution’s lived values of community, service, well-being, inclusion, and learning resonate with her deepest values. As a renowned scholar-practitioner for over 30 years, Patty has worked at seven institutions of higher learning before returning to UMD. Dr. Perillo now provides leadership and oversight for more than 14 departments and administrative units in the Division of Student Affairs at UMD. With a team of over 3,000 students, faculty, and staff, over a $240 million budget, and responsibility for nearly 50 percent of the campus’s physical capital, she is committed to ensuring transformative learning experiences for students. She is an international leader in higher education, having served as past president of ACPA – College Student Educators International located at the National Center for Higher Education. Dr. Perillo obtained her doctoral degree in Public and Community Health, with an interdisciplinary academic partnership with the Student Affairs program in the College of Education, from the University of Maryland.  Her master’s degree is in College Counseling and Student Affairs, and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology is from the University of Delaware. She has received many honors and awards, such as ACPA’s Esther Lloyd Jones Professional Service Award, ACPA’s Diamond Honoree Award, and inductions into Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. 

Sen. James C. Rosapepe

Senator Rosapepe is a member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 21 and serving as Deputy Majority Whip. First elected to the chamber in 2006, Rosapepe currently sits on the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. From 2001 to 2006, he served on the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland. In 1997, Senator Rosapepe was tapped by President Bill Clinton to be a U.S. Ambassador to Romania. Sen. Rosapepe is the former chair of the City-University Partnership and a resident of College Park.

Ken Ulman, J.D.

Mr. Ulman is President of Margrave Strategies, an innovative strategic consulting firm that provides a comprehensive array of economic development, planning, and visioning services to institutions, businesses, and other groups throughout Maryland and the mid¬Atlantic. The firm’s principal client is the University of Maryland College Park Foundation. Ulman serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Economic Development and President of the Terrapin Development Company, LLC. Ulman previously served two terms as Howard County Executive. Ulman has won numerous awards and was named a Tech Titan by Washingtonian Magazine, a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Driver by Government Technology Magazine, and a Regional Visionary by the Greater Baltimore Committee. Mr. Ulman served as president of the Maryland Association of Counties and chairman of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. He lives in Columbia with his wife, Jaki (also a proud Terp), and their daughters, Maddie and Lily.

Kenneth (Kenny) Young

Mr. Young brings more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience in the private sector and local government across the country. Before coming to the City of College Park, Mr. Young served as County Administrator – in Goochland County, VA, Assistant County Administrator – in Loudoun County, VA, Assistant Town Administrator in the Town of Capitol Heights, MD, Acting Assistant City Manager in the City of North Las Vegas, NV. He received his master’s degree in Public Administration and bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University.

Gloria Aparicio Blackwell

Gloria Aparicio Blackwell is the Founder & Director of the Office of Community Engagement at the University of Maryland College Park. She has devoted the past 25 years of her career to forging strong partnerships and collaborating with communities surrounding the University and beyond. Her work involves addressing societal challenges, educational opportunities, and resource access limitations. Aparicio Blackwell earned an associate’s degree in safety and fire science from Instituto Tecnológico de Seguridad Industrial in Venezuela, an Industrial Technology bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park, and a master’s in management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Kate Kennedy

Co-Chair, Trust Advisory Committee

Kate Kennedy recently completed her third term as a City Council member in District One. She earned her Master’s in Business Administration from Georgetown University and put her business savvy to work for nonprofits. An executive who specializes in fundraising, Kate has raised funds for the Girl Scouts, League of Women Voters, and a tuition-free private school in Anacostia. She currently serves as Chief Development Officer at the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. As co-chair of the College Park Community Preservation Trust Advisory Committee, Kate leverages her fundraising and business experience to advance the strategic priorities of the Trust.

Dr. Falzul Kabir

Mayor, City of College Park

Dr. Fazlul Kabir is the current Mayor of the City of College Park. He has lived in East Hollywood with his wife since 2003. Dr. Kabir has represented District 1 for the past 12 years. Before making College Park his home, he lived in England, where he received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Canada. For his day job, he works as an information architect for the Federal Government. He has also taught Cybersecurity at the University of Maryland for eight years. Dr. Kabir has advocated for strong public safety, better code enforcement, smart economic development, sustainable and green programs, aging-in-place for our seniors, partnership with the University, enhanced education in our schools, affordable housing, and a healthy mode of transportation.