Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives Announces New Service and Volunteerism Director Appointment

Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives Announces New Service and Volunteerism Director Appointment

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives today announced the appointment of the new director for the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, Dr. Samélia Okpodu-Pyuzza.

“Dr. Samélia Okpodu-Pyuzza has demonstrated leadership through her years of dedicated service to Maryland,” said Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives Executive Director Steven J. McAdams. “Her service experience and exceptional programmatic and project management skills are an asset to our office and we are thrilled to continue our work with her in this new role.”

Founded in 1993, the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism uses federal funds to support 17 AmeriCorps programs that support disaster relief, economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, public safety, health, and the environment in Maryland. As a unit of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives and a component of the Maryland State Service Commission, the office has honored nearly 100,000 Maryland volunteers on behalf of Governor Larry Hogan.

Dr. Okpodu-Pyuzza brings experience in research and systems development, program implementation, and policy design to her new role. A former biomedical scientist and Howard University graduate, Dr. Okpodu-Pyuzza previously served as associate director for the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism. Prior to joining the Governor’s Coordinating Offices, she was executive project manager at End Hunger In Calvert County, Inc., a premier regional nonprofit network of food pantries and feeding organizations in southern Maryland, and served in AmeriCorps Volunteer Maryland.

“On behalf of the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, we welcome Dr. Okpodu-Pyuzza to this new role,” said Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism Joshua Pedersen. “Together we will work to advance volunteerism, national service, and our state service plan strategies.”  

“I am honored to serve as director for the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism,” said Dr. Okpodu-Pyuzza. “I am eager to build upon Maryland’s rich legacy of civic engagement as we continue to work to strengthen and empower Maryland’s communities.”