Patricia Sherer Florestano, Alpha Rho-Maryland, a leading voice in higher education in the state of Maryland, is one such AWE-inspiring Woman over 50, who has made a difference in education and how higher education is perceived, throughout the years. Pat, already holding an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, decided to start working on her master’s degree when her children were younger. “I shared babysitting time with several KD friends, so I decided on the days my kids were with a friend, I would go back to school,” Pat explains. She didn’t set out to start a career with this decision, but according to Pat, “Serendipity is a wonderful thing.” Pat worked at the university while her husband pursued his doctorate. It was at this point that Pat was offered a fellowship to work on her PhD. Along Pat’s path, she has been lucky enough to have mentors who really helped her see what needed to be done and gave her the beginning steps to get things done. In the 1970’s, Pat interned for an up-and-coming state senator, Steny Hoyer, now majority leaders of the US Congress. In this internship, she learned the ins and outs of the legislature and the political system. Pat had considered running for public office until she traveled with Senator Hoyer. “I would watch him answer the same question over and over again, and I just decided that I didn’t have the patience for that,” she says. She used her talents to better serve the students who needed to go to college in order to make something of themselves. She was Vice Chancellor for Government Relations for the University System. She lobbied the government for more money for higher education. Pat says, “When state budgets have to be cut, higher education takes it in the ear.” She worked diligently to convince lawmakers that higher education was an area that needed money. “I lobbied to show that funding higher education was an investment in the future,” Pat notes. “It didn’t matter to me if I were talking to a Republican or Democrat, I just wanted them to recognize the value of higher education.” Another mentor that truly inspired her was her dissertation professor at the University of Maryland. He went on to win the office of Governor of Maryland. Pat worked on his transition team and he chose her to fill the position of Secretary of Higher Education for the state of Maryland. During her time as Secretary of Higher Education, Pat was able to build strong and cooperative working relations between the higher education commission and all colleges and universities in the state, culminating in production of a new state plan for higher education in Maryland. Today, Pat is still very highly invested in higher education in Maryland, serving on the Board of Regents for the University of Maryland, a system composed of 13 campuses across the state. She is serving a five-year term on the Board of Regents. In this capacity, she chairs the education policy committee, approves new program for the 13 campuses of the university systems, such as the doctor of practice in nursing, which is a program that is designed to encourage nurses to become faculty members. Pat has been honored many times throughout the years for her tireless work for higher education. Some of the awards she has received are the Spirit of Excellence award from the University of Baltimore Alumni, Who’s Who in American Women, Who’s Who in the East and Who’s Who in American Education, just to name a few. Pat was elected to the American Society of Public Administration and went on to serve as the first woman president, breaking the barrier for more women to follow. “It was icing on the cake when I was elected president,” Pat notes. “By being elected president of a male-dominated organization, I helped other women to achieve goals that had been off-limits to them.” But Pat says she is proudest of the AWE-Inspiring Woman over 50 award presented to her by Kappa Delta. “I treasure Kappa Delta and the difference it has made in my life,” Pat says. Pat was president of the Alpha Rho chapter at the University of Maryland. “I believe that the year I spent as president of Kappa Delta was a great training for other leadership activities,” Pat states. “It was all about working with various types of people and bringing them together on numerous and assorted issues.” And Pat has never forgotten Kappa Delta and the friendships she life-long friendships she forged. “To this day, I get together regularly with 12 of my KD sisters.” The ladies meet each May for a get-away weekend in West Virginia and Virginia. Some KDs come from as far away as New York and Denver for the gatherings. It’s a time of fun, relaxation and sharing the memories of Kappa Delta that each one values.