The College of Southern Maryland will celebrate its 50th spring commencement at its La Plata Campus May 14. Retired Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland Theresa A. Nolan will provide the commencement address.
Nolan, a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County, served as Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Maryland from June 1997 until her retirement in July 2000. Prior to that, Nolan served 12 years as a Judge of the District Court of Maryland. During her judicial career Nolan focused in the areas of gender equality and domestic violence. In her work as a jurist and an educator of paralegals, she has worked to guarantee equal treatment under the law and to help create a fair and accessible judicial system.
Nolan began her legal career as a legal secretary in Upper Marlboro, entering college when the youngest of her 11 children was 2 years old. Throughout her college and law school education, she continued to work full time to help support her family. Nolan served as a law clerk in the Prince George’s County Office of Law and entered private practice upon her admission to the bar. She served as a Master for Domestic Relations Causes in Prince George’s County from 1980 until her appointment to the District Court in 1985.
The first woman elected president of the Prince George’s County Bar Association, Nolan also served as district director of District 4 of the National Association of Women Judges.
A recipient of the 1986 Business and Professional Woman of the Year award and recognition as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 1998, Nolan has been an instructor in the paralegal programs at the University of Maryland University College, Prince George’s Community College and the United States Department of Agriculture.
After retirement Nolan started a mediation business. She resides in Annapolis.
CSM’s graduation activities include an Honors Convocation at 6 p.m., May 13 on the front lawn of the Administration Building to recognize students with academic honors. Rain location is in the Physical Education (PE) Building. A nurses’ recognition program begins at 1 p.m., May 14 in the PE Building, followed by a reception in the Center for Business and Industry (BI), Room BI-113.
The college’s 50th Spring Commencement Ceremony will begin at 6 p.m., May 14 on the Administration Building front lawn with a reception to follow in BI Building, Room BI-113. The rain location is the PE Building. For information, call (301) 934-7765 or (301) 870-2309, or visit www.csmd.edu/commencement/.
