The Women’s Law Center of Maryland’s Annual Awards is our biggest event of the year— a night to gather, honor changemakers, and celebrate the impact we’re making for women across Maryland. Join us to enjoy great food, good people, and to recognize the advocates and changemakers making a difference in the lives of Maryland survivors.
The Annual Celebration & Awards Ceremony brings together over 200 guests including nonprofit leaders, legal professionals, elected officials, local law firms, press, and community advocates. It’s a unique opportunity for changemakers and allies to come together in support of advancing justice for women—and for sponsors to stand alongside them.
But this is more than a celebration—it’s an urgent call-to-action. Funds raised directly support free lawyers for survivors and keep our doors open to those who need us most. Without this support, countless survivors will be left to face dangerous situations alone.
DOROTHY BEATTY MEMORIAL AWARD
Zenita Wickham Hurley, Esq.
Zenita Wickham Hurley is a Deputy Attorney General in the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, where she leads the Office of Equity, Policy, and Engagement and previously served as Counsel for Civil Rights and Chief of Legislative Affairs. Her work focuses on advancing racial and social equity through policy development and legislative initiatives related to criminal justice reform, civil rights, and economic opportunity, including initiatives such as the Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative and the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, she served as Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs and led minority business enterprise programs at the Maryland Department of Transportation. Earlier in her career, she worked as an attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau in Baltimore and at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and she holds degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park and New York University School of Law.
ROSALYN B. BELL AWARD
Hon. Christopher Panos
Hon. Christopher Panos is a senior judge in the Maryland Judiciary and a respected mediator and arbitrator with The McCammon Group. Over nearly two decades on the bench, he served as an associate judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City from 2013 to 2024 and previously on the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City from 2006 to 2013, following earlier service as Special Master in the Circuit Court’s Family Division. Prior to his judicial appointments, Judge Panos practiced law with Klemkowski & Panos, P.A., in Baltimore, building a strong foundation in legal advocacy and client representation. In addition to his judicial service, he has been deeply committed to strengthening the legal profession through judicial education and leadership, contributing to the Judicial College of Maryland and engaging with professional organizations such as the Maryland State Bar Association and the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges.
ROSALYN B. BELL AWARD
Hon. Stacy A. Mayer
Hon. Stacy A. Mayer serves as an Associate Judge on the Baltimore County Circuit Court, a position she has held since 2021, and was appointed Lead Civil Judge in 2024. Prior to joining the Circuit Court, she served with distinction as an Associate Judge on the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County from 2013 to 2021. Earlier in her career, Judge Mayer held key leadership roles in public service, including serving as Chief Legislative Officer in the Office of the Governor of Maryland, and spent more than a decade as an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Baltimore and Howard Counties. A Maryland native, she earned her B.A. from the University of Richmond and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law, and has remained actively engaged in judicial education and bar leadership throughout her career.
DOROTHY BEATTY MEMORIAL AWARD
Ariana Kelly
Ariana Kelly serves as the Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women, where she leads efforts to advance policies and initiatives that promote the rights, safety, and economic well-being of women and girls across the state. A lifelong advocate for gender equity and family economic security, she previously represented District 16 in the Maryland Senate from 2023 to 2024, following more than a decade of service in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2011 to 2023. During her legislative career, she built a reputation as a champion for reproductive health, healthcare access, and policies that strengthen families. Prior to holding elected office, Kelly was a leader in the advocacy and nonprofit sectors, including work with MomsRising and NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, where she mobilized communities and advanced policies to protect and expand reproductive freedom.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE AWARD
The Nicholas H. and Margaret H. Carlozzi Charitable Foundation, Inc.
The Nicholas H. and Margaret H. Carlozzi Charitable Foundation Inc., also known as the Carlozzi Family Foundation, was established in 1992 by Nicholas H. Carlozzi and Margaret H. Carlozzi to continue their family’s commitment to strengthening the communities where they live and work. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations across several states—including California, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania—with a focus on human services, education, and health. Among its initiatives, the foundation supports the Protective Order Advocacy & Representation Project (POARP) at the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, which provides free legal representation to survivors seeking protective orders against abusers. This support is granted in memory of Robert Carlozzi, who dedicated his passion and expertise to the WLC as a POARP and CLAS attorney from 2012-2017. Through these efforts, the Carlozzi Family Foundation helps expand access to justice and improve the well-being of vulnerable communities.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE AWARD
The Steve and Sheila Sachs Pursuit of Justice Fund
The Steve and Sheila Sachs Pursuit of Justice Fund honors the legacy of Baltimore attorneys Steve Sachs and Sheila Sachs and their longstanding commitment to mentorship, public service, and expanding access to justice. Sheila Sachs made particularly significant contributions to family law in Maryland, helping strengthen legal protections and advocacy for women and families. The Fund continues this legacy by supporting initiatives such as the Sachs Summer Fellowship at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the Women’s Law Center of Maryland’s Collateral Legal Assistance for Survivors (CLAS) program, which provides legal support to survivors of intimate partner violence. Led by Sheila’s daughter, Elisabeth Sachs—who also serves as Director of Government Modernization in the Office of Governor Wes Moore—the Fund continues to advance Sheila Sachs’ commitment to justice and public service.