National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 87
YEO Bios
Craig Rice
County Councilmember
Germantown, Maryland
Craig Rice is a county councilmember from Germantown, Maryland. He
is the current council president for the Montgomery County Council. His
political career began in fall 2006 when he was elected to the Maryland
House of Delegates, defeating a 12 year incumbent. In the legislature,
he served on the Ways and Means Committee and the Education and
Fiscal Revenue subcommittees. In 2010, Rice was elected to his current
position, which made him the youngest African American to ever serve on the nine member council,
and only the second African American man to ever serve in that role. On the council, he serves on
the Education and the Health and Human Services Committees. Prior to holding elected office, he
worked for Marriott International, Aramark Corporation, and as a business development manager for
the government of Puerto Rico. @RicePolitics
Mike Richards
County Board Member
Champaign, Illinois
County Board Member Mike Richards serves as the chairman for the
Champaign, Illinois county board. Previously he has worked as political
director for Congresswoman Robin Kelly in her 2010 State Treasurer
race, and campaign manager for David Gill in 2012. As a board member,
Richards has worked with the General Assembly to pass legislation which
expands early voting and makes possible same-day voter registration. He
is president of the Illinois Association of County Board Members and a vice president of his state
political party’s youth chapter. @mrocketrichards
Naima Ricks
Board of Education Member
Roselle, New Jersey
YEO National Convening | 2015
Naima Ricks moved to Roselle, N.J., at the age of two and in 2014 was
elected as the youngest member of the Roselle Board of Education. She
is now the board’s vice president and serves as the chairwoman of its
Policy Committee and Buildings and Grounds Committee. Ricks earned
her bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University and her master’s
degree in college student personnel administration from Seton Hall
University. Ricks currently works at Fordham University as a counselor for the Collegiate Science
and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP). These
programs are designed to prepare minority and economically disadvantaged scholars for careers in
scientific, technical, health-related and licensed professions.
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