2025 Alumnae Awards

List of 5 items.

• Susan Nawrocki Brennan ’75

  Rooted in the Mercy values that shaped her, Susan Nawrocki Brennan ’75 is committed to leadership and service. Guided by the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concern of care for the environment, she serves as a member of the Fenwick Island Town Council, chairing the planning commission and infrastructure committee. An active member of the environmental committee, she recently played an important role in designing the Town of Fenwick Pollinator Park, a beautiful space that encourages growth of natural pollinators. As a University of Maryland Master Gardener, Susan has volunteered at St. Vincent’s Villa, Villa Maria School, and Gallagher Services, offering therapeutic horticulture for at-risk youth and adults with disabilities. 
  
  

  Susan has served on several Mercy reunion and Gala committees; she chaired the 2018 Garnet Gala honoring Sister Mary Anne Smith, RSM. In 2014, Susan and her husband joined several other family members in funding the restoration of the historic Our Lady of Mercy statue originally on the grounds of Mount St. Agnes in Mount Washington and now prominently displayed in Mercy’s original lobby. Susan has also lent her considerable leadership ability to the Loyola Blakefield Blue & Gold celebration, the Cathedral Ball, and the School of the Cathedral School Board. She is now leading a team of parishioners dedicated to caring for the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen’s grounds. 
  
  

  Susan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in geography and environmental planning from Towson University. Her professional career has included many years of work with real estate development firms and in facilities management.

• Lenora Henry ’88

  The deep commitment of Lenora Henry ’88 to be a Woman of Mercy for others has led to a career in public service that today touches the lives of thousands of Marylanders. In 2022, Lenora made history as the first woman to serve as Executive Director of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce. Since 2023, she has served those in need as the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Central Maryland. In this role, Lenora leads community engagement and Red Cross service delivery in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford, and Carroll counties. Her leadership was pivotal during the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March 2024, when she and her team provided support to those affected by the tragedy.  She is a member of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance Board of Directors and the Black Leadership Advisory Council through the Associated Black Charities. Previously, she was a board member for Shepherd’s Clinic in East Baltimore. In 2024, Lenora was named one of Maryland's Most Admired CEO’s by The Daily Record, and in 2025 she was named to the Most Influential Who’s Who in Black Baltimore by Afro-American Newspapers. 
  
  

  A member of Mercy’s Board of Trustees, Lenora previously served on the Mercy High School Alumnae Association Executive Board and delivered an inspiring keynote address at Mercy’s 2024 Commencement. Lenora holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sojourner-Douglass College and a Master of Public Administration degree in non-profit, public, and organizational management from the University of Baltimore.

• Erin Moran ’93, P’27

  As the inaugural Executive Director of the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute at Towson University, Erin Moran ’93, P’27 is dedicated to positively impacting our region by developing ethical leaders. Erin’s vision and energy have expanded the Institute’s reach to 2,700 leaders from more than 900 organizations across the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors. Widely recognized as a thought leader, Erin frequently speaks and writes on leadership, encouraging others to lead with authenticity, integrity, and purpose. She is a passionate advocate for empowering women, and she has shared her message with Mercy Girls at Career Day and in other forums. Prior to the Leadership Institute, Erin spent nearly a decade at Great Place to Work, where she helped produce the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list and advised clients on improving their cultures. For seven years, Erin was the Chief Culture Officer for Union Square Hospitality Group, in New York City, where she was responsible for all aspects of the employee experience. 
  
  

  Erin has been recognized widely for her work, having been named one of the Top Women in New York Foodservice & Hospitality in 2018 and one of the Top 50 Women Innovators in the Restaurant Industry in 2019. She is a two-time honoree on the Power List of Culture Champions. Most recently, in 2025, Erin was named one of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Joseph's University and her Master of Business Administration degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Her daughter Ellie, a member of the Class of 2027, continues Erin’s Mercy legacy.

• Kimberly Rolfes Sheridan ’86

  For the past 34 years, Kimberly Rolfes Sheridan ’86 has been an ardent supporter of Mercy Girls as a member of Mercy High School’s mathematics faculty. Known for going above and beyond for her students, Kim often tutors students individually or in small groups outside of class time. Modeling educational courage, Kim has worked tirelessly to encourage a growth mindset among Mercy Girls, sharing with them that it is acceptable to make mistakes and to learn from them. Compelled by mercy, Kim continues to forge life-long relationships with former students and advisees. Kim’s extraordinary support and compassion have helped alumnae continue to feel connected to and supported by Mercy. 
  
  

  As a Mercy Associate, Kim reflects Catherine McAuley’s legacy of service to others as she shares in the charism. She is especially dedicated to supporting the Sisters of Mercy, and shared a special bond with Sr. Natalie John, RSM, a former Mercy teacher, and Sr. Marie Foley, RSM, her former adviser. For nearly four decades, Kim has championed the Mercy spirit by attending galas, arts performances, athletic competitions, service events, and more. In 2023, Kim lent her voice to the Be a Gem Campaign, serving as a captain urging other alumnae to join her in making a gift to Mercy. Kim earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and her Master of Education degree from Loyola University Maryland.

• Jillian Baker ’13

  The Mercy value of educational courage has shaped Jillian Baker ’13’s professional life since graduating from Mercy. Just yesterday, she defended her dissertation entitled The Development of Highly Selective Immunotherapies for the Treatment of Cancer, completing the requirements for a Ph.D. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)! Outside of class, Jill served first as Secretary and then as President of the University Student Government Association (USGA). As President, Jill encouraged the USGA to collaborate with UMB Student Affairs in providing free feminine products at UMB’s SMC Campus Center and hosted social events to build community and provide a break from the stress of graduate studies.
  
  

  Jill remains deeply connected to Mercy, generously sharing her time, talent, and treasure. She helps plan her class reunions, participates in Career Day, returns each year to play in the Alumnae Basketball game against Maryvale Preparatory School, and supports campaigns like Be a Gem, The Alumnae Challenge, and Mercy’s current campaign, The Spirit of Mercy: Advancing the Legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. Jill earned her Bachelor of Science degree in forensic biology with minors in biochemistry and molecular biology from Pennsylvania State University. Jill also holds a Master of Science degree in biology from Towson University from which she also received the William B. Hathaway Outstanding Graduate Student Award for her outstanding achievement in research, teaching, and service.