WHO IS WILL?
Will Shorter is the son of a hardworking plumber and a dedicated mother who works in the Anne Arundel County Public School system. His upbringing reflects the values shared by many of his peers in this working-class neighborhood. Growing up in a family that valued hard work and education instilled him with a deep sense of responsibility and community. Will attended Point Pleasant Elementary School, Marley Middle School, and Glen Burnie High School, where he developed a strong sense of pride for his hometown of Glen Burnie.
His drive for leadership and advocacy began in high school, serving as one of two Glen Burnie High representatives on the Board of Education high school advisory board as well as the Glen Burnie High School Class of 2015 Senior Class President.
Will’s passion for serving others continued into his time at the University of Baltimore where, as a first-generation college student, he was appointed by Governor Hogan and confirmed by the Maryland Senate to serve as a student member of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. In this role, he advocated to keep higher education affordable while ensuring that all students received a quality education.
Following his undergraduate career, Will continued his advocating for his community. Returning to his hometown, he was nominated by County Executive Stuart Pittman to serve as the District 2 representative on the Anne Arundel County Public Library Board of Trustees. At the age of 23, Will became the youngest elected library board chair in the nation. In this role, he worked closely with County and Library leadership to confront the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Committed to the idea of efficiency and effectiveness of our community institutions, Will led the charge in restructuring the governance structure of the Board of Trustees to allow for multiple voices across our diverse county to be heard. Will’s advocacy for long-term investment spending, like the new Glen Burnie Library and kindergarten readiness programs, resulted in Anne Arundel County being a national model of excellence in governance and partnership with Library leadership. In 2021, Will was awarded the American Library Association Trustee Citation which is annual given to one or two trustees out of 60,000 American citizens who serve on library boards and demonstrates distinguished service to library development.
Will received his Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School, during which he served as a member on the Glen Burnie Economic Revitalization Task Force and the 2040 General Development Plan Citizen Advisory Committee.
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