St. Mary’s College of Maryland welcomes two new trustees to the Board in May: Nicolas Troy Abrams ’99 and Doug Mayer ’04.
“I am excited that St. Mary’s College is adding two new Board members with such important and relevant experience. An added bonus is the fact that both are St. Mary's College alumni who share a critical perspective on what our students need when they're here and what they need to become productive and successful after they graduate. They join an intuitive and student-focused Board taking great strides in helping to solidify our standing as the National Public Honors College,” said Tuajuanda C. Jordan, president of St. Mary’s College.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, we welcome our newest members and look forward to their expertise in strengthening the College's ability to deliver an exceptional education at an exceptional value,” said Arthur “Lex” Birney Jr., chairman, Board of Trustees.
Abrams is a Certified Financial Planner ™ Professional and founder and CEO of AJW Financial Partners LLC. His wealth management and financial planning firm has offices in Columbia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. With more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Abrams advises clients on investment, retirement, and insurance strategies.
In 2015, Abrams became the host of the television show “Financial Empowerment with Nick Abrams, CFP®.” The show can be seen on cable stations in multiple states. He is the former host of Radio One's WOLB “The 1st Friday Radio Show,” which focused on economic empowerment and wealth creation. He has also been a featured speaker on money and financial issues at local and national conferences, including the Blacks in Government National Training Institute.
He most recently served as a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Agnes Hospital Foundation and as a member of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Foundation. Previously, Abrams served as chairperson of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Baltimore City Scholarship Initiative that raised over $500,000 to provide scholarships for students in Baltimore City looking to attend the College.
He is a graduate of the Leadership Howard County Program, earned a certificate in financial planning from the University of Baltimore in 2002, and received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1999, where he majored in economics with a concentration in business. When he is not working, Abrams enjoys spending time with his wife Leah and their sons Nicolas II and Aiden.
Mayer is a political strategist and veteran communicator with more than 15 years of experience working in the political communications sector, including serving three successful governors. He is a partner at Strategic Partners & Media, where he applies campaign strategy and tactics to a diverse set of clients and problems, both political and corporate.
Most recently, Mayer helped manage Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s successful 2018 re-election campaign. He spent more than three years as communications director to Governor Hogan, where he helped shape the governor’s first term in office and guide the administration through four legislative sessions, the riots in Baltimore City, the governor’s public battle with cancer, and countless political and legislative issues.
Previously, Mayer spent two years working as communications director for South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2004, majoring in political science and public policy, and began his career as an intern on Capitol Hill.
Mayer resides in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife, Allison, and their two children, Ainsley and Doug Jr. “DJ”.
