(LARGO, MD – April 17, 2024) -Yesterday, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that Gloria Brown Burnett, the Director of the Department of Social Services, will serve as the new Deputy Secretary of Operations for the Maryland Department of Human Services effective Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Following her departure, Stephen Liggett-Creel will serve as the Acting Director of the Department of Social Services until a permanent Director has been selected.
“Director Brown Burnett has been a steadfast advocate for vulnerable populations through our Department of Social Services for more than 25 years,” said Alsobrooks. “For 15 years, she has served as Director, providing support and assistance to our residents most in need. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Director Brown Burnett for her vision, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence. We know that she will serve in her new role with the same dedication and compassion that she served our great County, making a lasting impact on the lives of all Marylanders.”
Mr. Liggett-Creel brings a combined two decades of operational management experience to his new role, having provided administrative oversight of residential facilities, foster care programs, and independent living services for older youth. Most recently, Mr. Liggett-Creel played an instrumental role in shaping the Office of the Secretary as a Senior Advisor. Not only has he been instrumental in responding to various lawsuits from a programmatic and practice perspective, he has also modeled true collaboration while serving as the Acting Executive Director of the Social Services Administration until January 2024.
Mr. Liggett-Creel is well prepared to step into this new role, having previously served 3 years as Director of the Howard County Department of Social Services and, prior to that, serving 6 years as Director Brown Burnett’s Chief of Staff at the Department of Social Services. In that capacity, he oversaw the Department’s operations, child and adult services, and community schools program.
Mr. Liggett-Creel’s compassionate approach to problem-solving undoubtedly stems from his direct experience as a social worker. He previously provided direct services to children and families for the Arc of Baltimore, the Baltimore County Department of Social Services, and the Baltimore County Public School System at Lansdowne High School. He is also a leader grounded by his lived experience founded in his love for his family as a foster and adoptive parent.
Mr. Liggett-Creel earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1999 and his Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2001.
Mr. Liggett-Creel will begin his tenure as Acting Director on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
