Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS

Assistant Vice President & Director
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Women often feel they must check all the boxes and approach everything as an expert. How do we learn to lean in, take risks, and turn fear into success to build a network of change?

I like to innovate and take professional risks, but I do so with the support and encouragement of my supervisors and mentors. I also learn and grow from my mistakes, rather than dwell upon them.

What issue facing professional women is most significant to you and how do you use your influential voice to impact change?

A significant issue for women is successfully balancing professional and personal roles and responsibilities, so I am patient, understanding and flexible in the workplace.

Being in the Circle of Excellence requires a responsibility to mentor the next generation. Outside of the mentoring you do in the workplace, briefly describe your mentoring and what it means to you.

I mentor many students including high school, undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of disciplines. It brings me immense joy to celebrate their educational and professional successes.

What is your most significant accomplishment?

In early April of 2020, the President & CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute asked me and a pediatrician from Kennedy Krieger Institute to serve on The Johns Hopkins Allocation of Scarce Resources Committee as his designees. He cautioned us that it was a time-intensive commitment and the duration of our participation was unknown. My specific role on the committee was to represent the interests of the disability community — those I have dedicated my life to serving. The work was extraordinarily difficult and the days were long, but I learned so much and grew immensely throughout this professional experience. I am glad I survived the longs days and sleepless nights and I am even more grateful that Maryland was a state that was prepared.

This is an honoree profile from The Daily Record's Top 100 Women awards. Information for this profile was sourced from the honoree's application for the award. The honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record's editorial staff.