Maria Harris Tildon is a public policy and government affairs expert who joined Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine in April 2022 as the Vice President of State and Local Affairs. Her portfolio expanded in July 2023 to include leadership of the newly combined Office of Government, Community, and Economic Partnerships. Ms. Tildon leads Johns Hopkins’ legislative and regulatory agenda in Maryland, throughout the Washington, D.C. region, and in Florida. She heads up efforts to build and strengthen the Johns Hopkins’ relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, policymakers, business and community leaders, and neighborhood residents.
Among many other critical initiatives, Ms. Tildon and her office support and guide small business and economic inclusion initiatives such as HopkinsLocal, BLocal, and 10,000 Small Businesses while working closely with colleagues in real estate and economic development to contribute to the vitality and strength of the city of Baltimore.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Ms. Tildon held progressively senior leadership roles with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the largest health insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region. Most recently she served as executive vice president, public policy and government affairs, a position that involved leading all local, state, and federal public policy, legislative and regulatory affairs. In her time at CareFirst, she was responsible for managing marketing, internal and external communications, product development and lifecycle, and community investments and volunteering.
Prior to joining CareFirst, Ms. Tildon was senior vice president for external affairs for the Century Council, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing policies and programs to address underage drinking and drunk driving. Her previous professional experience includes serving in several senior roles in the Clinton administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as practicing law at Venable, LLP.
In addition to being a highly respected public policy and government affairs expert, Ms. Tildon serves on a number of boards of local companies, including BGE, an Exelon Company, Chesapeake Insurance Company, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (“BLSYW”) and Health Care for the Homeless, among others. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University and Juris Doctorate from American University, Washington College of Law. She is a Member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bar Associations.
Among many other critical initiatives, Ms. Tildon and her office support and guide small business and economic inclusion initiatives such as HopkinsLocal, BLocal, and 10,000 Small Businesses while working closely with colleagues in real estate and economic development to contribute to the vitality and strength of the city of Baltimore.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Ms. Tildon held progressively senior leadership roles with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the largest health insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region. Most recently she served as executive vice president, public policy and government affairs, a position that involved leading all local, state, and federal public policy, legislative and regulatory affairs. In her time at CareFirst, she was responsible for managing marketing, internal and external communications, product development and lifecycle, and community investments and volunteering.
Prior to joining CareFirst, Ms. Tildon was senior vice president for external affairs for the Century Council, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing policies and programs to address underage drinking and drunk driving. Her previous professional experience includes serving in several senior roles in the Clinton administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as practicing law at Venable, LLP.
In addition to being a highly respected public policy and government affairs expert, Ms. Tildon serves on a number of boards of local companies, including BGE, an Exelon Company, Chesapeake Insurance Company, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (“BLSYW”) and Health Care for the Homeless, among others. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University and Juris Doctorate from American University, Washington College of Law. She is a Member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bar Associations.
