Alicia Wilson is vice president for economic development for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System where she leads a team driving strategy and initiatives as an anchor institution in and around Baltimore, and elevating and expanding the institution’s commitment to the city through investments in economic and neighborhood development, health care, and education. Previously, Wilson was vice president of Community Affairs and Legal Advisor to Sagamore Development Company, a Plank Industries Company. 

During the 2016 Baltimore City Council legislative session, Wilson drafted key pieces of legislation and served as the principal negotiator of the two largest Community Benefit Agreements in the history of Baltimore associated with the passage of a $660 million public financing project. The negotiations of the community benefit agreements involved over 200 stakeholder groups representing tens of thousands of residents from across the City of Baltimore. Wilson now leads and oversees a team charged with implementing the letter and spirit of the community benefits agreements focused on workforce development, supplier diversity, and inclusionary housing, and youth enrichment matters.

Prior to joining Sagamore Development Company, Wilson was litigation and employment and labor law partner at the law firm of Gordon Feinblatt, a full-service law firm located in downtown Baltimore. She has successfully litigated cases before state and federal courts throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia. Wilson also counseled and advised mid-size and large business on all aspects of employment and labor law matters.

Wilson is actively involved in civic and charitable organizations. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the CollegeBound Foundation and as its program chair, on the board of the Center for Urban Families, the University of Maryland Foundation at Baltimore Board, Associated Black Charities, and the Citizenship Law Related Education Project. She also serves as Art Facet Chair within the Harbor City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated.

Wilson is a graduate of Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School and the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the University of Maryland School of Law. In 2003, Alicia was named the Harry S. Truman Scholar for the state of Maryland. She is the first student in the history of UMBC to be awarded this honor. The Truman Scholarship is a National Award bestowed upon one college junior from each state that demonstrates exceptional leadership potential and who is committed to making a difference through public service.

After graduating from UMBC, Alicia was named the 2004 Andrew Levy Leadership Scholar at the University of Maryland School of Law. In late 2004, she was also named the 2004 George L. Russell Scholar at the School of Law. While in law school, Alicia served as the co-captain of the University of Maryland National Trial Team and led her team to be ranked the #1 trial team in the country.

For her accomplishments and public service, Alicia was recognized in 2008 by the W.E.B. Dubois Circle and the Philomathians as a Stellar Woman, in 2009 by UMBC as a Rising Star Alumna, in 2010 through 2016 by the Maryland Daily Record as a Rising Star Attorney, in 2011 by the Maryland Daily Record as one of the top 20 in their Twenties in Maryland, in 2011 as a Maryland Leading Woman, in 2012 as a Presidential Award Recipient by the Bar Association of Baltimore City. In 2015, Alicia received Community & Public Service Award for Young Lawyer of the Year by the Young Lawyers Section of the Maryland State Bar Association and as the Rising Star Award from the National Black Women Lawyers Association. In late 2015, Wilson was recognized as a Future History Maker by the Monumental Bar Association. In 2016, Wilson was recognized by the Baltimore Sun as one of Baltimore’s 25 Women to Watch and by bmorenews.com as a Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award recipient. Recently, Wilson was named one of Baltimore’s 2017 Champions of Courage by Fox45, one of the Daily Record’s 2017 Top 100 Women, and was honored with Cherry Hill’s 2017 Community Leader Award.