Carmel Roques, Secretary
Appointed by Governor Wes Moore in 2023, Secretary Carmel Roques has transformed Maryland’s approach to aging through a career-long dedication to ensuring all Marylanders lead healthy, financially secure, and purposeful lives. Her tenure at the Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) is anchored by the 2025 launch of Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM), the state’s first comprehensive multisector plan designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities of a growing older population.
Under the leadership of Secretary Roques, MDOA has begun the work of implementing LRM, modernizing the Department’s operations, fostering new collaborations among partners, and expanding equitable access to vital resources across the state.
A recognized expert in dementia, palliative care, and community health, Secretary Roques brings over four decades of leadership experience to her role. Her distinguished track record includes a ten-year tenure as President and CEO of Keswick, as well as executive leadership positions at Catholic Charities, Virginia United Methodist Homes, and Episcopal Ministries to the Aging. She has proudly served as the Chair of the Maryland Philanthropy Network and the LifeSpan Network, while currently chairing the Maryland Commission on Aging.
In addition to her policy work, Secretary Roques is deeply committed to community service, having served on the boards of Maryland Humanities, The Village Learning Place, and the Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library. She currently serves on the Visioning Committee for the National Bureau of Economic Research Coordinating Center on the Economics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.
Secretary Roques' contributions to the field and the community have earned her consistent acclaim from The Daily Record, which has named her one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, a Top CEO, and an Influential Leader in Health Care. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Mills College in Oakland, California. She resides in Columbia, Maryland.
Jennifer Crawley, Deputy Secretary
Jennifer Crawley, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Aging, brings to the department 25 years of combined experience in local government and the private healthcare industry, including program administration, population health, patient advocacy, building and facilitating collaborations, stakeholder engagement, care coordination, and leading cross-functional teams.
Prior to joining the department as the Director of Multisector Planning for Aging, Jenna served as the Area Agency on Aging Administrator for Howard County, where she oversaw programs and services for older adults, caregivers, and individuals living with disabilities, including establishing and directing pandemic response services and initiating Howard County Age-Friendly.
Before serving in Howard County, Crawley oversaw daily operations of Medicaid home and community-based long-term care services for the District of Columbia Department of Healthcare Finance and was the Chief Social Worker for a home-based primary medical care team. Crawley earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from UMD, College Park.
