FIRST LADY CARLA MARKELL'S BIOGRAPHY
Carla Markell became First Lady of Delaware when her husband, Governor Jack Markell, was sworn into office on January 20, 2009. As First Lady, Mrs. Markell has focused on at–risk children and encouraging volunteerism in the First State. A mentor to several youth over the last decade, she personally has seen how the commitment of a caring adult can make a real difference in their lives. She believes that mentoring as well as an exposure to the arts and sports can transform the lives of young people.
Mrs. Markell is a native of Newark, Delaware, where she and the future governor were high school classmates at Newark. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a major in human resources and early childhood education. Mrs. Markell’s professional life was spent primarily in the area of corporate training and human resources. As First Lady, she has spent much of her time visiting agencies and companies throughout the state to meet with staff, volunteers, and members of the community.
Mrs. Markell has served on the board of directors for Delaware Theatre Company (DTC). She was honored in 2007 with the Stephen Daniel Faulk Volunteer Award. In January 2009, she and Governor Markell co–chaired the Weekend of Volunteer Service, held in lieu of an inaugural ball. In April 2010, Mrs. Markell organized a Week of Service for a better Delaware involving the Governor's Commission on Community and Volunteer Service, the State office of Volunteerism, and members of the community.
Since assuming the role of First Lady, Mrs. Markell has worked with Friends of Woodburn, Delaware Public Archives, and Winterthur Museum and Gardens in the ongoing process to renovate Delaware’s Governor's Home, Woodburn, free of taxpayer money. Numerous Delaware volunteers, private institutions and businesses have donated countless hours to this effort.
The first lady and Governor Jack Markell have been married for 21 years. They have two children, Molly (18), now in college and Michael, (16) at the Charter School of Wilmington.
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Click here to watch Carla Markell’s interviews with women making a difference across the state of Delaware.
