Biography

Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, currently serves as Chair of the Prince George’s County Maryland, Board of Education.  In the November 2006 Gubernatorial Election (Maryland), she was elected as an At-Large member of the Board of Education in a county of nearly 1 million residents and the 18th largest school district in the United States.  She has earned progressive high-level achievement in the diversity of her experiences as attorney, correctional administrator, educator, and elected official.  

After earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree (Behavioral & Social Sciences – Criminology) from the University of Maryland in 1989, she began a career in public safety at the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.  She began as a Correctional Officer Private and since then, she has held various leadership positions, to include serving as the first and only woman ever elected as President of the Prince George’s Correctional Officers Association where she served from 1996-2003.  During her tenure as Labor President, the membership experienced historically significant enhancements in pension & benefits, as well as overall work conditions within the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.  Mrs. Jacobs also donated substantial pro bono legal services for the benefit of the labor organization.

While working full-time at the Department of Corrections, Mrs. Jacobs attended law school full-time (District of Columbia School of Law) and received her Juris Doctor Degree in 1996.  She has been practicing law in the State of Maryland for the past ten years and she manages a part-time private law firm serving clients with family law, labor/employment, personal injury/negligence, business/contractual and government relations matters.  Mrs. Jacobs was admitted to the Federal Bar (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland), in 1998. 

Mrs. Jacobs continues to be employed with the Prince George's County, Department of Corrections and currently serves as Chief of the Office of Professional Responsibility & Legal Affairs Division at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  In that capacity she provides confidential executive level expertise and counsel to the Director, and appropriate Deputy Director regarding the management, coordination and supervision of classified and sensitive Departmental investigations; she is responsible for development and management of disciplinary procedures governing all Departmental personnel consistent with applicable laws and contracts.  She also serves as liaison with County Office of Law, County Office of Human Resources (Labor Relations, Pension & Benefits), Human Relations Commission, and other governmental agencies, providing opinion and advice on employment/legal matters.  She represents the Department of Corrections at Personnel Board, Arbitration and Unemployment hearings.  

Mrs. Jacobs has served as an adjunct professor with University of Maryland, University College since the fall of 1996, teaching in the Behavioral & Sciences and the Government & Politics discipline.  Prior to being elected to the Board of Education for Prince George's County, she served as a Hearing Examiner where she presided over cases involving student appeals of Long-Term Suspensions and Expulsions.  

She strongly advocates on behalf of her clients.  She cares about the plight of children and believes profoundly that educational opportunities and options must be equitable for all citizens.  As a mentor, Mrs. Jacobs encourages and promotes professional development among her colleagues and peers.  

Hobbies:  She enjoys singing, reading, writing, and vacationing with family and friends.  Mrs. Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs is married to David A. Jacobs.  They have one daughter Dana Arlene Jacobs who resides in the state of California.