LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
HONOREE
Dr. Thelma T. Daley
Renowned Educator, Counseling Pioneer, Organizational Leader, Change Agent
By
Donald James Senior National Writer Who’s Who In Black
Photo by P. A. Greene
BALTIMORE
On Wednesday evening, April 9, 2025, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, Who’s Who In Black Baltimore presented Dr. Thelma T. Daley with its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring the living legend for her stellar 70-plus-year career spanning the spectrums of education, counseling, civil and human rights, organizational advancement, mentorship, philanthropy, and leadership.
Over her illustrious career, Dr. Daley has held top executive positions with numerous national organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Council of Negro Women, American Counseling Association, Women in the NAACP (WIN), American School Counselor Association, Women in Community Service, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., and The Links, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated congratulates our 16th National President, Dr. Thelma T. Daley, for being selected as the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree for the Who’s Who In Black Baltimore Edition.
While Dr. Daley has amassed an incredible portfolio overflowing with accomplishments and contributions impacting the advancement of people, communities, and organizations throughout greater Baltimore and beyond, she remains humble amid her success.
In an interview with Who’s Who In Black in late February 2025, Dr. Daley reflected on her life, career, and being chosen for Who’s Who In Black Baltimore’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I’m really baffled about why I am receiving this award,” Dr. Daley said unpretentiously in the exclusive interview. “A lot of people give service to help others succeed. However, I am truly humbled and honored that Who’s Who In Black Baltimore thought enough about what I’ve done throughout my life and career to present me with its highest award.”
Growing up near Annapolis, Maryland, approximately 30 miles from Baltimore, the value of education for Dr. Daley and her five siblings was constantly impressed upon them by their mother and father. Yet, receiving an education in the Jim Crow Era meant Dr. Daley and her siblings had to attend segregated elementary, middle, and high schools. After graduating from high school, Dr. Daley attended Bowie State University, a public Historically Black College and University (HBCU), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education.
Dr. Daley went on to attend New York University – her first integrated educational setting - where she received a master’s in counseling and personnel administration. She then pursued advanced studies at The Catholic University of America, American University, and the University of Maryland. Dr. Daley attended George Washington University, another Predominately White University (PWU), where she earned a Doctor of Education in counseling.
“While I didn’t have classes with White students until I got to New York University’s graduate school, I never felt inferior when I attended integrated universities,” Dr. Daley said. “My college work was never reflected as inferior to White students who were my classmates.”
Dr. Daley taught as an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University, Western Maryland College, and George Washington University. She was an instructor at the Harvard University Summer Institute for Counselors.
Dr. Daley has served in top national leadership positionswith Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., holding such titles as collegiate advisor, interim regional director, national treasurer, national projects chair, vice president and chair of scholarships and standards, and president.
Dr. Daley’s graduation photo
Dr. Daley with her mother, Hattie Virginia Randall Thomas
In support of HBCUs, Dr. Daley, while national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., established the Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair. To date, it has supported at least 20 HBCUs in the research and development of special programs.
With the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Daley held several top positions, including vice president several times, board member, president, and director of the Dorothy I. Height Leadership Institute. Dr. Daley’s leadership fingerprints as national director were also strategically placed on the Women in the NAACP (WIN) advocacy committee.
I JUST STAYED MENTALLY FOCUSED. I DIDN’T LET NEGATIVE TALK BOTHER ME. THEY COULDN’T TOUCH ME. I JUST MADE SURE THAT I WAS ALWAYS PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING I HAD TO DO, AND I ALWAYS KEPT MY DIGNITY
‘‘
While Dr. Daley has led historic Black organizations, she also headed storied predominately White national organizations, where she broke the racial and gender barriers as president of The American School Counseling Association and the American Counseling Association, the largest counseling organization in the world. She served as president of Women in Community Services (WICS), a coalition of five national organizations.
Dr. Daley has also held leadership roles with the National Advisory Council on Career Education, serving as its first woman chair; helped establish the National Board for Certified Counselors, serving as its first secretary-treasurer; and appointed as a trustee with the College Board. She also served on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Board of Directors and the American College Testing (ACT) Secondary School Advisory Board.
Dr. Daley recalled some challenging moments associated with breaking racial and gender barriers with the predominately White national organizations.
“I used to hear some of the remarks made about me as an African American in leadership positions, but I put mufflers over my ears and blinders over my eyes,” said Dr. Daley. “I just stayed mentally focused. I didn’t let negative talk bother me. They couldn’t touch me. I just made sure that I was always prepared for everything I had to do, and I always kept my dignity.”
While ascending to leadership positions with multiple national organizations is an amazing feat, Dr. Daley clarified her pathways to the top.
“I never set out to run for a leadership position with any of the organizations I’ve led, Black or White,” said Dr. Daley. “I was always invited and pushed to run. It was others who encouraged and insisted that I run. I never had to ask anyone to nominate me for any position.”
In Baltimore County, where Dr. Daley directed the counseling program for 163 schools, the Baltimore County Counselors Association
Dr. Daley graduating from George Washington University, 1986
honored her by naming its summer development program for counselors The Dr. Thelma T. Daley Professional Development Counseling Institute. In 2023, in recognition of Dr. Daley’s vast contributions to empowering the American Counseling Association, the Association created The Thelma T. Daley Advocacy & Equity Award to recognize counseling professionals who strongly advocate for positive change.
Dr. Daley and her late husband, Dr. Guilbert A. Daley, lived in Baltimore for over 40 years. Dr. Guilbert Daley was a professor at Coppin State University for over three decades. At Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Dr. Thelma T. Daley served as Assistant Professor of Counselor Education in the Graduate School and Coordinator of Clinical Experiences.
Internationally speaking, Dr. Daley has been involved in global education programs advocating for the empowerment of marginalized communities, especially children and women. She has facilitated numerous workshops and delivered speeches in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Daley has been involved in initiatives aligned with the United Nations, focusing on women’s empowerment and social justice issues worldwide. In 2001, she was an NGO (non-governmental organization) delegate and workshop presenter during the World Conference in Durban, South Africa, on Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia. Dr. Daley has facilitated initiatives in China, Cuba, and Japan. She has also led successful projects through Women in the NAACP (WIN) to build schools in Benin, West Africa.
As impressive as her career has been in empowering others over multiple decades, Dr. Daley remains grounded and not in awe of her accomplishments.
“I am very humble. I don’t like a lot of publicity,” she told Who’s Who In Black. “I just do the work by always putting my best on the table to make people, communities, and organizations better. I’m a very ordinary person doing ordinary things, but I have never backed away from supporting and empowering others.”
“There is nothing ordinary about Dr. Thelma T. Daley,” said Dr. Carter Womack, COO of Who’s Who In Black. “She is one of the most extraordinary persons and leaders I know in America. While Dr. Daley is modest about being honored, Who’s Who In Black Baltimore recognizes her greatness, fortitude, dedication, accomplishments, and unselfish services to embolden communities and organizations. I’m proud to call Dr. Daley an exceptional organizational leader and change agent, a pioneering educator and counselor, a philanthropist, a civil and human rights giant, and a friend.”
With 70-plus years of exemplary service helping to shape the direction of communities and organizations, Dr. Daley remains busy. At the time of her interview with Who’s Who In Black in late February 2025, Dr. Daley was preparing for a hectic month ahead.
“I am very busy,” Dr. Daley said. “I am a commissioner for the Baltimore Architectural Engineering Commission, serve on the National Council of the Seton Shrine, and serve on a few
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, International President Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with Dr. Daley and others protesting the Voter Suppression Bill in Texas, 2024
other Boards. I am writing a PowerPoint presentation for Women’s History Month and preparing for an interview about establishing the first European Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I am preparing to deliver keynote speeches in Boston and Las Vegas.”
Those who know Dr. Daley or have watched her in action often describe her as someone who moves with quiet grace and does not like praise, recognition, or talking about herself. She believes true greatness lies not in how high one stands but in how deeply one serves.
Dr. Daley is asked constantly for advice by persons of all ages on a myriad of personal and career concerns. In responding to the latter, Dr. Daley offers the following: “My words of advice to excel in any field is to make sure that people have strong faith, courage, humility, and solid plans,” she said. “It’s a journey of observation and a journey of preparation with transformative plans to face the many challenges and changes one might face in pursuing a lifetime career. Never give up…but always walk and talk with dignity and respectability for self and others.”
Dr. Daley with President Biden
Dr. Daley with her mentor Dr. Dorothy I. Height
