Dr. Gwendolyn Dowdy Rodgers is a committed leader of the 21st century. She is the wife of Dr. Arlington C. Rodgers Jr, mother and lifetime resident of San Bernardino. She holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, a master’s degree in human resources and management and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. This coupled with twenty plus years of experience in business finance has made Dr. Dowdy-Rodgers a well-respected change agent in the community because of her passion about serving the community.
She spent twenty years, in corporate America with American Investment Group. In 2019 she was selected as the first Black President/CEO of Arrowhead United Way fighting for Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in every community. She is also the founder of Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWE) created to cultivate and empower young women’s social, emotional and academic outlook on life in preparation for their future and she is the president of MaggiesKids Foundation name after her mentor the late Dr. Margaret B. Hill.
Dr. Rodgers is a twice elected board member for San Bernardino City Unified School District board and served as the president and vice-president where she helped engage families and developed restorative practices and other social emotional learning strategies policies and procedures to support student academic success in the San Bernardino City School District.
She is a champion of the people and fights every day to make sure there is equity for everyone in the community. She is now the first Black woman to serve as the vice-president of San Bernardino County Board of Education governing over four hundred thousand scholars as a Trustee for Area D serving Rialto, San Bernardino, and Snowline. She has worked directly with teachers, principals and legislatures in various capacities as well as provided leadership for several community organizations.
Dr. Rodgers continues to volunteer and served on numerous boards, she has served on the legislative committee for California School Board Association(CSBA) and is now a CSBA delegate, First 5 San Bernardino Commissioner, Chair of the Department of Behavioral Health African American Awareness Sub-Committee, Vice-Chair of San Bernardino County Gang and Drugs Executive Board, 3rd Vice-Chair of San Bernardino’s Pastors United, Member of the San Bernardino Police Department African American Advisory, President of the San Bernardino Symphony Guild, Executive Committee Member of NCNW, and many other community committees and task force groups related to prevention education.
She has received numerous awards and recognitions such as the Margaret B. Hill Standing in the Gap for Equity award, Omega Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen of the Year Award, California State University San Bernardino Black Faculty Village Award, Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement Inaugural Cooperative Community Award, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc, Phi Mu Zeta Chapter Ambassador of the Year Award, Civil Rights Institute Women of Achievement Serving the Inland Empire Award, Q10 Courageous Leadership Award, Pacific Clinic’s Golden Heart Award and the 2023 Who’s Who Elected Official of the year and was acknowledged for Women’s History Month on the congressional house floor as the first Black women to serve on San Bernardino County Board of Education as a Trustee by Congressman Pete Aguilar 33rd Congressional District and is the 2024 Women’s Giving Fund Woman of Achievement.