(The following information was provided by the Montgomery County Office of Communications.)
The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas has voted to appoint Jamila H. Winder, of East Norriton, to fill the vacancy on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. In a historic appointment, Winder will serve as the first female commissioner to identify as African American in Montgomery County’s history.
“I am extremely proud to welcome Jamila as our next commissioner and I look forward to serving alongside her this coming year,” said Kenneth Lawrence, Jr., vice chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “I know that Jamila’s ties to our community run deep, and I am confident she will work every day in service to our residents to continue to make Montgomery County one of the best places to live and raise a family.”
A resident of East Norriton Township for nearly her entire life, Winder is an active, passionate, and focused member of the local community. Most recently, she served on the East Norriton Township Board of Supervisors from 2020 to 2023 where she was elected chair in 2023.
Her professional career has allowed her to work for a wide range of organizations including Drexel University, Laureate Education, and FullBloom. Winder believes that strong communities and quality education are the keys to ensuring future success. The belief in the power of high-quality education was instilled into her at an early age by her mother and grandmother, who are both major advocates of a strong education. In her current role, Winder leads the US operations for an international digital medical education company.
Equity, diversity, and a commitment to public service to all have motivated Winder to continue to give back to her local community. It is what motivated her to serve as a director on the Norristown Area School Board from 2017 to 2020 to support the district’s mission to provide comprehensive educational programs to prepare all students to become productive, responsible, creative citizens. In addition, she has served as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and board member for Women in Transition supporting people facing domestic violence and substance abuse.
Winder is a graduate of Norristown Area High School, where she developed the foundation for her guiding principles of cultural competence, school safety, college readiness and community involvement. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University along with a master’s degree from Eastern University.
Ms. Winder lives with her husband and son in East Norriton.
The official swearing-in ceremony for Jamila Winder will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Courtroom A. Winder will serve as commissioner for the remainder of 2023, filling the seat left vacant by the departure of Commissioner Val Arkoosh.
