AME Member Elected as President of the National Association of Parliamentarians
In the 43rd Biennial Session of the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) held virtually from September 8-11, 2021, Ms. Wanda M. Sims was elected as National President to serve from 2021-2023.
Ms. Sims has been a member of the First African Methodist Church of Gaithersburg, Maryland, for 36 years. She has served in various capacities, including Superintendent of Church School, Trustee Board (Pro-Tem), Stewardship and Finance Commission, Usher Ministry (President), Women’s Missionary Society, Lay Organization, and Young Women’s Mentoring Program. In addition, Wanda is the Connectional Parliamentarian for the Women’s Missionary Society and Connectional Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Wanda has been a member of the NAP since 2008. Prior to her election as President, she served as Treasurer and Vice President. She is a past President of the McCaskill Unit, a member of the Florida State Association of Parliamentarians, the District of Columbia Association of Parliamentarians member-at-large, the Maryland Association of Parliamentarians member-at-large, and the American Institute of Parliamentarian (AIP). Wanda served as the Assistant Workshop Coordinator for the 2015 NAP Biennial Convention in 2015 and the 2012 and 2014 NAP District 2 Conference Coordinator.
As a Professional Registered Parliamentarian®, Wanda has experience providing advice on parliamentary procedure, including meeting strategy, developing, revising, and amending bylaws, conducting parliamentary procedure workshops for local governments, civic organizations, and churches, overseeing elections, training presiding officers, boards, and committees, preparing meeting scripts, and analyzing unique and complex matters.
Wanda has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Spelman College, Atlanta, GA, and a master’s degree in organization development and human resources from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. In 2016, she retired from the federal government after working for the Federal Communications Commission for 36 years. Wanda is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a legacy life member of the National Council of Negro Women, and a life member of the National League of American Pen Women. Wanda recently relocated to Kissimmee, Florida.
