Dr. Mona Becker has been a resident of downtown Westminster, along with her wife, since moving to the city in 2003. She is a member of the Science Faculty and serves as the Science Department Chair at Westminster High School. She has been involved in environmental education, outreach, and leadership throughout her career.
Mayor Becker grew up on a small farm in southern Lancaster County, PA, and is a graduate of Millersville University (BS Geology, 1994), Virginia Tech (MS Geology, 1996), and SUNY Stony Brook (PhD Geology, 2001). Upon completing her PhD she lived abroad in England, working in the Earth Science Department at the University of Oxford. Upon moving to Westminster in 2003, she began teaching for Carroll County Public Schools in the area of secondary science. Mayor Becker also served on the faculty of McDaniel College (2010 – 2018) where she co-founded the Environmental Studies Department and served as chair for several years.
As Mayor, she is deeply committed to Main Street growth and development. In her first four years as mayor, downtown Westminster has grown in attendees to their festivals and strolls, the clock tower has been repaired and renovated, the winter lights grace the streets from fall to spring, and there have been the opening of new businesses and restaurants. Residents and non-residents are enjoying the new Westminster Community Pool and Splash Pad; the renovated Wakefield Valley Center (old Wakefield Valley clubhouse) will be open in 2025, and the trails are in the engineering phase of reconstruction providing outdoor recreation space for community members. The Westminster Police Department is known throughout the region for leading the way in community policing which keeps the streets and residents safe. The city has an active arts scene, with live music and a producers only farmers market which runs from May until Thanksgiving.
One of the projects the Dr. Becker is most excited about is beginning construction on the very first water reuse facility in the state of Maryland. PUREWater Westminster is the city’s answer to ensuring a sustainable and secure water supply for generations of future residents.
Mayor Becker previously service on the Common Council as a Councilmember from 2015-2019, before becoming Mayor in 2021.
