After more than 30 years in higher education, Wilmington University alum Alverne “Chet” Chesterfield brings extensive experience to his new role as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education.  

“It’s important that we understand that when we work with education, we have to put students first,” says Chesterfield, who earned an M.S. in Management with a concentration in Public Administration from WilmU. “It’s not about me. It’s about the children.” 

Shaping Education Policy 

Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he graduated from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) with a B.S. in Business Administration and began his career as a residence counselor there in 1977. In 2013, Chesterfield retired from UMES as the assistant vice president for administrative affairs and director of auxiliary enterprises. 

In a letter supporting his nomination to the Maryland State Board of Education, UMES professor Dr. Richard Warren called Chesterfield “a man of integrity, generosity and humility” and “a historic trailblazer” — “the first African American male from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, specifically Somerset County, to serve on the State Board of Education.” 

Educational Leadership 

Chesterfield also serves as executive director of the Chincoteague Bay Field Station, a nonprofit educational resource center on Wallops Island, Virginia. 

“We’ve been in existence for over 50 years. When I took it over, they were running a deficit,” he says. “I was able to turn it around.” 

Looking back on his time at WilmU, Chesterfield says, “What I liked was the personal touch, the individual attention, the instructors basically trying to make sure you succeed.” 

He appreciates the mentors who’ve guided him throughout his career and offers this advice to others: “You have the capability to achieve whatever it is you want to achieve, no matter how difficult it may be.”