Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan

Maryland’s First Lady, Yumi Hogan, is the first Korean-American First Lady in the United States. Mrs. Hogan is a first-generation Korean-American, an accomplished artist, and an adjunct professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Mrs. Hogan grew up on a farm in the South Korean countryside as the youngest of eight children. She immigrated to the United States over 40 years ago, and raised her three daughters, Kim, Jaymi, and Julie, in Howard County.

In 2016, Mrs. Hogan received the Inspirational Leader Award from the International Leadership Foundation, which recognized her as a trailblazing political and community leader and a role model to the Asian-Pacific American community and all Americans.

Among other reputable recognition, Mrs. Hogan is the recipient of the 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor,  a highly-prestigious, nationally-recognized award by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, which recognizes her accomplishments in leadership and inspired service to the state and nation; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America.

Her artwork, created on traditional Hanji paper with Sumi ink and mixed media, has been featured in art shows and museums in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, South Korea and more, including an exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

In addition to her work as an artist, Mrs. Hogan has juried numerous art exhibitions, including statewide and national competitions by the Maryland Federation of Art. In 2016, she served as jury chair for the new Concourse D Gallery at the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport where artists from Maryland and Washington D.C. were selected to feature their work.

As First Lady, Mrs. Hogan has made it a priority to share her love of the arts with Marylanders of all ages through arts education. Since November 2015, Mrs. Hogan has served as the Honorary Chair of the Council for Arts and Culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, working with the University and Baltimore City to promote the arts.

Following Governor Hogan’s diagnosis with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2015 and their family’s battle with the disease, Mrs. Hogan has become a vocal advocate for cancer awareness and devoted much of her time to visiting Marylanders battling cancer, especially children, and their families. In 2016, Mrs. Hogan was recognized for her role as a caregiver and her work raising awareness with the Pheo Para Alliance’s Dr.Cyrus Katzen Humanitarian Award.

Through her work teaching art classes to patients with cancer and people with disabilities, Mrs. Hogan has become a strong proponent of art therapy and the positive impact it can have on health and wellbeing. She plans to continue to support the arts community and work to bring the joy of art to all Marylanders.