This article was written by Melinda Liu.

Howard County, Maryland, is well-known for its high standards for public education. In 2024, Howard County received the highest average ratings on the Maryland School Report Card, an annual report on the quality of public education in the state. One source ranked it as having the third-best public schools in the entire country in 2025. The competitive high standards of its public schools require excellent management from its Board of Education.

The Board of Education’s self-stated goal is “to provide leadership for excellence in teaching and learning by fostering a climate for deliberative change through policy and community engagement.” The board allows citizens to watch and participate in meetings, as well as testify on important issues regarding the public school system. 

Approximately one-quarter of students enrolled in Howard County public schools are Asian-American, accounting for 23.7%. Howard County, in general, has a large Asian-American community, with its population comprising 20% Asian-Americans in 2023, the second-largest in the state of Maryland. In 2023, the Asian-American population increased by 2.6% compared to the previous year.

Thus, Asian-American voices are an essential part of the community, including in local government and organizations. For example, the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission, established in 2022 with 24 members, meets twice a month to “advocate for issues that impact the AAPI community, … [organize] community cultural events, and [conduct] informative discussions on emerging issues.” This summer, Dr. Lanlan Xu, the chair of the commission, announced her candidacy for the county’s Board of Education.

Attendees at the Lanlan Xu Kickoff Event on August 23. Source: The AAPI Angle

According to her website, Dr. Xu’s primary goal is to “help every student discover their path and reach their full potential.” Additionally, when interviewed by the AAPI Angle’s team at her campaign kick-off event on August 23rd, she stated the following as goals for Howard County students and families: “Support for students and teachers, transparency in decision making and resource allocation, excellence in education, and preparation for the 21st century work force, unity of the whole community, and progress that is driven by data and shaped by experiences and informed by the community.” 

She holds a significant role in the local community, including serving as a trustee of the Horizon Foundation, which promotes healthier food and beverage choices in Howard County public schools, and as a member of Maryland’s Commission for Hate Crime Response and Prevention.

Additionally, Dr. Xu has been deeply involved in the Chinese and Asian-American communities of Howard County. For example, she contributed to the acquisition of over $1.35 million in state funding for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Cultural Center. Dr. Xu has additionally served as a policy advisor to the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. 

At her campaign kick-off event, when asked about what she hopes to accomplish for Asian-American students and families, Dr. Xu responded that she wants “to increase their voices in the decision-making process for policies and for how students’ needs are being met.”

Dr. Xu has made numerous positive contributions to the Asian American community of Howard County and beyond, and will undoubtedly continue to do so as she continues campaigning for her spot on the Howard County Board of Education.