Candace Scott Simms, Class of 1971

Candace Scott Simms ‘71 died August 28, 2022. She was born May 6, 1950, to the late Ronald David (“Dave”) Scott, a United States Postal Service Supervisor and the late Elsie Lee Bradby Scott, an educator whose expertise was serving the hearing impaired. Candance attended Otterbein University and gained a Bachelor of Science in mathematical studies. She later went on Tufts University to receive her Master of Arts in economics.
Following graduate studies at Tufts University, Candace commenced an internship with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and upon completion of her Masters’ degree, was hired as a Housing Development Branch Analyst in HUD’s Boston Field Office and served in a variety of positions there from 1972-1975.
In 1975, she transferred to HUD’s Baltimore field office to work in a housing branch programs position. She was promoted to Chief of the Housing Programs Branch and was later promoted to the Housing Development Division Director for the Baltimore Field Office in 1986.
In 1998, she was promoted to Public Housing Director where she managed the Maryland and West Virginia Public Housing Program Center (“PC”) in the Baltimore Public Housing Hub office. She provided administration and technical direction of the public housing grant programs to 62 housing agencies in the states of Maryland and West Virginia.
Candace joined a HUD national review team providing assessments to housing authorities throughout the United States. This work detail led to several other local housing agency reviews that required travel to Louisiana, Texas and Illinois. She served in this role from 1998-2008.
Candace culminated her 50-year HUD career with a role in HUD’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C. From 2008 until the time of her death, she served as a Program Liaison Specialist for HUD’s Public and Indian Housing, Office of Field Operations at HUD’s National headquarters. Post pandemic, Mrs. Simms shifted to situational telework in the Baltimore Field Office and then permanent telework from home.
Candace served for many years on the advisory board of The Children’s Guild, Episcopal Social Ministries (“ESM”) and the former Liberty Medical Center’s Urban Medical Institute. She also served on the executive committee as treasurer for Western High School’s class of 1967 50th reunion and was part of the planning team for her class’ upcoming 55th reunion. She also strongly supported women’s leadership development. She was inducted into The Harbor City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, an international women’s service not for-profit organization, established in 1946. She held several offices in her chapter including serving as Chapter President.
Candace was survived by her husband Stuart Simms, children Marcus Simms and Paul Simms (Erin), grandchildren Gabriella and Elliott Simms.