Dr. Lorna Thomas-Farquharson won her first term on the Board of Education in 2017. She was elected Chair in 2021 after serving two years as Vice Chair.  Lorna serves on the Policy Committee and is an Ex-officio member of the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools.

 

Lorna received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College and Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hartford. For over 20 years, she has strived to educate and empower individuals to address challenges and improve the quality of their lives. She is passionate about community outreach and demystifying stigma associated with receipt of formal mental health care. Lorna works as a program manager at Connecticut’s Office of Early Childhood where she is fortunate to work with individuals who share a vision focused on equity, where all children are safe, healthy, learning, and thriving.

 

Lorna values community service and firmly believes in the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” She volunteers within the youth department at her church and is honored to have been elected in 2017 to the West Hartford Board of Education where she now serves as Vice Chair. Lorna values education and implementing effective policies that support development of well-rounded youth, where excellence is defined by thriving academically, socially, and emotionally and where the values of learning extend beyond the walls of a classroom.

 

Lorna and her husband are proud parents of two daughters who are West Hartford Public School students.