The Daily Record Honors NDMU Alumna as One of Maryland’s Top 100 Women

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Daily Record has named a highly accomplished attorney, civic leader, and Notre Dame of Maryland University alumna to its prestigious 2025 list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. This honor recognizes her extraordinary professional achievements, community leadership, and unwavering commitment to mentorship.

Nicholé C. Gatewood, Esq. ’01 is the founder and managing attorney of Gatewood & Associates, LLC, a law firm focused on civil litigation, estate and trusts, and guardianship. She is a seasoned attorney, a dedicated civic leader, and an engaged mentor to both professionals and students. Widely respected as a skilled jurist, zealous advocate, strategic thinker, and trusted advisor, Gatewood stands out for her hands-on, client-centered approach. Drawing from her broad legal knowledge, she brings a personalized approach that empowers clients to protect their assets and pass on a meaningful legacy.

Before founding her firm, she served for over a decade as an assistant attorney general for the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, representing agencies in high-stakes litigation, including state, federal, administrative, and appellate cases, and providing strategic legal counsel on complex regulatory and policy matters. Her deep litigation experience and broad legal acumen have earned her a reputation as a formidable force in Maryland’s legal community.

Gatewood is a dynamic leader in both professional and civic life. In 2020, she made history as the first woman of color elected president of the NDMU Alumni Council in the university’s 125-year history—a role she continues to hold. Her presidency reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering others, including mentoring student leaders and fostering alumni engagement.

A leader who embraces challenges, Gatewood served concurrently as president of three organizations: the NDMU Alumni Council, the Federal Bar Association's Maryland Chapter (FBA MD Chapter), and the Hillsdale Heights Neighborhood Association. The FBA MD Chapter received local and national recognition throughout her term. At the Federal Bar Association’s annual conference, she accepted a Chapter Activity Presidential Achievement Award recognizing the chapter’s excellence in administration, outreach, and programming. A long-time member and officer, she has held nearly every leadership position within the organization. She has also served on the board and chaired numerous committees within the Women’s Bar Association, Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, and Monumental City Bar Association.

As a civic leader, Gatewood brings compassion and integrity. In addition to serving as president of the Hillsdale Heights Neighborhood Association, she chairs its Land Use Committee, where she provides legal expertise on zoning and public safety matters. Among her most notable achievements is successfully leading a grassroots effort that halted a proposed development, which threatened a vital community greenspace—preserving forested land, local wildlife, and neighborhood integrity. An advocate for community investment and strategic partnerships, Gatewood serves on the board of the Forest Park Action Council, where she is honored as a legal advisor.

She is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and role model, frequently sharing insights on law, leadership, community engagement, and women’s empowerment. She has designed and led mentorship programs for law students and young attorneys and continues to invest in the next generation of leaders—supporting NDMU student organizations, such as the Black Student Union and Student Alumni Leadership Council. She also mentors fellow community leaders to foster collaboration across the district.

Gatewood received her award at the Maryland’s Top 100 Women awards program on May 5 at the SECU Arena. Founded 30 years ago, The Daily Record’s Maryland’s Top 100 Women recognizes outstanding women for their professional accomplishments, community involvement, and mentoring. Honorees are selected by a panel of business, legal, and nonprofit leaders, including past award recipients, through a rigorous two-round judging process. Gatewood joins a distinguished group of nearly 2,000 winners since the program’s inception. Nominees completed an application outlining their educational and career history, professional and community involvement, corporate and nonprofit board memberships, and mentoring experience. They were also encouraged to submit letters of recommendation. Final selection of this year’s honorees was made by a panel of business and legal professionals, previous Maryland’s Top 100 Women honorees, and a representative from The Daily Record.

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.