Alumni Stories

Hope Mims ‘03 has always dreamt about becoming a business owner. Today she is the Broker and Owner of NextHome Mims Realty Group. Mims shifted her already successful real estate business into a franchise opportunity to provide more technology, support, and leverage for her agents. In the first year since the transition, performance has increased by 64%. Hope implements what she learns and transfers that knowledge to her agents. Her favorite part of her role is training and development. She loves “helping her agents to learn and understand the career field of real estate”.

Hope expressed sincere gratitude for her Coppin experience because it provided an opportunity for her to stay focused on her goal of obtaining her degree. When reflecting on her coursework under the leadership of Dr. Ron Williams, Hope said, “I just loved his style. I loved how he made learning and understanding so easy. He was very inspiring for students”. According to Hope, Dr. Williams helped students to see that being in business and acquiring a business degree was certainly attainable. She took what she learned at Coppin and applies it to her business today.

Mims is intentionally diligent about inspiring others and shares the best advice she ever received was, “Never forget where you came from”. Hope is indeed committed to the Baltimore community. She served as the Chair of the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship Alumni Advisory Board at Coppin State University. Mims expressed gratitude as she explained she was, “so grateful to have been entrusted with the opportunity to lead”. Additionally, Hope assisted with the establishment of the Real Estate Acquisition Program for Students (REAPS) at Coppin. Her company served as a benefactor by sending several students to real estate classes to get their license. Mims has some ideas to improve the program for future cohorts.

In December 2024, Hope Mims was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve as a Commissioner for the Maryland Real Estate Commission. In this role, Mims lends her expertise to help provide training and education for realtors in Maryland, advocates for laws that would protect both realtors and consumers and provides guidance regarding disciplinary actions involving realtors.

Additionally, Mims is the author of Your Key to Homeownership: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Readiness. This book helps readers to improve their credit score, build realistic savings habits, eliminate financial pitfalls, and create a customized plan to become a confident buyer.

Words of Wisdom: Life is fluid. It is always changing. You have to show up and be ready to make moves when you have to. When you are comfortable, you are not growing. Stay uncomfortable because it will stretch you.