Mayor E. Denise is the first African-American female mayor of Cambridge. Prior to her election as mayor, Simmons served as a member of the City Council since 2002. Mayor Simmons was an elected member of the Cambridge Public Schools’ School Committee from 1992 to 2001 and served for 12 years as Executive Director of the Civic Unity Committee, the first citizens’ rights organization funded by the city of Cambridge.

Mayor Simmons received a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a Masters degree in Psychotherapy from Antioch College. She has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in the community.