Meet the Staff

Courtney J. Jones Carney, DPA, MBA (she, her, hers)

Executive Director, Intercultural Leadership & Engagement
Director, Intercultural Center
Program Director, Intercultural Leadership Post-baccalaureate certificate & MS - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership
courtney.carney@umaryland.edu

Dr. Courtney J. Jones Carney serves as the inaugural executive director of Intercultural Leadership and Engagement and director of the Intercultural Center (founded in 2020) in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In these roles, Courtney provides vision and implementation of comprehensive intercultural engagement and training to impact the development of cultural competencies and inform the professional practice of students, faculty, and staff. The Intercultural Leadership and Engagement unit was the 2021 recipient of the UMB Core Values award for Excellence. 

Courtney also serves as the Program Director and faculty for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Intercultural Leadership which she created and launched in 2019 and program director for the Master of Science in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership (MS-DEIL), launching on Fall 2022. Both programs challenge students to critically examine themselves, reframe the lens for understanding complex issues, while equipping graduates with the tools necessary to marshal organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Courtney is a proud alumna of Morgan State University and obtained a Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore. Courtney’s research interests include impacts of microaggressions, climate for diversity, intercultural development, employee engagement, the role of diversity officers, and professionalizing DEI work. Her doctoral dissertation examined the relationship between exposure to racial and ethnic microaggressions and employee engagement.

Courtney is a 2022 recipient of the Baltimore Business Journal’s Leaders in Diversity Award and the 2023 recipient of the Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice Award from the University System of Maryland's Council of University System Staff.

Cyndi Rice (she, her, hers)

Director
crice@umaryland.edu

With more than 25 years of experience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Cyndi has worked here since graduating from the School of Medicine’s Radiologic Technology program. Cyndi loves advising student organizations and helping students develop into well-rounded, holistic, and professional student leaders.

Jole' Ruff, MSW (she, her, hers)

Program Specialist, Student Pantry
jruff@umaryland.edu

Jole' Ruff provides oversight to the UMB food access initiatives and manages the daily operations of the UMB Student Pantry. 

Jole' received her Master of Social Work degree from Morgan State University in 2017.

Malika Brown (she, her, hers)

Civic and Community Engagement Program Specialist, Intercultural Leadership & Engagement/Office of Community Engagement

MalikaBrown@umaryland.edu

Click here to schedule a virtual meeting with Malika

Malika Brown serves as the inaugural Civic and Community Engagement Coordinator. Her role at UMB is to help students connect to civic service opportunities while ethically engaging Baltimore’s various communities. Malika comes to UMB with a deep understanding and knowledge of community engagement and civic education. She is also a proud alumna of The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and obtained her B.A. in English. As a proud Baltimorean, she is passionate about uniting communities through sustainable programming and viable resources.

Headshot of Tanika Wiggins from the shoulders up smiling wearing a blouse and blazer

Tanika Wiggins, LCSW-C (she, her, hers)

Program Specialist, Intercultural Center 
tanika.wiggins@umaryland.edu

Tanika is a dedicated licensed clinical social worker with experience in planning and managing diversity and inclusion initiatives, particularly within academic settings. Currently, Tanika plays a pivotal role in organizing and facilitating impactful programs that promote awareness and foster an inclusive environment on campus.

Tanika is a graduate of the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Headshot of Kayla Kozak from the shoulders up smiling, wearing collared shirt

Kayla Kozak, MS (she, her, hers)

Peer Mentorship Program Specialist

Kayla Kozak is responsible for the implementation of an inaugural university-wide peer mentorship program, open to all students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. 

A graduate of University of Maryland, College Park ('21, BA) and Towson University ('24, MS), Kayla is dedicated to the creation of meaningful programming and exciting opportunities within student affairs. This new peer mentorship initiative seeks to create and uphold spaces for first-generation and low-income students to explore their passions, curiosities, and personal/professional identities. 

In her free time, you can find her continuing her hunt for Baltimore's best coffee shop or fawning over pictures of her pet cat.