Diversity Advisory Council Members

Patty Alvarez, PhD, MS – Co-Chair
She/Her/Hers
Chief Student Affairs Officer 
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Assistant Professor
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA – Co-Chair 
She/Her/Hers
Vice President 
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer
University of Maryland, Baltimore
 
Professor
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Courtney Jones Carney, DPA, MBA – Ex Officio Member 
She/Her/Hers
Executive Director, Intercultural Leadership & Engagement 
Director, Intercultural Center
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Assistant Professor
Program Director
Intercultural Leadership Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
MS in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership
 
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies 

Neijma Celestine-Donner, J.D., MSW, LCSW-C – Ex Officio Member 
She/Her/Hers
Clinical Assistant Professor
Associate Dean and Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 
University of Maryland School of Social Work
 
Teaching Faculty
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Isaac Chaudry 
He/Him/His
University of Maryland Muslim Students and Scholars Association (MSSA) 

MD/PhD Student, Medical Science Training Program
 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Yvette Conyers, DNP, MS, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS – Ex Officio Member
She/Her/Hers
Assistant Professor, Family and Community Health 
Associate Dean for Equity Diversity and Inclusion
University of Maryland School of Nursing 

Hershaw Davis Jr., DNP, MBA, RN 
Clinical Instructor, Organizational Systems and Adult Health 
University of Maryland School of Nursing 

Yali Deng, MSW 
She/Her/Hers
PhD Student/Graduate Research Assistant  
University of Maryland School of Social Work 

Sarasijhaa Desikan, MD 
She/Her/Hers
President, Faculty Senate
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Assistant Professor, Vascular Surgery 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Laura Dykes, PhD, MS 
She/Her/Hers
President, Hollins Roundhouse Neighborhood Association 
Vice President, Southwest Partnership 

Jaelyn Edwards, SPT
She/Her/Hers
President, United Students of African Descent
 
PTRS Class of 2024 Secretary 
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Eleanor Fleming, PhD, DDS, MPH, – Ex Officio Member 
She/Her/Hers 
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dental Public Health 
Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
University of Maryland School of Dentistry 

Shani Fleming, MSHS, MPH, PA-C – Ex Officio Member 
She/Her/Hers
Associate Professor 
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer 
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Aziza Frank 
She/Her
PhD Candidate, Pharmaceutical Sciences 
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy 

Reetta Gach, MS, MBA – Ex Officio Member 
She/Her/Hers
Director of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Programs 
Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Camille Givens-Patterson, MA, BA 
Community Partnership Specialist 
Office of Community Engagement 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Parham Habibzadeh, MD 
He/Him/His
Post Doctoral Fellow 
Sajadi Lab 
Division of Clinical Care and Research 
Institute of Human Virology 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Kennedy Hagans, MPH 
She/Her/Hers
University Student Government Association 
Juris Doctor Candidate 
University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law 

Laura Kozak, MA 
She/Her/Hers
Chief Marketing Officer 
Senior Associate Vice President 
Office of Communications and Public Affairs 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Daniel Locke
He/Him/His
Student 
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Monica Castillo Maggiano 
She/Her/Hers 
Director, Leadership Communications  
Office of the President  
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Russell McClain, JD, BA – Ex Officio Member 
Professor
Director, Academic Achievement Program
Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
  
University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law 

Lilia Mijares, PhD, MLT (ASCP)  
She/Her/Hers
Unidos 
Assistant Professor, Medical Research and Technology 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Bern Monari, MS  
They/Them/Mx
Graduate Student Association 
PhD Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant
Institute for Genome Sciences
 
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Malika Monger, MPA, PHR – Ex Officio Member 
Associate Vice President 
Chief Human Resource Officer
Human Resource Services

Office of Administration and Finance
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Christine Nieman Hislop, MSLIS, BS
She/Her/Hers 
Data Management Librarian  
Health Sciences and Human Services Library

Nicole Palmore, MSW – Ex Officio Member
She/Her/Hers 
Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 
Office of Administration and Finance 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maly Poon 
She/Her/Hers
BI Developer 
Center for Information Technology Services 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Ida Powell 
She/Her/Hers
Custodial Lead 
Environmental Services 
Office of Administration and Finance 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Sandra Quezada, MD, MS, AGAF – Ex Officio Member 
She/Her/Hers
Professor of Medicine
Associate Dean for Medical School Admissions 
Associate Dean for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Amy Ramirez, MA, BA 
Director of International Services 
Center for Global Engagement 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Kristin Reavis, MD, MBS – Ex Officio Member
She/Her 
Assistant Professor, Family Medicine 
Residency Program Director 
Director, Maternal Child Health 
Assistant Dean for Student Diversity and Inclusion 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Mohummad M. Siddiqui, MD FACS 
He/Him 
Professor, Surgery/Urology 
Director of Robotic Surgery  
Director of Urologic Oncology 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Shereece Singleton, MS 
She/Her/Hers
Office Manager 
Department of Microbial Pathogenesis 
University of Maryland School of Dentistry 

Chi Song, JD, MLS 
She/Her/Hers
Systems & Instruction Librarian  
University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law 

Nia Speaks
She/Her 
Staff Senate 
University of Maryland, Baltimore


Sr. Business Manager, The Center for Restorative Change
 
University of Maryland School of Social Work 

Lori James Townes, MSW, LCSW-C 
Alumni Board President 
University of Maryland School of Social Work 

Alison Watkins, JD, MS 
She/Her/Hers
UMBrella 
Assistant Vice President for Policy Oversight and Conflict of Interest Officer 
Office of the Provost 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Chanel Whittaker, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP – Ex Officio Member 
Professor of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research
Director of Education and Training, Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging
Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy