Graduate School

Primary Senator

Divya Hosangadi
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Ph.D. Program in Epidemiology
Graduate School
Divya.Hosangadi@som.umaryland.edu 

General Senators

Adedola Adebamowo
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
PhD Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Graduate School
aadebamowo@som.umaryland.edu 

 

Brock Brethour
Pronouns: He/Him/His
PhD Program in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Graduate School
brock.brethour@som.umaryland.edu 

Erika Ventura Castellon

Erika Ventura Castellon
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
PhD Program in Nursing
Graduate School
eventuracastellon@umaryland.edu

Hi! My name is Erika Ventura Castellon and I am a 4th year nursing PhD student. I attended the University of Kentucky’s College of Nursing for my undergraduate degree. I am currently a Graduate Research Assistant and am the DSO-GSA Rep. Before starting the PhD program, I served as President of the local DC Metro Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. This organization was instrumental in my decision to return to school. In my role as a USGA member, I hope to connect fellow graduate nursing students to campus-wide resources and advocate for initiatives to improve the overall student experience at UMB.

Jonathan Lawton

Jonathan Lawton
Pronouns: He/Him/His
PhD Program in Molecular Epidemiology
Graduate School
jlawton@som.umaryland.edu

Jonathan Lawton is a 5th-year PhD Candidate in Molecular Epidemiology at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health. His dissertation research combines clinical data and bioinformatics approaches to better understand cerebral malaria in young children. Jonathan earned a BS in Biology from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA followed by a MS in Epidemiology & Clinical Research from UMB. Currently, Jonathan is also President of UMB’s Graduate Student Association. Outside of the lab, Jonathan enjoys long walks, chilly sunny days, very hot coffee, trying new foods, discovering new music, watching/playing sports, and sci-fi/fantasy.

Niya Leach
Pronouns: 
Graduate School
nleach@umaryland.edu 

Erin Walton Headshot

Erin Walton
Pronouns: She/ Her/ Hers
PhD Program in Social Work
Graduate School
erin.walton@ssw.umaryland.edu 

Erin Walton is a 2nd year PhD student at the UMB School of Social Work. She earned her MSW from UMB SSW a BS from University of Maryland College Park. Erin is a Clinical Social Worker who has spent the past 14 years working in the healthcare field in and around Baltimore City. Her expertise is in interpersonal violence and trauma, and she currently serves as the Program Director for the Program in Health Equity and Population Health in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the School of Medicine.

Lakota Watson

Lakota Watson
Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them
PhD Program in Neuroscience
Graduate School
lwatson@som.umaryland.edu 

Lakota Watson (pronouns: she/her/they/them) is a 4th-year Neuroscience Ph.D. student at the School of Graduate Studies. Lakota earned their B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology before moving to Baltimore to become a lab technician in the lab of Dr. Joe Cheer prior to their admission to the graduate school. As a disabled academic, Lakota knows firsthand the importance of uplifting the voices of persons who could potentially benefit from or be harmed by scientific research, and this guides their work in and out of the lab. Currently, Lakota works in the lab of Dr. Luana Colloca as a Ph.D. candidate studying the neurobiological effects of early life adversity on social behavior and pain perception. Outside of their lab, Lakota also serves as secretary of the Graduate Student Association and head of the Graduate Research Conference planning committee. They have also served on the UM-MIND IDEAS committee since 2021, a committee which aims to promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism within UM-MIND and the field of neuroscience as a whole. Additionally, Lakota recently completed a one-year appointment as a TL1 Pre-Doctoral Scholar in Clinical and Translational Research. Within their time in the fellowship, they connected with Baltimore residents to discuss concerns within the local community and gain valuable feedback on their research. As senator for the School of Graduate Studies, Lakota hopes to continue being a vocal advocate for students and accessibility on this campus to address historical exclusion of marginalized and disabled individuals from academic spaces. They currently serve on the USGA Advocacy committee. In their free time, Lakota enjoys crocheting, caring for their many house plants, and hanging out with their (very large) orange cat.