The Diversity Strategic Plan Committee was charged with informing the development of UMB’s first Diversity Strategic Plan, which will serve as a road map and framework to activate and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMB.

The committee adopted a data-driven, evidence-based approach to identify university equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) priorities and needs. It extensively reviewed surveys, climate studies, our UMB Strategic Plan, University-wide strategic goals and outcomes, and best practices at UMB and throughout higher education and industry to inform the plan's development. During spring 2023, the committee hosted listening sessions to learn more from our UMB community about future directions in EDI.

Further movement on the DSP developed through the engagement and collective action of the DSP Committee, a broadly representative body inclusive of students, staff, faculty, and administrators from various ranks and from across UMB. The DSP discussed diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMB until four clear themes emerged, which became the basis for the four Theme Working Groups, listed below with their full titles and the names of their leads.

Recruitment and Retention: Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and Sheila Blackshear, MS, CAAP, Diversity, ADA and Affirmative Action Administrato

Climate/Experience (later Experience and Climate): Courtney Resnik, EdD, Director, Academic Administration

Professional Development and Career Advancement: C. Daniel Mullins (see above) and Wei Ming Dariotis, PhD, Assistant Vice President for the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Education, Scholarship, and Service (later Scholarship, Service, and Education): Franck Dumetz, PhD, Research Associate, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Amy Ramirez, MA, Director of the Office of International Services

These four Theme Working Groups evolved into the core themes of the REPS framework: Recruitment & Retention, Experience & Climate, Professional Development & Career Advancement, and Scholarship, Service, & Education. The recommendations of these working groups, as expressed in the executive summary of their final reports, form the basis of the key goals of this plan, and were also reviewed by the Diversity Advisory Council.

Patty Alvarez, PhD
Chief Student Affairs Officer 
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs 
University of Maryland, Baltimore

Assistant Professor
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies 

Danielle Brown, MBA    
Acting Assistant Vice President    
Sponsored Programs Administration

Sheila Blackshear, MS, CAAP   
Diversity, ADA and Affirmative Action Administrator
Human Resource Services

Deborah P. Levi, MA, LCSW-C    
Director of Educational Support    
Office of Educational Support and Disability Services

Susan Buskirk, DM, MS    
Chief Accountability Officer
Institutional Official for Human Subjects Research    
Vice President
Office of Accountability and Compliance

Neijma Celestine-Donnor, MSW    
Clinical Assistant Professor
Associate Dean and Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 
University of Maryland School of Social Work

Christina Cestone, PhD    
Assistant Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs    
Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

Sarasijhaa Desikan, MD    
Assistant Professor, Vascular Surgery 
University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Aloysius Essien, MS    
Acting Director, Corporate and Foundations Relations
Office of Philanthropy

Eleanor Fleming, PhD, DDS, MPH, FICD    
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dental Public Health 
Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
University of Maryland School of Dentistry 

Shani Fleming, MSHS, MPS, PA-C    
Associate Professor 
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer 
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

David Gray, JD, PhD    
Jacob A. France Professor of Law    
University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law 

Kennedy Hagens    
University Student Government Association 
Juris Doctor Candidate 
University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law

Katie Hughes, BA    
Executive Assistant    
Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Courtney Jones Carney, DPA, MBA    
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

Thomas Leone, MSL   
Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief    
UMB Police Department

Kyla Liggett-Creel, PHD, MSW    
Clinical Associate Professor    
University of Maryland School of Social Work

Karen Matthews, DM, MPA    
Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment    
Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning, and Assessment

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

Hope McGovern, BA    
Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications  
Office of Communications and Public Affairs

Malika Monger, MPA, PHR    
Chief Human Resources Officer
Associate Vice President   
Human Resource Services

Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, CRNP-Neonatal, FNAP, FAAN
Chair
Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice
Chair and Co-Director
Center for Health Equity and Outcomes Research
Dean
University of Maryland School of Nursing

Nicole Palmore, MSW
Executive Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 
Office of Administration and Finance

Donna Parker, MD, FACP    
Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
Professor    
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Sandra Quezada, MD, MS    
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology    
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Amy Ramirez, MA    
Director of International Services 
Center for Global Engagement

Courtney Resnick, EdD  
Special Assistant to the Dean
University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Tyrone Roper, MSW    
Director    
Community Engagement Center

Kristin Reavis, MD, MBS    
Clinical Assistant Professor, Family Medicine 
Residency Program Director 
Director, Maternal Child Health 
Assistant Dean for Student Diversity and Inclusion 
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Mishawn Smith, MPA    
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Coordinator    
University of Maryland School of Nursing

Chanel Whittaker, PharmD, BCPS, CGP, FASCP
Associate Professor
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