Equity Committee

The Equity Committee shall consist of the USGA DEI officer, who shall serve as its Chair, and as many other members of the USGA Senate necessary to accomplish the goals of the USGA.

The committee shall aid in the coordination, planning and execution of DEI events with guidance from the USGA DEI officer 

The committee is responsible for reviewing DEI initiatives on campus to help maintain and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMB  

Committee Leader

Headshot of the DEI Officer of USGA Kwanza Graham Syke

Kwanza Graham Sykes
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
umb.usga.equityofficer@umaryland.edu
DEI Leadership
Graduate School

Kwanza Graham-Sykes is a 1st year MS-DEI Leadership student at the School of Graduate Studies. She earned a BA in Organizational Management, and a MA in Healthcare Administration from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Currently, Kwanza also volunteers on the Learning and Education Committee at The American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA). With nearly two decades of experience in human resources and operations, and now as a MS-DEIL student, Kwanza is driven by her passion to put theory into practice to advance diversity, equity and inclusion among the student body at UMB. When Kwanza is not busy studying, she enjoys spending time with her husband and six-year son, long walks and regular trips to the spa.

Committee Members

Hammad Baqai
Pronouns: 
hammad.baqai@som.umaryland.edu

 

Jenina Ezra David

Jenina Ezra David
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
School of Medicine 
jeninaezradavid@som.umaryland.edu

Jenina Ezra David is a 4th-year MD student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She earned a BA in Public Health Studies from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Currently, Jenina also serves as an outreach and silent voices volunteer at the NAMI Metro-Baltimore area. As the primary senator for UMB NAMI, she hopes to bridge more opportunities from the NAMI metro group to the UMB campus, increasing mental health awareness. When Jenina is not busy studying, she enjoys lounging in her apartment and binging on Asian dramas.

Loryn Johnson
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience
loryn.johnson@som.umaryland.edu 

Shemar Markley
Pronouns:
shemarmarkley@umaryland.edu

Jemima Olufade
Pronouns: 
Undergraduate School of Nursing
jemima.olufade@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.

Pravalika Rayala

Pravalika Rayala
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Genetic Counseling
Graduate School
pravalika.rayala@som.umaryland.edu

Pravalika is a 1st-year Masters in Genetic Counseling Program student at the School of Medicine. She earned a B.S in Cell and Molecular Biology and B.A in Psychology from University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Currently, Pravalika also works as a General Senator at Equity Committee. As Senator for Equity committee, Pravalika hopes to advocate for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the campus. When Pravalika is not busy studying, she enjoys hiking, watching movies and series, and spending time with family and friends.

Soniya Regmi
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
School of Pharmacy
soniya.regmi@umaryland.edu