Current Members
Matthew Adjodha is a senior pursuing a dual degree in Public Health Science and Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics on the pre–MD/PhD track. He hopes to become a physician–scientist applying genetic epidemiological research to preventative medicine and policy. Outside of DUSAC, Matthew serves as Co–President of Asian American Student Union (AASU), Vice President of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society (ODK), co–founder of Students for Public Research (SPR), and Program Coordinator of College Success Scholars (CSS). He volunteers with Maryland Athletics Sports Nutrition Program and UMSOM’s CHAMP Lab and is funded as an NIH Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholar and an SPP Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellow (RULF). As an incoming Children’s National Hospital intern and former FDA, Johns Hopkins University, and Mayo Clinic intern, Matthew is passionate about public health career development. Outside work, Matthew enjoys binge–watching TV, listening to audiobooks and indie pop, and restaurant–hopping.
Zainab Ali is an emerging public health leader dedicated to advancing equity through culturally grounded mental health and community programs. After transferring from Prince George’s Community College, she is now pursuing an accelerated BS/MPH in Public Health Science and Behavioral & Community Health at the University of Maryland, with a minor in Technology Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation. Her work spans violence intervention, food desert advocacy, and mentoring initiatives within her local Muslim community. Through her current internship with the Prince George’s County Health Department outreach program, she advocates for tobacco cessation and overdose response among populations such as adults 55+ and those in labor-intensive sectors. At UMD, she champions bridge programs that support seamless transitions from community colleges to the School of Public Health and advocates for equitable resource distribution across SPH. Looking ahead, Zainab plans to research the root causes of mental health disparities and trauma in South Asian communities, particularly among Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi populations, while partnering with nonprofits to co-create sustainable, community-driven solutions.
James Benbow, Class of 2026, is a Kinesiology major and General Business minor preparing for a career in strength and conditioning. He has collegiate athletics experience, including serving as a Strength & Conditioning Intern for the UMD Terps Football team. He holds ACE CPT, SFS, and SPS certifications, as well as a USAW Level 2 credential. James integrates biomechanics, sport science, and data analytics to create evidence-based training programs and athlete dashboards. He plans to pursue a Master of Science in Health and Human Movement through the Health and Human Performance program at Salisbury University as the next step toward becoming a Power 4 Director of Strength and Conditioning or an NFL Director of Strength and Conditioning.
Jameson Bowen is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Public Health Science major and a first-year BS+MPH student in the Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation concentration. In his undergraduate studies, Jameson has earned a citation from College Park Scholars in the Global Public Health (GPH) program, and has been a Global Fellow in the UMD Fellows Program.
Jameson also has a minor in Global Poverty, is a Student Ambassador for the Public Health Science program, and serves as the Sustainability Chair for Kappa Omega Alpha, the premier public policy professional fraternity. In addition to his coursework, Jameson is currently a Federal Affairs Intern at the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), an organization in Washington D.C. that represents the nation’s top-performing nonprofit health plans and provider groups. Outside of school and internships, Jameson enjoys playing sports, backpacking, and going on road trips with friends.
Julia Fay is a junior majoring in Public Health Practice and minoring in Global Poverty and Humanities, Health, and Medicine. She serves as a student ambassador for the PHP major and plays an active role in the Public Health Beyond Borders club local team and e-board. Julia's interests in health equity and disadvantaged populations have been solidified through her University and Departmental Honors coursework, as well as through internships with the SPH Office of Public Health Practice & Community Engagement and with the non-profit Generation Hope as a part of the Do Good Impact Interns program. She recently joined Kappa Omega Alpha, a public policy professional fraternity, and aims to pursue a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation.
Talia Markowitz is a junior majoring in Kinesiology and planning to apply to medical school and pursue a career in Sports Medicine. She is a part of the Kinesiology Honors Program in the School of Public Health and has conducted research on the history of women’s maternal health in the early 20th century. Additionally, Talia is an active member of the Jewish Student Union on campus, a former mentor in the College Mentors for Kids Program, and acquired extensive experience as a Physical Therapist Aide at Pivot Physical Therapy. Talia has a strong interest in the connection between health, sport, and society, and plans to apply the skills from these roles toward a holistic, evidence-based, and sensitive approach to healthcare in her future work.
Mist Nguyen is currently a Senior with a Family Health Major and a History Minor. They plan on finishing their undergraduate degree in Spring of 2026 and continuing their education to pursue a Master’s degree in Couples and Family Therapy. Mist was previously an Emergency Medical Technician for two years before changing career paths, where they learned the importance of cultural humility when providing care. Their career goal is to become a Marriage and Family Therapist, where they want to provide equitable access to mental health care and work with people from immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities.
Kaira Okeke (PHSC) is a junior Public Health Science major on the pre-med track. Her academic interests center on cancer research and the intersection of oncology and dermatology. Kaira currently serves as the Treasurer for NAPHSA and works as a research assistant in Professor Pierre Jacob’s plant immunity lab. She is also an undergraduate TA and mentors K–12 students through The Every Child Project, providing academic support and guidance.
Looking ahead, Kaira plans to attend medical school to become a dermatologist with a focus on cancer care, aiming to combine her public health background with clinical practice to advance preventative, patient-centered medicine
Mia Owens(GBHL) is a sophomore studying Global Health from Bowie, Maryland. She is passionate about working towards health equity and designing culturally relevant public health interventions. After finishing her bachelor's, she plans to either pursue her JD or MPH. Her career interests include: Health Law, Public Health Policy, Emergency & Disaster Management, and Regulatory Affairs.
On campus, she works as a Peer Mentor in the Education Abroad office focusing on outreach projects to get more terps engaged in education abroad. She also serves as a global ambassador for the Seeing Me Initiative, co-designing a faculty-led racial linguistics study abroad program in Panama for the Winter 2026 session. In the School of Public Health, she is an ambassador for the GEOH department and an undergraduate teaching assistant & liaison for SPHL333.
Ifrah Reyal (she/her) is a sophomore Public Health Science major on the pre-health track with a strong interest in advancing community health and minority cultural research. She hopes to pursue a career in healthcare while contributing to research that focuses on bridging the gap in healthcare for underprivileged communities. Outside of DUSAC, she is involved with the College Park Scholars International Studies program, and serves as the Event Coordinator for Peer to Peer. Her long-term volunteer work targets food insecurity in the DMV area and promotes global literacy programs in Rural Ghana through her role as Youth Ambassador of Outreach Programs for Rural Communities Empowerment Center. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, traveling and spending time with her friends and family!
Lauren Sigur (PHSC& FHSC) is a sophomore Public Health Science and Family Health major. She is interested in maternal health, child health, and racial disparities in healthcare; she hopes to become a Physician Assistant who specializes in women's health. Lauren is committed to ending racial disparities that Black mothers and children face. Lauren also serves as a Student Ambassador for the Family Health major, the Co-Chair of MentorMe for the Student Success Leadership Program, the Co-Director of Fundraising for the Black Maternal Health Club, and more!
Kaydence Thompson is a Family Health major at the University of Maryland with experience in youth mentorship and global health. She has worked in Tanzania and Puerto Rico on youth education, land rights, and accessible dental care. She is committed to supporting underserved communities