Graduate Student Ambassadors

Hi there! I'm Alexis, a Graduate Teaching Assistant and fourth-year PhD student in BCH. My journey into public health was influenced by my passion for addressing health inequities and using community-engaged research to develop sexual health interventions. I love the collaborative and supportive environment at UMD SPH. Please feel free to reach out! Go, Terps! Fun fact: I played hockey as a youth.

Feel free to reach out for tips on balancing work and school full-time! :)

LinkedIn: Alexis S. Hunter
E-mail: huntera5@umd.edu

Angshuman (Aang-shoe-maan) here. I have a strong interest in art, health communication, and global health. The BCH department's supportive faculty and UMD SPH's resources allow me to creatively combine these interests to look at health issues. I am also a Teaching Assistant for the Global Public Health Scholars program. Fun facts: I can make photo-realistic sketches and love playing badminton.

LinkedIn: Angshuman Kashyap
E-mail: akshyap@umd.edu

Hi! I’m Bryan, and I am a third-year Behavioral and Community Health PhD student. My areas of interest are men’s health, maternal and child’s health, and human sexuality, particularly in minoritized populations. I am also a graduate teaching assistant in the department of BCH and a graduate research assistant for the Community THRIVES Lab. 

LinkedIn: Bryan Shannon
E-mail: bshanno3@umd.edu

Hi everyone! My name is Haja, and I am a second-year Behavioral and Community Health MPH student! As a strong advocate for understanding the relationship between social determinants of health and poor health outcomes, I am committed to using my education and knowledge to create meaningful change in my community.

Linkedin: Haja Kumalah
E-mail: Hkumalah@umd.edu

I love all things health and healing. I’ve learned that health encompasses physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health. I'm fascinated by studying the human organism at different organizational levels. My research focuses on the intersections of psychology, sociology, and public health, so the interdisciplinary field of public health with outstanding faculty at UMD was a natural fit.

LinkedIn: Hakima Hussaini
E-mail: hakima@umd.edu

Hello everyone! 
My name is Erica Scott, and I am currently a second-year MPH Student in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health. I am originally from the D.C. Metropolitan area, and I absolutely enjoy being a mother, career woman, student, and volunteering. My interest and engagement at UMD include participating in a Vignette Study Research and volunteering. 
Outside of UMD, I volunteer with community leaders to engage in meaningful conversations on policy change, community engagement and legislative change for justice, families and individuals who have been impacted by discrimination, inequities of judicial misconduct, health disparities, social justice, health inequities, and more. 
Please feel free to reach out to me! We are in this together! Welcome to UMD!

E-mail: escott14@terpmail.umd.edu

As a part of farming family in a village in India, I quickly learned the importance of public health practice. My interest in statistics and the spread of infectious disease led me to pursue biostatistics and epidemiology. At UMD SPH, I love the emphasis on the practical application of class concepts. My research experiences combine wet-lab (human and microbiome) with computational biology.

LinkedIn: Aiswarya Suriaprakash
E-mail: asuria@umd.edu

Hello! I’m Paul, a 2nd-year MPH student with a passion for health, social justice, and community service. My commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting healthier communities drew me to public health. The COVID-19 pandemic solidified my decision to focus on biostatistics, where data analysis plays a crucial role in understanding and controlling disease outbreaks.

E-mail: pumemezi@umd.edu

Hi! My name is Naomi Whitaker, and I am a second-year PhD student in the Department of Family Science. I'm from Portsmouth, Virginia, a former Division I Track and Field athlete at East Carolina University. I completed my Masters in Public Health at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. In Fall 2023, I established the Association of Black Public Health Students organization at UMD! I am passionate about the healthy identity development and mental health of Black youth and young adults. I am a research assistant for Dr. Rabiatu Barrie in the BLACK Health Research Lab, where I help conduct community-based research projects centered around Black boys and Black families. I'm always willing to be an open ear to anyone who needs support!   Feel free to reach out!!

E-mail: nwhitak1@umd.edu

Hi! I am Emily Woerner. I decided to pursue my PhD in Environmental Health Science in the Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health Department to apply my knowledge of microbiology to the field of human health. My research focuses on laboratory-based water quality testing, but I also engage with homeowners and farmers affected by microbial contaminants. I grew up in Maryland and attended UMD as an undergraduate, so I knew that UMD was the ideal place for me to make an impact. When I am not on campus, I am out walking my dog or learning new recipes for baked goods.

LinkedIn: Emily Woerner
E-mail: ewoerner@umd.edu

I chose to get a public health degree after my bachelor's in Environmental Biology because I wanted to learn more about the link between human health and the environment, particularly how water quality affects the health of people in a community. After doing some research, I found that the UMD School of Public Health was the place for me because I found professors doing research in that field too.

LinkedIn: Nana Ama Ohene Kumi
E-mail: naokumi@umd.edu

I’m Alice. I left behind a job in public accounting to build a career in public health. As an accountant, I specialized in tax. Still, I was drawn to the policy aspects of the field more than the business aspects and missed the joys of pursuing scientific inquiry in an academic environment. So, I decided to switch gears towards health research and found my ideal environment at UMD’s SPH. My research interests are in health disparities, program and policy evaluation, public health systems, and social determinants of health. My non-research interests include anime, manga, and music - specifically, piano and clarinet.

LinkedIn: Alice Yan
E-mail: asyan@umd.edu

Hi! I'm Errienna, a 2nd-year MPH-Health Equity student. I chose UMD because the HLEQ program offers intersectional coursework on the social determinants of health and their impact on individuals, communities, and health systems. Currently, I work in international business development. I look forward to connecting with you all & encourage you to reach out to with any questions or just to chat!

LinkedIn: Errienna Mckenzie
E-mail: errienna@umd.edu

Hi! I'm Isaiah Griffith, a second-year MPH student in Health Policy through the Accelerated BS+MPH Program. This summer, I interned for HHS in the Office of Inspector General, and I currently serve as a GA for the UMD Fellows Program. With my MPH, I hope to break down health disparities and create policies that ensure equitable access to healthcare for underserved communities.

LinkedIn: Isaiah Griffith
E-mail: igriffit@umd.edu

Hi, I'm Sarah, a second-year BS-MPH student with a focus in Healthcare Management. I decided to pursue my public health degree to build a career centered around expanding healthcare access. Right now, I'm gaining experience as a Clinical Advisory Services Intern at CareFirst BCBS. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks and exploring nature with my dog. Please reach out with any questions!

LinkedIn: Sarah McClure
E-mail: smcclur1@umd.edu

I am a 2nd year MPH Healthcare Management student & HPMSA's BS/MPH chair! Coming to UMD for undergrad, & grad, has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The SPH community is extremely welcoming, filled with strong-minded students & faculty. Participating in extracurriculars has provided me with great memories & friendships, so I highly recommend getting involved! Feel free to reach out!

LinkedIn: Maia Jerchower
E-mail: mjerchow@umd.edu

Hello! My name is Taha, and I am a 2nd year MHA student! I currently work as a Patient Experience Supervisor at the GW Medical Faculty Associates in DC. I am passionate about expanding ambulatory access, improving patient satisfaction, and enhancing operational efficiency. I chose SPH due to its proximity to the nation's capital and its strong alumni network.

I am looking forward to connecting!

LinkedIn: Taha Nasir
E-mail:  mnasir1@terpmail.umd.edu

Hello! My name is Junbin Yang, and I am a doctoral student in the Physical Cultural Studies Research Group at the Kinesiology Department. My research broadly focuses on cultural studies of sport and physical culture. I am currently interested in the emotional resonance of sport and physical culture that contributes to their ultimate mystification.

Personal Profile: Junbin Yang
Email: jbyang23@umd.edu

I’m a PhD student in Kinesiology. My research attempts to make accurate knee-loading measurements accessible outside of biomechanics labs. As a former rehabilitation engineer, I strive to better understand human movements. So, the Neuromechanics Research Core at UMD is the perfect fit! In my free time, I’m either participating in a group fitness class at ERC, playing with my daughter, or cooking

LinkedIn: Maliheh Fakhar
E-mail: mfakhar@umd.edu

• Sade Parson, MPH '23 (Behavioral and Community Health
  Linkedin: Sade Parson
• Shaneta Ford, MPH ’23 (Behavioral and Community Health)
  LinkedIn: Shaneta Ford
• Taylor Palmer, MPH ’23 (Behavioral and Community Health)
  LinkedIn: Taylor Palmer
• Tyler S. Huddleston, MPH ’23 (Behavioral and Community Health)
  LinkedIn: Tyler S. Huddleston
• Adele Fu, MPH '22 (Biostatistics)
  LinkedIn: Adele Fu
• Claudia Roberts, MS '22 (Couple and Family Therapy)
  LinkedIn: Claudia Roberts
• Gabriela Loayza, MS ’23 (Couple and Family Therapy)
  LinkedIn: Gabriela Loayza
• Ioanna Galani, MS '22 (Couple and Family Therapy)
  Linkedin: Ioanna Galani
• Regi Corbie, MS '22 (Couple and Family Therapy)
  LinkedIn: Regi Corbi
• Anne Mamish, MPH ’22 (Epidemiology)
  LinkedIn: Anne Mamish
• Lauren Kauffman, PhD ’24 (Epidemiology)
  LinkedIn: Lauren Kauffman
• Rebecca Foss, PhD ’25 (Family Science)
  LinkedIn: Rebecca Foss
• Sahra Ibrahimi, PhD ’24 (Family Science)
  LinkedIn: Sahra Ibrahimi
• Cynthia Weiner, PhD ’26 (Kinesiology)
  LinkedIn: Cynthia Weiner
• Jenna Burnett, PhD ’22 (Kinesiology)
  Linkedin: Jenna Burnett
• Sara Mascone, PhD ’25 (Kinesiology)
• Austin Cantrell, MHA '22 (Master of Health Administration)
  LinkedIn: Austin Cantrell
• Sunayna Dutt, MHA '23 (Master of Health Administration)
  LinkedIn: Sunayna Dutt
• Abena Afari, MPH ’23 (Health Equity)
• Courtney Cann, MPH '22 (Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation)
  LinkedIn: Courtney Cann
• Katrina Makres, MPH ’23 (Health Equity)
  LinkedIn: Katrina Makres
• Jamie Hoffmann, MPH ’23 (Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation)
  LinkedIn: Jamie Hoffman
• Erica Ngouajio, MPH ’23 (Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation)
  LinkedIn: Erica Ngouajio
• Lola Ajayi, MPH ’22 (Public Health Practice and Policy)
  LinkedIn: Lola Ajayi
• Elizabeth Bell, PhD '23 (Kinesiology)
  LinkedIn: Elizabeth Bell
• Izidora Skračić, PhD '22 (Maternal and Child Health)
  LinkedIn: Izidora Skračić
• Jailyn Morris, MPH ’23 (Physical Activity)
  LinkedIn: Jailyn Morris
• Katie Costello, MPH '22 (Physical Activity)
  LinkedIn: Katie Costello
• Krystle McConnell, PhD '24 (Maternal and Child Health)
  LinkedIn: Krystle McConnell