This Spring, UMD School of Public Health (SPH) recognized four outstanding members of the community with its highest honor – the Distinguished Terrapin Award. A diverse and inspiring group of professionals were celebrated for their exceptional professional achievements, dedicated service to the school, cultivation of a culture of philanthropy and advancement of the Dean’s strategic priorities.
Awardees were acknowledged at the Dean's Recognition Ceremony on April 17, 2025, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center. With the theme of "Around the World," the evening highlighted SPH’s global impact spotlighting Peru and Tanzania, alongside a celebration of community, resilience, and excellence.
Dr. Dushanka V. Kleinman
Professor Emerita, UMD School of Public Health
Rear Admiral (Ret.), U.S. Public Health Service
“We are still in the right place at the right time to address today’s challenges — but the public and their needs must take an even more prominent role in guiding new pathways for workforce training, research, and practice.”
Dr. Dushanka Kleinman is a distinguished leader in public health, oral health and health literacy, with a career spanning federal government, academia and community health. She served for nearly 30 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including as deputy director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), acting director of NIDCR, and assistant director for the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. As the 15th Chief Dental Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, she oversaw critical national responses during the 9/11 and anthrax attacks. Kleinman played a senior leadership role in SPH’s launch and growth from 2007 until her retirement as associate dean for research and principal associate dean in 2023. She continues to advance public health as Professor Emerita and Chair of the SPH CONSERVE Advisory Committee. Kleinman holds degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago (D.D.S.) and Boston University (M.Sc.D. in Dental Public Health). She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and a past president of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry.
- Dr. Kleinman was instrumental in establishing the School of Public Health’s research infrastructure, leading strategic initiatives that strengthened community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- She chaired the SPH 2024-2030 Strategic Plan Advisory Committee, helping to shape the school’s future direction and align it with urgent public health priorities.
- She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications promoting the application of health literacy principles across health professions.
- As an educator, Kleinman has mentored countless students and continues to support SPH’s legacy of public service, health equity and community-based research.
- She remains an active advisor to the Maryland Commission on Public Health and other state and national initiatives, embodying SPH’s commitment to translating knowledge into impact.
- A devoted donor and advocate, she consistently champions programs that promote population health, interdisciplinary partnerships, and civic engagement at UMD SPH.
Dr. Suma Nair, PhD ’17
Associate Administrator, Health Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
"I know I can take on tough challenges, and so I actively choose to—because driving change requires courage and grit. It requires a willingness to challenge inequities and the status quo, to push past barriers, and to cause – as the late John Lewis so powerfully put it – good trouble."
Dr. Suma Nair is an accomplished federal healthcare leader with over two decades of experience advancing health equity and improving healthcare access at the national level. As Associate Administrator of HRSA’s Health Systems Bureau, she oversees vital programs such as organ donation and transplantation, vaccine injury compensation, and COVID-19 community outreach initiatives. Previously, she spearheaded national COVID-19 response programs for the Health Center Program, ensuring equitable vaccine and therapeutics distribution to underserved communities across the country. Nair’s leadership has modernized major federal health programs, enhanced patient safety systems, and championed the integration of health information technology to drive quality improvement across thousands of health centers nationwide. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in value-based care, quality improvement in underserved populations, and advancing primary care delivery models. Nair earned her Ph.D. in Health Services Administration, is a recipient of numerous federal awards and was a 2022 finalist for the prestigious Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
- Dr. Nair’s relationship with UMD School of Public Health (SPH) remains strong and deeply personal. She credits SPH with instilling the enduring values of service, equity, and impact that continue to guide her leadership at the national level.
- Nair continues to support SPH initiatives through mentorship, advocacy, and by serving as a role model for students aspiring to careers in health policy, quality improvement, and health systems leadership.
- Her career exemplifies the SPH mission to promote health equity and improve public health systems, and she remains committed to expanding opportunities for underserved communities nationwide.
Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee; Maryland House of Delegates
"At its core, public service is about people—about listening to their needs, amplifying their voices, and ensuring that our policies reflect the values of equity, access, and opportunity."
Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk is a distinguished public servant and trailblazer, currently serving as Chair of the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee. A proud Afro-Latina leader representing Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties, Peña-Melnyk has dedicated her career to advancing equity in healthcare, civil rights, and public health policy. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, Peña-Melnyk's personal experiences shaped her enduring commitment to underserved communities. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Buffalo State College and her J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has also served as a public defender, court-appointed advocate for abused and neglected children and prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Eric Holder.
Peña-Melnyk passed critical legislation including the Affordable Care Act expansion in Maryland, bills to increase healthcare access, initiatives to curb prescription drug prices and laws protecting immigrant and minority communities. She is the first Afro-Latina to lead a standing committee in the Maryland House. Her many honors include the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators’ Healthcare Champion Award, Maryland State Medical Society’s Legislator of the Year and being named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record.
- Delegate Peña-Melnyk has been a vital advocate for UMD School of Public Health’s efforts to expand health literacy and equitable healthcare access.
- She led legislative efforts that provided $350,000 in funding for the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy to become Maryland’s hub for public health communication, helping state agencies create clear, accessible health information
- She has spoken passionately at SPH events about the importance of health equity, access to care, and the vital role of public health policy in protecting vulnerable communities.
- Her consistent collaboration with SPH researchers and faculty strengthens the school's mission of community partnership and practical impact in public health.
Jameson Roth, BS ’17
Senior Account Manager, McCabe Message Partners
Secretary, SPH Alumni Network (2024 - Present)
“The School of Public Health is the place where everything good happened, and I wanted to give back to the people who gave me so much!”
Jameson Roth is a passionate alumna and tireless volunteer leader dedicated to strengthening UMD’s public health community. A two-time Terp, Roth holds a B.A. in Communications and a B.S. in Family Science. Currently, she serves as a Senior Account Manager at health communications firm, McCabe Message Partners. Roth embodies SPH’s core values of meaningful engagement, purposeful communication, and respect. She has served in critical leadership roles for the SPH Alumni Network, including Vice President (2020–2022), President (2022–2024), and Secretary (2024–present),expanding the network’s programming and building lasting bridges between alumni and current students. Roth was instrumental in launching the Terrapin Perspectives Conversation Series that fosters discussions on public health’s intersections with various disciplines. Under her leadership, the series became a cornerstone for alumni engagement and received UMD Alumni Association’s 2024 "Event of the Year" Award. Roth has been recognized with the SPH Emerging Volunteer Leader of the Year Award (2022) and a Service Excellence Award by the UMD Alumni Association Board of Governors (2024).
- Roth’s commitment to SPH began with mentoring students through the alumni mentorship program and evolved into transformative leadership on the SPH Alumni Network Board.
- She spearheaded hybrid programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping SPH alumni connected through innovative virtual events and community service projects.
- As a volunteer leader, Roth partnered closely with SPH's communications team to amplify alumni engagement through strategic marketing, purposeful communication and impactful storytelling.
- Beyond formal titles, Roth has mentored and inspired countless students and peers, embodying a spirit of service, leadership and gratitude that reflects the very best of the SPH community.