Teaching
I teach in UMBC’s undergraduate public health program. I love knowing that I am preparing the next generation of public health professionals. My teaching areas include public health ethics, health disparities, social determinants of health, health justice, advocacy, and community engagement.
Courses
- PBHL 300 Research Methods in Health
- PBHL 350 Public Health Ethics
- PBHL 354 Social Bases of Community and Public Health
- PBHL 355 Health Justice and Advocacy
Experiential Learning
From 2009-2018, my PBHL 354 students put on a health fair called “Health First Saturday” at Baltimore’s Port Discovery Children’s Museum.
Mentoring
Mentoring the next generation of public health professionals, academics, and advocates is my passion. One way I keep up with alumnae is through UMBC Public Health Graduates Facebook Page. If you’re an alumnae, make sure to join. I love hearing about my students lives, families, and careers.
McNair Scholars
It has been my pleasure to mentored numerous McNair Scholars, including Demetrie Garner 2022, Izzy Okojie 2021, Luwam Gebreyesus 2019, Funmi Makinde 2014, Freddy Reyes 2012, Oriaku Okpa 2011, and Michael Jenkins 2009.
Undergraduate Creative Research and Achievement Day (URCAD)
URCAD is held at UMBC every April. It is a great opportunity for students to create and present posters and give oral presentations. Melissa Chapman To tell or not to tell: Genetic Carrier Testing for Gaucher Disease 2009; Neal Karkhanis Survey of UMBC Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Seeking Care for Emotional and Mental Health Problems. 2009.
UMBC students have also presented at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health’s Annual Conference for the Dissemination of Student Research.
UMBC’s Bioethics Student Association
I have been committed to diversifying the field of Bioethics for decades primarily by helping undergraduate students attend the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.
In 2008, Jacquline Wonjohi presented a poster at the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference (NUBC). Joyce Awuro and I cheer her on.
Soon after, the UMBC Bioethics Student Association (BSA) was born.
UMBC students raised $500 to send six BSA members to the 2009 National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference (NUBC) at Harvard University. Mary Rhee, Melissa Chapman, and Richard Blissett gave stellar presentations.
Listening to Peter Singer
In 2010, Michael Young presented at both NUBC and a conference in Berlin, Germany! Michael earned an M.Phil as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. He then attended Harvard Medical School where he earned his MD in neurology. Dr. Young is a physician and academic at Harvard.
Ten UMBC students attend ASBH 2009. Richard and Michael give presentations.
In 2020, ASBH was scheduled for Baltimore, MD. Three undergraduate public health ethics students presented two papers virtually.
- Margaret Williams & Andrea Kalfoglou, PhD Justice Demands Federal Research Funding of Therapeutic uses of Schedule 1 Drugs. ASBH 2020
- Peniel Beyene, Lidya Daniels, BA & Andrea Kalfoglou, PhD. Football, Head Trauma, and Health Disparities by Race. ASBH 2020. (photos below)
The following students completed a summer intensive bioethics program:
- Peniel Beyene 2020 Sherwin B. Nuland Summer Institute in Bioethics at Yale University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics
- Emma Taylor, 2020 Johns Hopkins Genomics & Society Mentorship Program
- Lidya Daniels, 2021 Sherwin B. Nuland Summer Institute in Bioethics at Yale University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics
In 2023, The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities was once again held in Baltimore, MD. This time, there was a scholarship available to help undergraduates attend the conference. Three UMBC students applied for scholarships. Of the 70+ applications, Kethya Kalaki was among the waitlisted students, and Taiwo Sanni-Ojikutu was a runner-up. Kethya was given free registration as well as an opportunity to attend the Yale summer Bioethics Program. Six UMBC students attended the conference: Kethya Kalaki, Taiwo Sani-Ojikutu, Rewina Embaye, Maya Hunn, Demetrie Garner, and Vighnesh Sivaprakasam. Students met directors of bioethics institutes and major bioethics funders.
