The Diversity Strategic Plan Committee was charged with informing the development of UMB’s first Diversity Strategic Plan, which will serve as a road map and framework to activate and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMB.
The committee adopted a data-driven, evidence-based approach to identify university equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) priorities and needs. It extensively reviewed surveys, climate studies, our UMB Strategic Plan, University-wide strategic goals and outcomes, and best practices at UMB and throughout higher education and industry to inform the plan's development. During spring 2023, the committee hosted listening sessions to learn more from our UMB community about future directions in EDI.
Further movement on the DSP developed through the engagement and collective action of the DSP Committee, a broadly representative body inclusive of students, staff, faculty, and administrators from various ranks and from across UMB. The DSP discussed diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMB until four clear themes emerged, which became the basis for the four Theme Working Groups, listed below with their full titles and the names of their leads.
Recruitment and Retention: Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and Sheila Blackshear, MS, CAAP, Diversity, ADA and Affirmative Action Administrator
Climate/Experience (later Experience and Climate): Courtney Resnik, EdD, Director, Academic Administration
Professional Development and Career Advancement: C. Daniel Mullins (see above) and Wei Ming Dariotis, PhD, Assistant Vice President for the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Education, Scholarship, and Service (later Scholarship, Service, and Education): Franck Dumetz, PhD, Research Associate, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Amy Ramirez, MA, Director of the Office of International Services
These four Theme Working Groups evolved into the core themes of the REPS framework: Recruitment & Retention, Experience & Climate, Professional Development & Career Advancement, and Scholarship, Service, & Education. The recommendations of these working groups, as expressed in the executive summary of their final reports, form the basis of the key goals of this plan, and were also reviewed by the Diversity Advisory Council.
Danielle Brown, MBA 
Sheila Blackshear, MS, CAAP 
Deborah P. Levi, MA, LCSW-C 
Susan Buskirk, DM, MS 
Neijma Celestine-Donnor, MSW 
Christina Cestone, PhD 
Sarasijhaa Desikan, MD 
Aloysius Essien, MS 
Eleanor Fleming, PhD, DDS, MPH, FICD 
Shani Fleming, MSHS, MPS, PA-C 
David Gray, JD, PhD 
Kennedy Hagens 
Katie Hughes, BA 
Courtney Jones Carney, DPA, MBA 
Thomas Leone, MSL 
Kyla Liggett-Creel, PHD, MSW 
Karen Matthews, DM, MPA 
Russell McClain, JD 
Hope McGovern, BA 
Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, CRNP-Neonatal, FNAP, FAAN
Nicole Palmore, MSW
Donna Parker, MD, FACP 
Sandra Quezada, MD, MS 
Amy Ramirez, MA 
Tyrone Roper, MSW 
Kristin Reavis, MD, MBS 
Mishawn Smith, MPA 
Chanel Whittaker, PharmD, BCPS, CGP, FASCP