@UMGlobalEdGlobal Health Initiatives
The Global Health Initiatives team is part of the Office of Research and Development. We work closely with the Office of International Services and with other key experts at UM to support and promote UM's global engagement.
Joseph O'Neill, MD, MS, MPH, Director, Global Health Initiatives (410-706-6270)
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| Jody Olsen and Joe O'Neill |
Joe O'Neill is an international health expert and board certified internist who serves as the Director of the University of Maryland Global Health Initiatives Program and professor in the School of Medicine. His activities range from establishment of new teaching and training facilities in the middle east, conducting medical disaster relief in Haiti after the earthquake, delivering HIV/AIDS care in sub-Saharan Africa and establishing research enterprises in the People's Republic of China. Dr. O'Neill has held senior management and policy roles in the Clinton and Bush administrations, and was credited by President George W. Bush as having been the ”architect” of his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Marjorie Forster, Assistant Vice President, Research and Global Health Initiatives (410-706-6631)
Marjorie Forster oversees the activities of the Global Health Initiatives team as well as several committees and working groups focused on UM's international activities. Her expertise as a research administrator coupled with her extensive travel gives her an in-depth understanding of the complexities of international program contracting and administration.
Bonnie Bissonette, Associate Director, Student Center for Global Education (410-706-6331)
Bonnie Bissonette has been instrumental in creating the new Student Center for Global Education, which provides information and support to UM students about overseas work and study opportunities. Bonnie is an international educator with over 9 years experience working with international student programs, admissions, coordination, study abroad, and community organizing, whose previous experience includes work as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State.
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| Marjorie Forster (right) and Natalie Eddington (Center), Dean, School of Pharmacy, host visitors from Kenya |
Stacey Boyd, Contract Administrator (410-706-0639)
Stacey Boyd provides administrative support to the international activities of the team and the Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation, as well as to UM's export control officers. Stacey came to the Office of Research and Development in 2009 to work on corporate research agreements and material transfer agreements before joining the Global Health Initiatives team. She was previously with the UM School of Nursing.
Mercedes Eugenia, MBA, Advisor (410-706-3330)
With more than 17 years of management experience and demonstrated success in contracts, grants, minority outreach, and hiring programs, Mercedes Eugenia has been instrumental at the University as an expert advisor for proposals and programs with significant international collaborations and in-country presence. Mercedes has held senior positions at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including Deputy Director of Operations for the Office of Acquisition and Assistance, Division Chief and Branch Chief. Among other accomplishments, Mercedes developed a joint contract and grant management system deployed at more than 81 USAID locations worldwide. She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a specialization in Management from Loyola College.
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| Joe O'Neill and Mercedes Eugenia, with guest speaker Justice Edwin Cameron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa |
Deus Bazira Mubangizi, MBA, MPH, Managing Director (410-706-1874)
Deus Mubangizi is a health systems and management specialist who focuses on improving performance of health care institutions in emerging economies. He serves as a Vice President of the Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation, a UM affiliate.
Jody Olsen, PhD, MSW, Director, Student Center for Global Education (410-706-5696)
In addition to directing the new Student Center for Global Education to advise UM students about overseas work and study opportunities, Dr. Jody Olsen is a Visiting Professor in the School of Social Work. She brings experience from her many years of leadership in the Peace Corps, most recently Deputy Director and Acting Director, and from her travel to more than 80 countries globally organizing, reviewing, supporting, and managing international development and academic programs. She also directed the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program and has lived two years each in Togo and Tunisia. Dr. Olsen has spoken extensively throughout the US and the world on international education, culture, volunteerism, management, and roles of international serving organizations.
Janet Simons, MBA, Director, Research Policy (410-706-5632)
Janet Simons joined ORD’s Sponsored Programs Administration in 1991 and moved to the Global Health Initiatives team in 2008, working to facilitate UM’s international collaborations and in-country programs. In addition to coordinating the research administration training curriculum (Guide to the Administration of Sponsored Projects), Janet has developed training on grant management essentials for UM’s overseas field offices and assisted with writing MGIC policies and procedures. She is an export control officer for the University.
