The School of Graduate Studies invites you to an event celebrating the launch of Morgan State's new Office of Postdoctoral Affairs on Friday, September 25th!

The event, part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, will feature a panel discussion that will introduce current and aspiring doctoral researchers to the career pathways they can pursue following the PhD, spanning different scholarly disciplines and industries (speaker details TBA). Attendees will also be introduced to the brand new Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the resources it will offer to both current and aspiring postdocs. A networking and community-building reception will follow the panel. Registration is required.

Panel Speakers

Dr. Claton Lewis is an experienced higher education administrator and social entrepreneur who has promoted student success at the university and community college levels for over 16 years. Mr. Lewis has held several positions as a recruiter, adviser, instructor, and director. In his former role as Director of Student Success and Recruitment at Morgan State University, Mr. Lewis managed a complex array of student development operations beginning with pre-college recruitment through post-graduation placement. Mr. Lewis then joined the Center for Career Development team as the Assistant Director for Career Readiness in 2022. In addition to overseeing both staff and student teams, his key function continues to center around cultivating a high-impact learning environment that supports career and professional advancement. Mr. Lewis holds a BS degree in History and a Master's in Non-profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Briona Phillips is an Assistant Professor at Morgan State University and a public health scholar whose work centers on health equity, oral health disparities, community health workers, and the social and behavioral determinants of health. She earned her PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in 2024 and completed her postdoctoral training at Morgan State University's Center for Urban Health Equity (CUHE). Her scholarship focuses on understanding and addressing inequities in healthcare utilization and outcomes, with particular interests in discrimination in oral healthcare settings, oral health equity, implementation science, and community-based approaches to improving population health. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Phillips brings a practical perspective to translating research into real-world systems and programs, drawing on her experience supporting community health and population health initiatives in healthcare settings.

Dr. Ruel Sabellano is currently the Structures Engineering Manager of the Structures Engineering Discipline, Office of Engineering and Construction (OEC) of the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Philippines, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from the University of Southern Philippines, and Doctor of Engineering degree from Morgan State University. In 2009, Ruel obtained his PE license in the state of Maryland. In addition to six years of teaching experience at CIT, Ruel has civil engineering experience in the geotechnical, structural, and environmental engineering fields with various consulting firms. Ruel worked for the MD State Highway administration (MD SHA) for 7 years before joining MDTA in 2015. Ruel has been a research associate at Morgan State University and an associate member of the AASHTO Committee on Bridges and Structures (COBS) since 2023.
 

The panel will take place in Room 100 of the Behavioral & Social Science Center from 2:00-3:30, with the reception following in the atrium from 3:30-5:00.

We look forward to seeing you there!