The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) is excited to welcome several new trainees to its interdisciplinary preservice training program. This program aims to increase the number—and enhance the expertise—of individuals interested in integrating disability knowledge into their future careers and lives. Through the MCDD’s core programs and projects, trainees engage in a range of mentored experiential and educational activities.
Tanisha Ghosh is a rising third-year law student at American University Washington College of Law, where she serves as president of the Health Law and Policy Student Association, mentors first-generation law students through the ADVANCE Coalition, and supports scholarships in public health law and sociology as a research assistant in the Health Law and Policy Program. In spring 2027, she will join the Janet R. Spragens Federal Tax Clinic as a student attorney. Ghosh earned her Master of Public Health in health policy from Emory University and her Bachelor of Science in health promotion from the University of Georgia. Her experience spans healthcare law and policy work with lobbying organizations, nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups, reflecting her commitment to advancing healthcare access, equity and community-centered policy solutions. After completing her law degree, Ghosh plans to continue advocating on behalf of patients and communities at the intersection of health law and public policy.
Jillian Seay is a senior at Notre Dame of Maryland University, majoring in political science with a double minor in law and civic engagement and history. Seay developed an interest in supporting people with disabilities from her parents, who are both special educators. She hopes to gain well-rounded exposure and learning opportunities during her internship at the MCDD by participating in several of its projects, including the Community and Professional Development Training program. She is looking forward to learning how to translate scientific evidence into practice and effectively advocate for individuals with disabilities while building on her knowledge of health education. After completing her undergraduate degree, Seay plans to attend law school, where she can continue to work and advocate for people with disabilities and their families.
Lily Ulman is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, double majoring in psychology and criminology and criminal justice. Through her work with organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Playtime Project and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County, she has developed a strong interest in supporting children and families through both clinical and legal advocacy. This summer, she will participate in the Kennedy Krieger Institute Clinical and Research Experience (CARE) program, where she hopes to further explore the intersection of mental health, research and public health while learning more about working with children and underserved communities.
Sydney White is a rising third-year law student at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina in 2023. White’s commitment to disability rights and educational equity law is rooted in her own experience growing up with learning disabilities. She is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities and improving access to educational resources. Her interests include special education law and the intersection of disability and the justice system. Through her work with Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law), she hopes to learn more about advocacy in schools, and advance more inclusive systems.