Vonetta L. Edwards is a Research Associate (nontenure track faculty) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Institute for Genome Sciences. With more than 15 years of experience in tissue culture, molecular biology, microbiology, microscopy, and recently genomic data analysis, her work spans host–microbe interactions, epithelial cell biology, sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogenesis, and women’s health. Her research focuses on understanding how the vaginal microbiome and host factors shape susceptibility to infection within the female reproductive tract.
Dr. Edwards has been instrumental in developing advanced 3D cervicovaginal epithelial models that provide physiologically relevant platforms for studying Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and microbiomedriven modulation of infection. She has collaborated on multiple NIH and Gatesfunded initiatives aimed at uncovering mechanisms of pathogen transmigration, epithelial barrier regulation, and the influence of microbial metabolites on host susceptibility.
She earned her PhD in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Maryland, College Park; her MSc in Cell Biology from Long Island University–Brooklyn; and her BSc in Biology from St. Francis College. She completed her secondary education at Queens College in Guyana.
Beyond her scientific work, Dr. Edwards is a longstanding advocate for justice and community support. For more than 12 years, she has served on the St. Ignatius Justice and Peace Committee, including eight years as chair of the Immigration Committee. In this role, she has partnered with Baltimore resettlement organizations to prepare housing for newly arrived families and has mentored children as they adapt to new educational environments.
Guided by compassion and a deep belief in the transformative power of education, Dr. Edwards is committed to supporting young people as they pursue their potential.
Constitution and By-laws of the Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association (New York), Inc.
Whereas Guyana and Jamaica are Founder-Members of the Caricom Community and have had long standing fraternal relations;
And whereas individuals originally from these two countries now residing in the Tri-State area are desirous of forming an Association to further this friendship and co-operation between these two countries by increasing knowledge and travel between these two countries as well as improving various aspects of development of these countries and whereas no such functioning Association exists in this area;
Now, therefore the Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association (New York) Inc. is hereby formed and shall be governed by the Constitution set out hereunder.
Read about it:
