Meet the Staff
Zehra Schneider Graham
Director
Zehra Schneider Graham is the director of OEHS at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Graham has 20 years of environmental health & safety experience. She has primary responsibility for environmental management and construction issues, environmental permitting and laboratory compliance. She led the environmental management pilot program known as Project XL which culminated in the new EPA Academic Lab Rules. She is the past president of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), the Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2) and the New England Chapter of Certified Hazardous Material Managers. (NEACHMM).She holds a BS in biology and English from Simmons College, an MS in environmental science from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and an MS in botany from the University of Maine. She is a certified hazardous materials manager (CHMM) and a registered environmental manager (REM).
Lalitha Adusumilli
Associate Director
Lalitha Adusumilli is an associate director. She joined the OEHS in May 2005. Adusumilli has primary responsibilities in areas of lab safety, hazardous material management, lab safety training, and chemical and biological waste disposal. She has an MS in environmental science from Nagarjuna University, India, and an MS in environmental science from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is a certified hazardous material manager (CHMM), Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP), and Massachusetts Board Certified Grade -2 industrial wastewater operator.
Zoe Harris
Health & Safety Manager
Zoe Harris is the Health & Safety Manager for the OEHS department at UMass Boston. She is a safety nerd looking for ways to make safety fun while maintaining regulatory compliance. From interactive training to providing visuals on safety processes to collaborating with departments on ideas or improvements, and more, Zoe’s goal is to help keep safe practices as a habit rather than marking off the checklist. Feel free to reach out or pop by the OEHS office with any of your safety questions/ideas. Zoe holds the following certifications: OSHA-511, HAZWOPER, DOT, First Aid/CPR, and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
Jordan Meenaghan
Lab & Environmental Specialist
Jordan joined UMass Boston midway through 2024 after graduating from UMass Lowell with a Bachelor of Environmental Science. He worked for UMass Lowell as an EHS Jr. Technician, inspecting labs and delivering chemical, radiological, and biological packages. During his time at UMass Lowell, he was also a research assistant, analyzing glacial melt in Antarctica. He has obtained his 40hr Hazwoper and 10hr OSHA certifications.
Aidan Aird
Lab & Environmental Specialist
Aidan joined UMass Boston midway through 2026 after graduating from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Environmental Soil and Water Science. During his time at WVU, he was an undergraduate research assistant, studying how microbial communities regulate ecosystem biogeochemistry. He has obtained his 40hr Hazwoper while working for WVU EH&S as an EHS Technician, collaborating with laboratory personnel to identify and communicate safety concerns, promote hazard awareness, and foster a culture of workplace safety.
Payton Cheffro
Environmental Health & Safety Technician
Payton Cheffro joined UMass Boston in 2026 after graduating from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection and a minor in Environmental, Health, and Safety. Her experience includes environmental fieldwork with the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative and public safety operations with Plymouth Harbormaster, where she developed practical skills in environmental inspections, hazard awareness, and emergency response. She has completed OSHA 30-hour and 40-hour HAZWOPER training, along with CPR/AED certification, and looks forward to applying her background in environmental protection and workplace safety in her role.
Sarah Phou
Business and Operations Manager
Sarah Phou joined the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2019. She assists OEHS with general office management and procurement, and provides support for Youth Programs. Her role with Emergency Management is heavily focused on the Travel Registry program and Business Continuity, with additional responsibilities around emergency and enterprise risk management.
The Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Service & Supply Building
Upper Level, Room 002, Contact
617.287.5445 (Telephone)
617.287.3855 (Fax)
umbehs@umb.edu
Other Resources
Office of Emergency Management and Business Continuity
UMass Boston Police Department
University Health Services
Facilities Department