Background & Bio
Nia’s work in public health began over 10 years ago as an HIV peer educator in Washington, DC. This experience inspired her to pursue Public Health Education for her undergraduate studies at North Carolina Central University. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she served as a Public Health Educator at Person County (NC) Health Department. Relocating to Atlanta to earn her master’s degree in Public Health at Georgia State University, she landed a career opportunity as a Regional Prevention Specialist at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities. There, she provided training and technical assistance to youth-serving community-based organizations that serve youth. These experiences combined with her early passion for sexual and reproductive health propelled her into a role at Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens (SHIFT) NC where she served as a coach, trainer, and guide for local government agencies implementing policy and procedure changes aimed at systemically supporting sexual health programming. Nia is currently an adjunct instructor at North Carolina Central University’s Department of Public Health Education and is the host of a sexuality education and storytelling podcast.

My Current Work
At AMCHP, Nia applies a preparedness lens to the Workforce goal (and other areas) of AMCHP’s strategic plan, accounting for all types of intersecting emergencies and recognizing the role of individual leadership development in building collective capacity. This includes supporting a growing portfolio of projects addressing the complex needs of women, children, youth, and families in preparation for and during emergencies – with an emphasis on equitable outcomes. She manages the Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Learning Collaborative (ALC) in partnership with CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) and plays key roles in multiple efforts funded by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD).

Ask Me About
Emergency preparedness and response, capacity building, sexual and reproductive health, substance abuse prevention, health equity and anti-racism, and podcasting!