NANDI A. MARSHALL

For more than 22 years, Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, MPH, CHES, CLC, CDE, has been a driving force for maternal and child health equity through community engagement. While she has been a breastfeeding advocate her entire life, her work specifically focused on breastfeeding began about 16 years ago following the birth of her first son. Today, as a Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University and current President of the American Public Health Association (APHA), Dr. Marshall shapes the future of public health by preparing the next generation of professionals and advocating for systems-level change that supports families nationwide.

A proud graduate of Spelman College, East Stroudsburg University, and Georgia Southern University, Dr. Marshall brings deep expertise as a Certified Health Education Specialist, Certified Lactation Counselor, and Certified Diversity Executive. Her extensive work spans local, state, and national levels — from consulting with Healthy Savannah on breastfeeding continuity of care through the CDC REACH program, to serving on the United States Breastfeeding Committee’s CRASH Committee, and contributing as a board member of the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition.

In 2022, Dr. Marshall published Trust Black Women: Using Photovoice to Amplify the Voices of Black Women to Identify and Address Barriers to Breastfeeding in Southeast Georgia. This groundbreaking study centers the lived experiences of Black mothers and advances community-driven solutions.

At the heart of Dr. Marshall’s work is her commitment to partnering with communities—listening, learning, and co-creating solutions that dismantle systemic barriers and elevate lived experiences. She shares, “Creating equity in breastfeeding requires us to center, amplify, and trust parents’ lived experiences, address the systemic barriers, and build supportive environments. When we invest in people and community-rooted support, we advance health for all.”

CHEER is honored to recognize Dr. Nandi A. Marshall as our CHAMPion of the Week for her transformative leadership, unwavering commitment to health equity, and dedication to uplifting the voices of parents and communities.