Hadiya Severin is currently pursuing her DrPH from the University of Chicago with a concentration in Global Leadershio. She holds her MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine with a concentration in Behavioral Science and Health Communication and a BS from Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, AL. She is also a certified doula and lactation specialist. These degrees and experiences have informed her research work on doula program implementation and black female equity. There is no better teacher than experience and Hadiya believes to become the mother she wants to be, she must help pave the way for those who also want to bring life into the world. As a strong advocate for Black maternal health and public health disparities, Hadiya hopes to empower her community through proactive, integrative policies. She aspires to earn her doctorate and use it to further the work for Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, with the ultimate goal of bringing her knowledge and skills to her home island, St. Lucia. As a first-generation American who loves her St. Lucian and Guyanese culture, she celebrates it any chance she gets and spends as much time with her family as possible. She loves educating young people and supporting black excellence through education and community engagement.