Abstract

Public health is a complex, ever-changing industry that holds pivotal capacity to impact society on a larger scale. For the United States, disparities and inequity in public health have had significant consequences for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Effective leadership in public health has the potential to impact roles, policy development, and the overall scope of oversight regarding the quality of care that communities are provided in the industry. While BIPOC women are underrepresented in public health leadership roles, they have the capacity to advance equity in the field and contribute to culturally responsive care in foundational ways. By building upon the strengths of BIPOC women, the public health industry can assess true culturally responsive practices.

Historical and current implications of disparities in the United States are important to examine, as structural inequity is at the forefront of poor health outcomes for BIPOC communities. To advance true health equity for all communities, many BIPOC women in public health leadership roles draw on their personal experiences with intersectional inequalities as well as their professional expertise gained from these experiences. By occupying leadership roles, they can encourage the public health industry to continue developing the notion of cultural competence so that it embodies culturally responsive care in both innovative and dire practices. They have stories, suggestions, ideas, and the drive to be heard in the development of massive systems change.

This study takes on a phenomenological approach that examines public health through the lens of healthcare and social services. This intersectional approach analyzes how race, class, and gender have contributed (and continue to contribute) to the public health disparities that plague the United States today. The study further identifies a theoretical framework to establish a basis for culturally responsive care in public health through the lens of BIPOC women and their insights into reframing and producing actionable steps that ensure cultural competence. Through acknowledgement and affirmation of BIPOC women’s experiences in public health leadership roles, this study seeks to provide a pathway to support BIPOC women and their desire to advance an inclusive and equitable public health industry.

Advisor

Bernadeia Johnson

Committee Member

Melissa Hensley

Committee Member

Kao Nou Moua

Date of Degree

2026

Language

english

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Program of Study

Educational Leadership

Department

Educational Leadership

College

Education

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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In Copyright