(JSU) in Jackson, Mississippi. It is the first SPH in the state of Mississippi and the first to be established at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). She has previously held academic appointments in the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work at Florida International University (Miami); Texas A&M University, College Station; Indiana University (Bloomington); and Texas Woman’s University (Denton). For several years, Dr. Shaw served as the Deputy Director of the Social & Health Research Center in San Antonio, TX, under the direction of Roberto Trevino, MD, an internist focused on early interventions to reduce childhood obesity among Hispanic children. She is a scholar-practitioner with over 30 years of experience focused on the education and well-being of women, mothers, and their families. Dr. Shaw’s research, teaching, and service activities focus on empowering minorities, poor, and underserved communities through academic-community partnerships that support community development, facilitate collaboration, coordination and promotion of linkages across different sectors. The MomNBabyExcel™project stems from Dr. Shaw’s passion to improve the health and well-being of women, mothers and their families through collaborative partnerships that transform communities to become places where women and their families thrive.  “Strengthening local, national and global efforts to eliminate education and health disparities—creating a culture that values well-being for everyone.