Shukura Umi
PhD Student, Communication and Film
About
Shukura (shoe-cor-ra) Ayoluwa Umi (oomee) is a University of Memphis graduate student who began her doctorate program in Health Communication in fall 2018. Her research interest include Maternal and Child Health disparities. For instance, maternal mortality, doula access and how breastfeeding media and social norms impact women of African descent . In Summer 2020, Shukura will work on completing two credentials: 1) for prenatal doula and 2) a certified lactation counselor. Her background includes a Master of Public Health concentrating in social and behavioral sciences. She interned in the Community Health Bureau, Clinical Services Section of the Shelby County Health Department, where she focused on barriers of breastfeeding ; such as going back to work and strives to increase the awareness and education that surrounds the importance of social, peer, partner and employer support for mothers actively breastfeeding in Shelby County, Tennessee. She has work experience in community health, health literacyand education and cancer research. Past projects include working on a PCORI award and two qualitative cancer research studies at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN. Shukura is currently teaching Oral Communication and will begin teaching Health Communication in the fall 2020. She has also worked as a research assistant to various professors within the department. She likes to volunteer, engage with community members, read, cook sing, dance, relax, sleep, exercise and travel. She is an accomplished Golden Key Scholar, Advisory Board member for Water for Women Inc, (Non-profit in Sacramento, CA) Secretary for the Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition , secretary for the Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition and Community Outreach representative for the Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support (BSTARS).
Education
Master's in Pubic Health (MPH), The University of Memphis
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology , Tuskegee University