Dr. Kia Monique Jones

Unbossed. Unbought. Unbiased.

Hi, I'm Kia Monique and my leadership has always been grounded in service. As a public health scientist and advocate, I've spent my career building partnerships, empowering communities, and advancing solutions that create real impact. I'm committed to serving the Southern Region with that same passion and purpose.

For the Southern Regional Nominating Committee, Kia will help identify strong leaders, support our sisterhood, and continue transcending the standard across the South.

Her Commitment

Unbossed.

Kia leads with courage, discernment, and purpose. She understands that the work of the Nominating Committee requires thoughtful evaluation, sound judgment, and a deep respect for the responsibility entrusted to the committee. She is committed to helping ensure the process remains strong, trusted, and centered on excellence in leadership.

Unbought.

Kia's leadership is grounded in integrity and sisterhood. She approaches the work of the Southern Regional Nominating Committee with independence, fairness, and a commitment to identifying leaders who reflect the strength, vision, and values of our Region. Her service is guided by principle not preference and by what best supports the future of the Southern Region.

Unbiased.

Kia believes the nominating process should reflect transparency, accountability, and equity. She is committed to supporting a fair and thoughtful selection process that strengthens sisterhood and helps position the Southern Region for continued impact and progress.

Professionally

Prepared

With more than a decade of experience in community-based participatory research and empowerment methodologies, Dr. Jones is deeply committed to dismantling the social and structural determinants of health. As a health scientist and epidemiologist, she specializes in designing and implementing community capacity-building strategies that advance social justice, health equity, gender equality, and educational access, particularly for youth and historically marginalized populations.

As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jones leads groundbreaking initiatives that strengthen public health infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and increase civic engagement across the South. Her work centers on empowering residents, amplifying community voice, and building grassroots solutions that create measurable, lasting change. She is driven by a singular mission: to foster resilience, reduce disparities, and ensure that every community, regardless of income or ZIP code, has the power and resources to thrive.

Education

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow Tufts University
    2024
  • Doctor of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Jackson State University
    2020
  • Master of Science, Biology Jackson State University
    2021
  • Master of Public Policy and Administration Belhaven University
    2015
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology Jackson State University
    2012

Award & Honor Recognitions

  • Unita Blackwell Social Action Torchbearer Award
    2026
  • Karen Milner Health Education & Promotion Award
    2025
  • 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health
    2025
  • The Change Collective (2nd Cohort)
    2024
  • Inaugural JSU Top Forty Under 40 Award
    2023
  • Business Woman of the Year Finalist
    2022
  • 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi Award
    2021
  • Overall Business of the Year
    2021
  • Author of the Year
    2021
  • Publisher of the Year
    2021
  • Top CEO in Mississippi Award
    2020
  • Mississippi Social Action Trailblazer Award
    2020
  • Top Non-Profits in Mississippi Award
    2019
  • Exceptional Women of Excellence Award
    2019
  • For(bes) The Culture Minority Leader
    2019
  • Inaugural Mississippi Top Entrepreneur Award
    2018
  • Top 50 under 40 Award
    2018
  • Proclamation, Mayor Chokwe Lumumba
    2017