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University of Washington

Monica McLemore PhD, MPH, RN

Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Professor, Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing
Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Interim Director, Center for Anti-Racism
Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health
Immediate Past Chair, Sexual and Reproductive Health Section of the American Public Health Association (2020-2026)
Board Member, Black Mama Matter Alliance
Editor in Chief, Health Equity Journal

I am a preeminent scholar of antiracist birth equity research, community-informed methods, and policy translation. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from The College of New Jersey in 1993 after declaring at eight years old I would become a nurse. I earned a master’s in public health from San Francisco State University and a PhD in oncology genomics at the University of California, San Francisco. I have worked my entire career in reproductive health, rights, and justice. I retired from active clinical practice after a 28-year career when I was awarded tenure in 2019. The technical skill of conducting rigorous research and disseminating those findings is what identifies me as a scientific expert. My research findings have been widely cited and my writings work synergistically to allow my thoughts, ideas, and strategies to design and test interventions to advance reproductive justice for all.

Education:

1988-1993: The College of New Jersey, Bachelors of Science in Nursing (Minor Degrees in Psychology and Sociology)
1998-2002: San Francisco State University, Masters in Public Health (Concentration in Community Health Education)
2002-2010: University of California, San Francisco, PhD (Dissertation Title: An evaluation of the molecular species of CA125 across the three phases of the menstrual cycle)

Awards, accolades and distinguished memberships:

2015 Sigma Theta Tau, Honor Society in Nursing, Inducted as Member
2019 American Academy of Nursing, Inducted as Fellow
2020 2nd place Book Award: Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care. Edited by Diana J. Mason, Elizabeth Lynne Dickson, G. Adriana Perez, and Monica R. McLemore. 8th
edition. St. Louis: Elsevier
2021 Best Research Article Award, Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. American College of Nurse Midwives
2021 Maternal Child Health Section Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Award American Public Health Association

What classes do you teach?

I am developing new content grounded in anti-racism praxis and reproductive justice.

What do you love about the UW School of Nursing?

The vision of the faculty, students, and staff to confront the history of racism and injustice directly. I have appreciated the seriousness the school has approached our current moment. Bold leadership is required for our current environment, and I’m honored to be with faculty, students, and staff who understand that.

Scholarly work (projects not listed in PubMed, such as books, publications or videos)

Data Visualization, Scientific American, 2019 (see it for free Black Mama Matter Alliance website -> Resources -> Key Readings
Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care. Edited by Diana J. Mason, Elizabeth Lynne Dickson, G. Adriana Perez, and Monica R. McLemore. 8th edition. St. Louis:
Elsevier

Department

Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing

Research Areas

  • Innovative Interventions
  • Health Equity
  • Lifespan Health

Research Centers

Picture of Monica McLemore
University of Washington, School of Nursing
Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing
Box 357262
1959 NE Pacific St.
Seattle, WA 98195

Office: T 505

Pronouns:
(she/her, they/them)