

Alexis Woods Barr, PhD

Alexis Woods Barr, PhD
Alexis Woods Barr is a postdoctoral research associate at the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Woods Barr uses a social justice and intersectionality lens to center the lived experiences of African American families concerning their intergenerational infant feeding communication across the reproductive life cycle. Her work seeks to better understand how communication functions to influence breastfeeding outcomes in this community from preconception to postpartum. Ultimately, she plans to contribute to the knowledge set of maternal and child health by developing culturally specific breastfeeding intervention programs that aim to support, protect, promote, and re-normalize breastfeeding, while also empowering this marginalized community.
Honors and Awards
Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science, and Practice Traineeship2019, University of South Florida
People of Color Breastfeeding Lactation Education Scholarship2019, Tampa Bay Breastfeeding Taskforce
APHA Public Health Education and Health Promotion Student Award2019, American Public Health Association
McKnight Doctoral Fellowship2018, University of South Florida
2017 Annual APHA Student Scholarship2017, American Public Health Association
9th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium2017, University of Florida
McNair Graduate Assistantship2012, University of Florida Staff
Research Activities
At CGBI, Dr. Woods Barr provides research expertise for multiple programs to improve healthcare quality for the mother-infant dyad. She supports the evaluation of a hospital-based quality improvement initiative focused on maternity practices leading to Baby-Friendly designation based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. She also supports a W.K. Kellogg grant to develop lactation consultant training programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to increase representation of people of color in professional lactation services.
Service Activities
- Research Committee Member, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) Black Breastfeeding Caucus (2020)
- Member, State of Black Health Task Force (2020)
- Member, Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH) (2018-Present)
- Member, National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (2018-Present)
- Member, Sisters of the Academy (2017-Present)
Staff/Administrative Duties
- Project management and evaluation of outcomes from programmatic implementation science research.
Education
PhD, Public Health, University of South Florida, 2019
MS, Nutritional Sciences, University of Florida, 2012
BS, Nutritional Sciences, University of Florida, 2009