One word that describes Shaunta’ Jones is nurturer. A natural caretaker with over 10 years of early childhood experience, she’s helped guide many families through the earliest stages of parenthood. After a supportive and empowering labor experience while birthing her first child, Shaunta’ grew a desire to ensure other people giving birth were afforded that same opportunity.

In 2016, Shaunta’ trained with UNC Birth Partners, a volunteer program at UNC Health that provides free, trained, volunteer doulas to all mothers laboring at N.C. Women’s Hospital.  Most appreciated for her calm and reassuring spirit, Shaunta’ provides expectant parents with proven strategies and techniques that make an incredible impact on their birthing experience and postpartum period. At Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool, Shaunta’ served as Assistant Director and worked alongside the Director to run day-to-day management and operations efforts.

Shaunta’s journey with secondary infertility and subsequent loss illuminated the disparate treatment of BIPOC in healthcare. Additionally, this experience motivated her to pursue a Master’s in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health. Her current research focuses on the effects of implicit biases within the health care system and the disparaging mortality rates affecting African American women and infants. Her goal is to empower expectant parents with the knowledge necessary for self-advocacy and join alongside those who are championing for access to high quality and equitable health care.

 Shaunta’ earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from North Carolina Central University and is currently completing her postgraduate work at the University of Minnesota.  In her free time, she can be found working on home projects, listening to good music, and enjoying the company of loved ones.