Meet Our Founder

Dr. LaVada U. Taylor is an educator, researcher, national presenter, and former Dean of a College of Education with more than 25 years of executive leadership in higher education, organizational transformation, community engagement, and equity-centered scholarship. As Founder and Managing Member of MHAAT: Center for Maternal Health Access, Advocacy & Transformation, she brings together decades of experience in education, research, leadership, and systems change to improve maternal health outcomes through access, advocacy, research, education, and transformation.

Throughout her career, Dr. Taylor has been recognized for translating research into practice by developing culturally responsive frameworks that strengthen institutions and improve outcomes for the communities they serve. Her scholarship has focused on culturally responsive pedagogy,
equity-centered leadership, organizational transformation, and community-engaged research, establishing a foundation for her work in maternal health.

Driven by a commitment to address persistent maternal health disparities, Dr. Taylor developed the MHAAT Maternal Upstream Stabilization Framework, an evidence-informed, dignity-centered approach that integrates maternal voice, community engagement, research, education, and continuous evaluation to strengthen trust between mothers, healthcare providers, and the communities they serve. The framework serves as the intellectual foundation for MHAAT's educational initiatives, research, partnerships, and digital innovation.

Dr. Taylor is a member of the American Public Health Association's Maternal and Child Health Section, a published scholar, and an accepted presenter for the 2026 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, where she will present Reframing Maternal Healthcare: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Maternal Voice and Care. Her work continues to advance innovative, research-driven approaches that bridge academic scholarship, healthcare systems, and community partnerships.