In this episode, Dr. Zupenda Davis shares what it looks like to choose yourself — in your work, your relationships, and your health. From setting boundaries that protect her peace to speaking openly about women's health and menopause, Dr. Davis brings a vision of public health that centers the whole person. This is a conversation about courage, freedom, and what becomes possible when women stop shrinking and start naming what they need. Meet Dr. Zupenda Davis Dr. Zupenda Davis is the Assistant Vice President of Student Health and Wellness at Stockton University, where she has strategic and operational oversight of four areas: Student Health Services, Health Outreach, Promotion and Education (HOPE), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and the Learning Access Program (LAP). With over 25 years of experience in public health, she has worked across nonprofit, academic, research, and local government settings. Dr. Davis holds a DrPH from Drexel University, an MPH from UMDNJ School of Public Health, and a BS in Public Health from Rutgers University. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). Dr. Davis is a Board Member of AVANZAR and an Advisory Board Member of Our View. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Kappa Pi Sigma (Atlantic County Alumnae) Chapter. Conversation Highlights Visionary + Whole-Person Health — Dr. Davis introduces herself as "a visionary at heart," rooted in mental health, physical health, and equity, with a commitment to creating spaces where people can say the hard things out loud — and feel less alone. Courage to Start — and Sunset — a Business — She shares how she turned her natural gift for event planning into an eight-year business (Shining Moments Event Planning), and why it took real courage to close it when the demands began to threaten rest, joy, and leadership presence. COVID Leadership Under Misinformation — From her role in local government public health, she reflects on navigating confusion, distrust, and political interference — and why effective public health depends not just on the message, but the messenger. Naming Emotional Abuse + Turning Pain into Advocacy — Dr. Davis speaks about leaving an emotionally abusive relationship and becoming a domestic violence advocate, supporting survivors through police, hospital, and court systems with compassion and clarity. Choosing Child-Free + Claiming Full Womanhood — She names the lifelong courage of deciding not to have children, rejecting the idea that womanhood requires motherhood, and pushing back on workplace assumptions about availability and worth. "Deciding to be child-free doesn't make me any less of a woman." — Dr. Zupenda Davis Stay in Touch With Dr. Zupenda Davis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drzdavis/ With Dr. Kristi McClamroch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ Website: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 Public Health Consulting to Support You We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design workshops and facilitated sessions that help women leaders recognize, strengthen, and intentionally use courage as an organizational skill — especially in times of uncertainty, burnout, and systems under strain. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn or through our website.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related