Chénoia Bryant
Summary
Dynamic leader in public health policy and sociology, driving significant improvements in evaluation accuracy and stakeholder engagement. Successfully redesigned curricula that increased student retention by 25%, while directing research initiatives that elevated institutional reputation. Aiming to create impactful global partnerships that center community-informed approaches.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Office of Evaluation & Research
Mississippi State Department of Health
Jackson, MS
01.2024 - Current
- Increased statewide evaluation precision by implementing advanced mixed‑methods frameworks and QA protocols, as evidenced by a 30% rise in outcome‑verification accuracy and a 25% reduction in analysis cycle time.
- Achieved 100% on time submission of federal and philanthropic deliverables by instituting a portfolio kanban and quarterly risk reviews, as measured by zero late reports across multi‑program grants.
- Improved executive decision‑making by launching role‑based dashboards for 8+ programs (maternal health, behavioral health, chronic disease), as indicated by 45% higher stakeholder engagement and adoption in monthly ops reviews.
- Redesigned internal operating systems by mapping processes, eliminating redundant steps, and implementing standardized procedures, resulting in 25% reduction in operational delays.
- Realigned vendor scopes and standardized templates, achieving 12–15% reduction in evaluation overhead and reallocating savings to direct services.
- Advanced equity impact by embedding community‑level indicators and disaggregated analyses in all studies, as reflected in 10+ policy briefs that center historically marginalized populations.
- Elevated organizational influence by coordinating with local and state government partners, strengthening interagency collaboration around public health initiatives.
- Oversaw multi‑program budgets by conducting forecasting, resource modeling, and cost‑benefit analyses, supporting more strategic allocation of funds across grant‑funded portfolios.
- Enhanced department capacity through strategic hiring, onboarding redesign, and improved internal communication systems.
Assistant Professor (Sociology)
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA
01.2021 - 01.2024
- Published and presented on symbolic annihilation and health disparities, strengthening institutional reputation.
- Redesigned intersectionality-centered curricula and advising systems, improving student mastery and retention.
- Authored curriculum maps and assessment plans to establish the Health, Medicine & Society concentration.
Director of Prevention, Education & Community Partnerships
AIDS Alabama
Birmingham, AL
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Expanded HIV prevention reaches among millennial men of color by co‑designing a culturally responsive program and companion app, a 40% increase in engagement and 500+ confidential testing‑kit requests.
- Stabilized funding by writing/renewing competitive grants (CDC, Ryan White, United Way), as measured by a 90% success rate and uninterrupted service delivery across award cycles.
- Strengthened cross‑sector coordination by formalizing partnerships with major clinics and community groups, as indicated by 12+ active MOUs and integrated referral pathways.
- Elevated service quality by supervising 30+ staff and instituting performance huddles, by 95% staffing stability and 100% audit/readiness compliance.
- Executed change‑management plan during organizational restructuring, incorporating communication cascades and team readiness assessments, leading to increased staff adoption and smoother transitions.
- Streamlined operations by identifying high‑cost bottlenecks and renegotiating vendor agreements, resulting in improved budget flexibility and reallocated resources for direct services.
- Designed and launched digital dashboards to support executive visibility, resulting in more data‑informed leadership conversations and continuous performance improvement.
- Established partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, and academic institutions to enhance program reach and optimize resource sharing.
Program Director
The Edge of Chaos
Birmingham, AL
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Scaled an innovation hub connecting academia, nonprofits, and industry by launching an event and residency series.
- Accelerated collaboration by brokering 3 corporate-academic partnerships and forming a cross-disciplinary working group.
- Increased financial sustainability by packaging sponsorship opportunities and usage tiers.
- Improved transparency by building a KPI scorecard and quarterly outcomes brief.
- Represented the organization at policy tables, translating evaluation findings into accessible recommendations.
- Directed multidisciplinary teams by clarifying roles and establishing performance expectations.
- Facilitated cross-department meetings and strategic retreats to strengthen collaboration.
- Restructured cross-functional teams around strategic priorities to strengthen organizational agility.
- Realigned evaluation and program functions to enhance collaboration and reduce silos.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology, Major; Chemistry, Minor
Miles College
Birmingham, ALMaster of Public Health - Health Care Organization & Policy, Maternal & Child Health Concentration, Global Health Certification
University of Alabama At Birmingham School of Public Health
Birmingham, ALMaster of Arts - Sociology
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, ALDoctor of Philosophy - Medical Sociology
University of Alabama At Birmingham College of Arts & Sciences
Birmingham, ALSkills
- Evaluation frameworks
- Program development
- Data analysis
- Grant writing
- Interagency collaboration
- Community engagement
- Stakeholder management
- Strategic planning
- Program management
- Project management
- Operations management
- Change management
- Performance management
- Contract management
- Regulatory compliance
- Cross-functional leadership
- Decision-making
- Effective communication
- Communication skills
- Team building
- People management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Issues resolution
- Conflict resolution
- Team collaboration
- Business administration
- Information technology management
- Problem-solving
- Goal setting
- Goal setting
Public Service
- Board of Directors, The Black Arts Academy, 2023-Present
- Board of Directors, The New Orleans Arts Council, 2023-Present
- Board of Directors, The Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (G.A.S.P.), 2021-Present
- Board Member, Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering (T.A.K.E.), 2017-Present
References
- Dr. Mieke Thomeer-McBride, mthomeer@uab.edu
- Dr. Lisle Hites, lhites@ua.edu
Note
- Comprehensive information and experience can be provided upon CV request.
Timeline
Director, Office of Evaluation & Research
Mississippi State Department of Health
01.2024 - Current
Assistant Professor (Sociology)
Xavier University of Louisiana
01.2021 - 01.2024
Director of Prevention, Education & Community Partnerships
AIDS Alabama
01.2015 - 01.2016
Program Director
The Edge of Chaos
01.2012 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Biology, Major; Chemistry, Minor
Miles College
Master of Public Health - Health Care Organization & Policy, Maternal & Child Health Concentration, Global Health Certification
University of Alabama At Birmingham School of Public Health
Master of Arts - Sociology
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Doctor of Philosophy - Medical Sociology
University of Alabama At Birmingham College of Arts & Sciences