Tanya Smith-Johnson, MS, CPM
President
Mississippi
Peer Member
Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Biology(2002) and Masters of Science in Medical Science (2004) from Hampton University.
Professional Activities: Tanya Smith-Johnson is a mother of six, homeschooler, Naval Hospital Corps veteran, advocate for full spectrum reproductive health care and justice, birth equity and the improvement of health outcomes especially for Black, Native and Indigenous people. Tanya is a Certified Professional Midwife and the Policy Director and Community Based Doula Program Director at Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii.
Tanya has extensive experience in bringing the consumer voice to full spectrum reproductive health advocacy and policy. As the former president of California Families for Access to Midwives, she worked with California stakeholders and legislators to help the passage of key legislation to increase access to licensed midwives. Tanya served on the board of directors of the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii as the Vice President and Oahu representative. She was on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery where she works to provide education to the public and policy makers regarding midwifery care as a quality health option for birthing people in North America and to increase access to quality maternity care. Tanya is a strategist and Director of Outreach, Advocacy and Education for The Big Push for Midwives, where she works on a national level to help states work on advocacy, policy and legislative change to incorporate and integrate midwives on a national level. Tanya is one of the co-founders and Executive Director of Birth Future Foundation, an organization decolonizing philanthropy , centering racial justice and equity in midwifery. Tanya is a member of the Hawaii Women’s Coalition and the Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women’s Feminist Covid-19 Response Team and co-authored the nation’s first Feminist Economic Recovery Plan in response to Covid-19. Tanya is an appointee on the Birth Place Lab’s Global Perinatal Task Force. Tanya is the newly appointed President of the National College of Midwifery, a direct entry midwifery school for midwives who practice traditional midwifery and out of hospital birth.
Sarah McBride, CPM
Vice President
Treasure Valley, ID
Peer Member
Education: 2021 Diploma of Midwifery, Mercy in Action College of Midwifery; 2012 Birth Arts International Trained Doula
Professional Activities: Sarah McBride is a staff midwife at Sage Midwifery, a busy home birth practice that serves the Treasure Valley, Idaho. Sarah is passionate about midwifery, mental health, positive outcomes, and bringing humanity and care back into healthcare. She hopes to leave a legacy of improving student-preceptor relationships. Sarah’s introduction to birth work began when she became a mother in 2009. After hearing nightmare birth stories from her friends, she discovered doula work and then midwifery. She was a doula trainer for Mercy In Action from 2015-2017. She is a Mercy In Action College of Midwifery graduate and licensed in the state of Idaho. Prior to serving on the MEAC board, Sarah has served in other board positions as a regional representative for the Idaho Midwifery Council, and event coordinator/treasurer for Cradle, an education and advocacy-focused community group, in Lewisburg, PA. She has also volunteered as a peer breastfeeding leader for Breastfeeding USA. She is the youngest of 7 children and grew up around the globe as a military brat. Her parents inspired a love of humor, literature, education, travel, and service. In her spare time, Sarah loves being with her three children. Her hobbies include nature therapy, reading, writing, and lifelong learning.
Edith Pomposo, JD, LLM
Secretary
Woodland Hills, California
Public Member
Education: Rice University, Houston, TX (In progress)Master of Business Administration
Baylor University School of Law, Waco, TXExecutive LLM: Litigation Management
Southern California Institute of Law, Ventura, CAJurisDoctorate: Law.National University, Sherman Oaks ,CA
CaliforniaAdministrativeServicesCredentialNational University, Sherman Oaks, CA
ElementaryMultipleSubjectTeachingCredentialChapman University, Orange, CA
M.A.:Criminal Justice.Mount Saint Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CAB.A.:Political Science
Professional Activities: Edith Pomposo, JD, LLM, is a seasoned executive leader with a diverse background in education, compliance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As a licensed Title IX Coordinator, I have extensive experience in educational reform, special education compliance, and legal consulting within higher education. My skills in curriculum planning, crisis management, policy development, fundraising, and data analysis have been honed through my work in various leadership roles, including my contributions to several boards. With a deep understanding of accreditation processes, she brings a wealth of knowledge in developing comprehensive plans and fostering strategic initiatives that align with institutional goals.
Dr. Alechia Abioye
Houston, TX
Public Member
Education: Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership, Teaching Emphasis Maryville University, May 2019
Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis,Higher Education Emphasis University of Missouri, December 2013
Bachelor of Journalism in Magazine Journalism University of Missouri, May 2010
Professional Activities: Dr. Alechia Abioye has served in Higher Education for 14 years. She has a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and experience writing policy, conducting accreditation self-studies, and leading various roles in academic and student affairs. She is a mother of three daughters and deeply passionate about maternal health care and the field of midwifery as a pathway to equitable access for birthing individuals. Since 2015, she has been involved in community organizations committed to equitable prenatal, birth, and postnatal care. Over the past six years, she has worked at institutions focusing on the health sciences. She has worked to provide curricular and curricular exposure to maternal social health disparities and normalize midwifery as a practice and standard of care within fields that have typically excluded midwifery from its curriculum. This opportunity allows her to expand my commitment and passion for women’s health and professional work in education.
Tracie L. Thompson/Washington, Esq, MBA, MPA
New Orleans, LA
Public Member
Education: CANDIDATE, PH.D. IN PUBLIC POLICY, 2024–SouthernUniversity and A&M College·
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, 2015–The University of New Orleans·
JURIS DOCTOR, 1989–The University of Texas School of Law·
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 1986–Drake University School of Graduate Studies·
BACHELOR OF ARTS, 1985–CarletonCollege
Professional Activities: As a social justice advocate and civil rights attorney, my skills and training bring a unique perspective to midwifery education, emphasizing equity, advocacy, and inclusivity. My experience in addressing systemic inequalities allows me to contribute to a curriculum that prioritizes the needs of marginalized communities, ensuring that future midwives are skilled practitioners and culturally competent advocates for their patients. By integrating principles of social justice into midwifery training, I can help foster an environment that encourages critical thinking about health disparities and promotes practices that empower all families, ultimately enriching the educational experience and aligning it with the broader goals of health equity and social justice.
Dr. Kimberly Green, DSL. MBA, BSBA
Public Member
Education: Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University
Master of Business Administration; concentration in Management from Strayer University Columbia, SC
Bachelor of Business Administration from Limestone College Columbia- SC
Associate of Accounting from Midlands Technical College, Columbia-SC
Professional Activities: Dr. Kimberly Green worked in various public, private, and government sectors, specializing in finance, technology, and human capital. With over 15 years in higher education, I teach students at all levels of business and technology, and I have also worked in administration.
She Serves on a Charter School board as a HOS and BOD Evaluator. Because of the rapid growth of U.S. citizenship and immigration, I hope to instill in midwives leadership, working in a global environment, and healthcare informatics. Sentimentally, a strong plan should be geared toward building a network for underprivileged mothers, especially minorities, in continuous healthcare and education for mothers.
She is a lifelong learner and educator. Outside of work, she loves spending time with family, cooking, cardio boxing, California hikes, music, online shopping, traveling, and interior decorating.
D’Vorah Honey LM, CPM
Virginia
Peer Member
Education: Bachelor’s in Science of Nutrition
Associates in Midwifery, National College of Midwifery
Licensed Midwife, Virginia certified Professional Midwife
NRP Certified
American Heart Association CPR Certified
Professional Activities: Throughout her daily life, she strives to elevate people from all walks of life. Acting with professionalism, integrity, and respect is of the utmost importance in any position I hold. She often brings a unique perspective and a strong desire to create effective systems that will supersede me long after she is gone. She has participated in advocacy for law changes and expansion of scope in Washington state, Virginia, and North Carolina. She is a member of the NARM Complaint Committee, where she strives to hold the profession of midwifery to a credible and respectable standard. She is currently the Clinical Mentor Coordinator for Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery, where she upholds a high standard of education and competence for future midwives. I work as a traveling midwife, providing locum services for practices worldwide. As a woman, a religious minority, a mother, and a sexual violence survivor, a better future for families through access to client-centered maternity care is her life’s mission.
Education: Master of Arts, Health Arts and Sciences, Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont — 2003. Independent Study in Childbirth and Midwifery beginning in 1973. Apprenticeship in Midwifery, 1975 — 1976. Bachelor of Science, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York — 1968.
Professional Activities: Karen Ehrlich, MA, CPM, LM has been a childbirth educator, health educator, and midwife since 1975. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of MEAC and serves as chair of the Continuing Education Committee, having been a Continuing Education Unit reviewer since 2007. Additionally, she has worked as a midwifery educator at Sage Femme Midwifery School and the Institute of Feminine Arts, and has been a module preceptor for National College of Midwifery. She has been an active member of California Association of Midwives, and has been a supporting member of Midwives Alliance of North America, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, Citizens for Midwifery, Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health, International Childbirth Education Association, and Citizens for Health.