VITAMINS! A COLORFUL GROCERY TRIP. MY LATEST PUBLICATION! A JOURNEY FURTHER AWAY FROM THE COMFORT ZONE.
PURCHASE VITAMINS! A COLORFUL GROCERY TRIP HERE
This is my new children’s rhyming book about the functions and importance of vitamins. I grew up reading Dr. Seuss as a child, and it was always on my mind to publish something like this to help children learn about health and wellness in the mid-2000s. One issue was that I had no experience writing for children. I hesitated and put this idea off for years until the pandemic in 2020. As I laughed in anxiety, I said, “Writing a children’s book can’t be as uncomfortable as dealing with a global public health crisis as a rookie public health Ph.D. in a clinic as an essential worker.” From there, I decided to lean toward fundamental preventative measures regarding nutrition. After that, I confided with elementary educators, family members, parents, and guardians during the writing process. After that, I had to shop for a suitable artist, which was another challenging hurdle. The illustrator that was recommended to me by my niece was perfect for the job. Mionjae Makkiyah, the artist, DID THE THING!
It took a village to craft this book, and that teamwork eased my discomfort in getting this published.
Objective
do it! Materialize your words by way of action
Sooo about me:
Aye, I am an introvert that is a public speaker. You may be asking, “how is this even a thing??” I ask myself that quite often, even to this day. I grew up with plenty to say but did not speak due to FEAR. I talk about this in my book, Discover Your Vertex: A Beginner’s Guide to Health and Wellness (pictured below). Now that I am older and more seasoned in my craft of wellness, I am coming out of my shell to let other people that are still in their shells that it is not so bad out here while giving lectures regarding physical and mental well-being.
****SEE MY VIRTUAL LECTURE ON MUSCLE TYPES HERE.**** Below is an image of my book you can PURCHASE HERE.
The goal of this platform is to encourage consistency through small, repeated actions over time. Significant goals can be daunting and frightening, whether it is fitness, writing, etc. Think of looking up a mountain you are about to climb. It will be cold and exhausting, the jagged rocks plentiful, and the lingering fear of falling (failure) will nag you. Even more frightening at times are the “unknown dangers” we often imagine and blow up. What if I told you that many of your “FEARS” are only manufactured BY YOU? Your mindset will either make you or hinder you. Be wary of that.
This is why taking small actions repeatedly is ever so important. My dissertation during my doctoral studies was a MONSTER. It was mentally and physically taxing, but I could complete it by working on it daily (a few pages at a time with extra sets of eyes to check my work). It took about two years to complete (after starting over), but I stand before you as a Ph.D. despite this. My mental and physical health journeys were (and still are) HARD. I was an obese child in rural Mississippi. That made things even more turbulent. Despite this, I AM STILL HERE, and the hurdles were cleared.
I want my followers to take the same approach without the distraction of social media highlight reels and instant gratification.
Experience
Business officer: University of alabama at Birmingham hospital
2019 - 2021
Furnishes budget and assessment analyses of innumerable capital project construction contracts and consults architectural and owner agreements in excess of $500 million for the suitability of the Health Services Foundation at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) hospital projects.
Successfully integrated UAB hospital finance department, conveyed project funding, capital purchase order management, and scheduled pecuniary requests to combine support with UAB Hospital project managers; Senior Directors of hospital construction and program planning; the Chief Facilities Officer (CFO) of University Hospital, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UAB Health Systems.
Meticulously calibrated and managed proposal contracts using Electronic Signature Management (ESM) electronic software.
Credentialed Instructor, Research Coordinator & Lab Technician
2014 - 2019
Supervised interns and students in community gyms to enforce policy and ensured safety while being a credentialed instructor in Kinesiology Weight Training (Course 115)
Administered scientific lectures on health, wellness, disease prevention, diabetes, and physical activity to community members and kinesiology students.
Documented quantitative, qualitative, and statistical analyses data electronically.
Scheduled and organized physiology appointments for clients and experimentation participants.
Calibrated investigation grade fitness trackers to ensure accuracy.
Calculated body fat percentage, body mass index, perceived maximum heart rate, and blood pressure measurements.
Conducted sub-maximal cardiovascular treadmill stress test to over 50 men and 50 women.
Assisted with and observed physiology lab techniques.
Separated serum from blood samples using centrifuge technology and chemistry tools.
Key Achievements: Assessed over 100 research participants between two university research grants. Orated academically over 200 students in course Kinesiology 115: Weight Training during several semesters. Completed doctoral dissertation research involving fitness-tracking accelerometers.
Academic advisor: Arkansas state university, Jonesboro, ar
2012 - 2014
Collaborated with Arkansas State Departments: Career Services, Counseling Center, and Student Support Services in regards to establishing successful academic guidance instructions.
Mentored indecisive students in identifying interests, values, and abilities for timely declaration of a major.
Grasped retention rates for students with poor academic standing via Restart Program and Early Alert Program to assist in individual counseling.
Coordinated campus-wide services to support quality academic advising for faculty and student.
Contributed to Advising Matters Week and a productive work environment.
Fitness specialist: Baptist healthplex, Clinton, ms
2010 - 2012
Gave time, attention, and resolution to all client feedback and complaints by appropriately identifying issues and implementing proper corrective actions to client and management’s satisfaction.
Displayed exemplary customer service skills and built invaluable rapport with clients when providing information and instruction on equipment, supplies, and available services.
Conducted one-on-one fitness personal training sessions while training student interns and new fitness specialists.
Reviewed client health history files and created profile risk stratifications.
Instructed and prepared various children’s and adult fitness classes.
Key Achievements: Decreased obesity in weight loss by 50 pounds for an eight-year-old child. Increased daily living skills by 60% for a leukemia patient. Increased health and physical activity levels of a child with Down Syndrome.
Interest
Public speaking (of course)
Sports Cars (mainly modern exotics)
Comic Books and Anime
Fitness and General Wellness
Traveling
Trying new foods from different regions
Education
Mississippi College: cLINTON, ms
B.S. KINESIOLOGY EXERCISE SCIENCE
Graduated May 2010
aRKANSAS sTATE UNIVERSITY: jONESBORO, AR
M.S. EXERCISE SCIENCE
Graduated August 2014
University of Alabama at birmingham
PH.D. HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION
Graduated April 2019
certifications and clubs
Public Speaking: Toastmasters International District 77 Division B: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Offices:
Area 23 Director: Over four Birmingham clubs (UAB, Liberty Park, Protective Pacesetters, Greater Gadsden, Vulcan Materials Company (Elected July 2023).
President (Elected July 2022 - July 2023).
Vice President of Public Relations (September 2021 - June 2022)
Sergeant at Arms (September 2021 - June 2022)
April 2020- Present
Experienced and certified by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 2014- 2019
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) 2019 – Present
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Certified April 2020 - Present