Dr. LaToria Whitehead is an accomplished Political Scientist, an internationally recognized leader in environmental justice (EJ), health equity, and public policy with 20+ years of experience spanning federal agencies, academic institutions, and mission-driven organizations. She is currently the CEO and Founder for the LS Whitehead Group, an Adjunct Professor at Spelman College, and thought leader working at the intersection of public health, environmental and climate justice, and environmental sustainability. With nearly 20 years of past experience serving at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in an interim role at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, LaToria served as Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Health Equity for HHS, where she was recruited by the Senior Advisor to the White House on Climate Change and Health Equity to establish the agency’s first Office of Environmental Justice. During her time at the CDC, she served as a Senior Public Health Advisor and oversaw the improvement of public health for Tribal communities, providing support, guidance, and practical strategies for executing Coronavirus Preparedness Response activities. As a Senior Advisor and Environmental Justice Officer for CDC, she introduced environmental justice opportunities and led programs across the nation to address social justice and public health equity issues. In this role, she created partnerships and strategic alliances with other government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In her prior role at Abt Global Incorporated, Dr. Whitehead guided project delivery on matters related to environmental and climate justice providing expertise to federal program offices, partners, and other stakeholders.
She currently serves on the Mayor’s, City of Atlanta’s Clean Energy Advisory Board, the Deputy Editor for the Environmental Justice academic journal, and has served as a content expert for John Hopkins University on racial discrimination and environmental exposures.
Dr. Whitehead received her B.S.H. and M.P.H. degrees in health science and public health respectively, from the University of North Florida and Mercer University School of Medicine, and her Ph.D. in Political Science from Clark Atlanta University. She has presented various national lectures on environmental health and justice, including Tulane University’s Anna Julia Cooper Project on Gender, Race, Class, and Politics in the South, led by MSNBC’s host, Melissa Harris-Perry, of the former Melissa Harris-Perry show.
She is the lead author and co-author on several academic publications, that include childhood lead poisoning, environmental health and justice, and health equity. Her research focus includes environmental justice, public/urban policy, theory and methods, and American Government.
