Isabel Morgan PhD, MSPH

Isabel Morgan is a free spirit, reproductive justice scholar, and lover of all things Zora Neale Hurston, whose work is guided by her background in anthropology, epidemiology, and maternal and child health. Isabel has experience designing and leading mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) research and evaluation projects focused on Black maternal and reproductive health in academic, federal and state government, and nonprofit settings. 

With a commitment to self-preservation and vision for a liberated and full life, Isabel relocated from North Carolina, US to Barbados in 2020 during the third year of her doctoral program. Isabel’s foundational love for exploration was set by her mother who encouraged her to embrace her Caribbean heritage and navigate life with curiosity and humility. While working and schooling remotely full time and adjusting to life in the Caribbean, Isabel learned how to find harmony between her professional pursuits, academic career, and personal aspirations. She secured academic funding, identified mentors and a support network, and embraced a robust wellness routine, inclusive of juicing, paddle boarding, and pole dancing to guide her through PhD journey. 

Isabel obtained a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Population, Family and Reproductive Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a PhD in Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health where she studied the effects of structural oppression on Black maternal and reproductive health outcomes.

Beyond her passion for ensuring Black women and families experience fulfilling maternal and reproductive health experiences, Isabel loves dancing to Soca, Afrobeats, and Amapiano, paddleboarding, and eating yummy food. Join the Xpat Summit: Living, Working, and Studying Abroad panel to learn about the strategies and intentions that Isabel established to navigate her PhD program and life in Barbados with peace, joy, and purpose.