Natosha is building a path that reimagines how systems support families emotionally, spiritually, and systemically.

Natosha Irwin is a senior at the University of Michigan-Flint, majoring in social work with a concentration in maternal and infant mental health. Natosha is also the proud mother of four children, and she returned to college after a decade-long pause. Next spring, Natosha will be the first in her family to complete a college education, becoming an inspiring example for her own children.

Natosha’s decision to resume her education was shaped by her lived experience as a caregiver and health advocate in underserved communities. She became a certified lactation counselor and completed advanced training in trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, and mental health first aid. She has supported families in hospitals, pediatric and obstetric offices, WIC programs, and through private lactation consulting, with a special focus on Black families and families with children in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Her commitment to equity in postpartum and perinatal care has led Natosha to develop a faith-informed, culturally relevant support model that bridges mental health services and lactation support. She is also laying the groundwork for a family-centered business offering therapeutic resources and digital tools for post-partum families.

Natosha’s long-term goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker offering therapy and counseling that focuses on healing, equity, and legacy for families navigating postpartum and NICU-related challenges. She continues to serve as an advisor on national lactation policy committees, bringing resilience, advocacy, and deep empathy to every space she enters. Natosha is building a path that reimagines how systems support families emotionally, spiritually, and systemically. Her story affirms that transformation is possible at any stage of life.

CEW+ applauds Natosha’s integrative approach to maternal and infant health and names her the Robert Bruce Dunlap Memorial Scholar.