Sharnita hopes to use her lived experience and education to amplify the voices of marginalized families, advance black maternal health research, and lead healthcare systems toward justice and equity.

Sharnita Renee Harris is a first-generation college student, devoted wife, and proud mother of two, including her awesome autistic toddler. As a caregiver, she has built her academic and professional journey on persistence, faith, and purpose. Sharnita recently became the first in her family to graduate with an associate’s degree and is now completing her bachelor of science in health and human services with a concentration in public health at the University of Michigan. Sharnita’s long-term goal is to pursue a master of science in healthcare administration and leadership, preparing her to advance into executive leadership and help shape equitable healthcare systems.

Sharnita has a deeply personal passion for Black maternal health. As a Black woman who has endured two high-risk pregnancies, she experienced how women of color are often dismissed or overlooked in healthcare settings. Those experiences ignited her commitment to become part of the solution—advocating for maternal health equity and helping to design systems that are inclusive, culturally responsive, and compassionate.

Balancing full-time work, school, and caregiving for her family, Sharnita has become more resilient and an even stronger advocate. Managing therapies, navigating healthcare barriers, and supporting her infant’s development while excelling academically has taught her the importance of persistence in the face of systemic inequities.

To Sharnita, success means more than degrees. It means breaking generational cycles, uplifting her community, and creating opportunities for her daughters to pursue their dreams without limits. She hopes to use her lived experience and education to amplify the voices of marginalized families, advance black maternal health research, and lead healthcare systems toward justice and equity.

With determination, experience, and her U-M education, she is preparing to create meaningful and lasting change in healthcare—beginning with her family, extending to her community, and focusing especially on advancing African American healthcare and addressing the urgent needs of Black maternal health within the broader system.

CEW+ recognizes Sharnita’s strength and commitment to equitable healthcare and names her a Molly Hunter Dobson Scholar.