Jenita provides direction and strategic guidance to the Breakthrough team, and technical expertise and support toward executing its vision. Jenita is a leader in advancing adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) equity and is dedicated to challenging harmful SRH research. She has over 15 years of experience directing large implementation and impact evaluations and conducting training and technical assistance.
She is a nationally recognized researcher in racial equity approaches to research and is published in Prevention Science, Evaluation and Program Planning, Violence against Women, and the American Journal of Public Health. Jenita holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an MPH in Community Health Practice from the University of Texas Health Science Center. Jenita is the daughter of Indian and South African immigrants who grew up in a conservative community in Texas, motivating her desire to ensure that high-quality SRH is accessible and shame-free. She has a self-help book addiction, loves live country music, and is happiest spending soulful time with friends and family.