Dr. Shaniece Criss is a health science associate professor, public health qualitative researcher, and the director of the Master of Arts in Advocacy and Social Policy at Furman University. As a founding member of the Big Data for Health Equity Research Collaborative, she works with university researchers from across the U.S. to investigate how societal issues impact health. At Furman, she partners with the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health and serves as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

Dr. Criss is an elected official on the Travelers Rest City Council and serves on the board of directors for Prisma Health. For her professional and community endeavors, she was recognized as one of “The Top 50 Women Leaders of South Carolina” and received the “Women Vision SC” Award from ETV. She was also recognized as a “ChangeMaker” by Multiplying Good, inducted into the Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame, and honored with the Mayors’ Ball Community Award.

As a public health practitioner, Dr. Criss served as the producer and host of a national television show for the Ministry of Health in Guyana during her Peace Corps service. She has also held positions at ICF International, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and CNN. Dr. Criss earned a Doctor of Science (ScD) degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master of Public Health from Emory University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Oglethorpe University.

She is deeply committed to community engagement. At Furman, she is a fellow of Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative, Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection, and Shucker Leadership Institute. Her past advisory and board service includes: the South Carolina Hospital Association, Racial Equity and Economic Mobility (REEM) Commission, Public Education Partners, Greenville Women Giving, Together Women Rise, YMCA Teen Services, LiveWell Greenville, Greenville County Human Relations Commission, and Travelers Rest Municipal Elections Commission.

Education

• Sc.D., Harvard University, T. H. Chan School of Public Health
• M.P.H., Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
• M.P.A., Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government
• B.A., Oglethorpe University