Stacy Scott, Ph.D., MPA, a Toledo, Ohio native, is a 30-year public health advocate and infant safe sleep expert who’s worked from the government agency level to ground zero spearheading numerous community outreach programs nationwide to end health disparities and reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant deaths.


After 20 years working with Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Scott ended her federal government consulting career in October 2017, Scott founded the Global Infant Safe Sleep (GISS) Center in 2016, an organization with a mission to support vulnerable and marginalized global communities to reduce sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). Its latest campaign, “Changing a Tradition, Changing a Position,” targets grandparents and other caregivers, and the Community of Committed Men, offers events and forums for men in the community. Working with various companies and nonprofit organizations.


In January 2018, Scott was appointed chairman of the Wisdom Council of the National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep serving as faculty for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ), a nonprofit dedicated to driving dramatic and sustainable improvements in the complex issues facing children’s health. Dr. Scott has since accepted a position as one of the project directors who serve on the NAPPSS-IIN project working to make infant safe sleep and breastfeeding a national norm and ensure the project overall operates under an equity lens. Scott currently serves as a senior project direct and equity lead for NICHQ.


Scott is a member of International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death. She received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College, a master’s degree in Public Administration at Bowling Green State University, and a doctoral degree in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University.