NEKISHA KILLINGS
MPH, IBCLC
AHA! MOMENT MAVEN
bio
Nekisha Killings MPH IBCLC is an international board-certified lactation consultant, equity strategist and maternal and child health advocate who speaks, teaches, and facilitates topics related to equity and dismantling bias across various sectors. She consults organizations on creating and implementing strategies to better support marginalized communities. Nekisha penned the chapter titled Cultural Humility in the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care, and the chapter titled Reclaiming Black Breast Power: Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Among Black Birthing Persons in Black Women's Reproductive Health & Sexuality. Additionally, she is often cited for her peer-reviewed research the field of lactation equity. In 2018, she co-founded Nikki & Nikki: Lactation Career Consultants, an organization dedicated to equipping aspirants of color to sit the IBCLC exam. Nekisha is on a mission to normalize brown breasts® in health provider education, thereby better equipping providers to accurately diagnose and treat people of color. Accordingly, she founded The Melanated Mammary Atlas® – the world’s largest database of clinical reference images showcasing conditions on brown breasts and chests.
At the heart of Nekisha’s work is volunteerism. She has donated her time and strategic vision to numerous Boards of Directors, including two terms with the United States Breastfeeding Committee and a longstanding role on the Union Institute and University’s Pathway 2 Advisory Panel. In La Leche League, Nekisha was a founding member of the U.S. Equity and Diversity Committee. A proud silver star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Nekisha currently is an appointee to the South Atlantic Region Connection & Social Action Committee where she leads the charge to dismantle Black maternal health disparities in Florida.
Mrs. Killings was awarded the Air Force Space Command 2014 Spouse of the Year honor for her groundbreaking volunteerism in seeding support groups for military spouses and founding a coin ceremony for nursing military parents. In 2022, Nekisha was awarded both the United States Lactation Consultant Association Terry Jo Curtis Equity Award and the inaugural Black Breastfeeding Week Irth Award for Tech Innovation.
Nekisha attended Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing and Bachelor of Arts in international business operations, then earned her Master of Public Health degree from Walden University with high honors and as a Golden key honoree.
Nekisha‘s work is rooted in a compassion and candor that could only have been cultivated in years of supporting new parents through their first days of parenthood. To eager audiences, she extends her own brand of wisdom, wit, and eureka moments to shift the way they approach life and work.
Instagram musings
Testimonies
"I always love those moments when I sit down to talk to somebody and they say something that makes me look at life or a situation in a completely different way, and I say, 'Aha! I get it! Lightbulb!' ... When the little hairs on your arm stand up... THAT is an Aha! Moment."
Oprah Winfrey
"I have known Nikki Killings for several years as a skilled, compassionate, and knowledgeable provider for mothers and babies. I admire that she supports all breastfeeding families no matter what and has worked for building greater partnerships and supports in the communities that she has served. She provides great care and research-based information in a helpful and loving way. You cannot find a better person to entrust with your needs." - SB
"Passion, patient, perfect! Nikki is an advocate for nursing moms and it is apparent her approach. I am in awe at her wisdom and tenderness along her ability to firmly support the women she encounters. What a blessing to the industry!" JG
"I felt compelled to contact you following the viewing of your presentation... I just wanted to say it was a fantastic and informative presentation, I have never heard you speak before - I loved listening and learned lots - Thank you!" DB
Thanks Nekisha! You make this very deep conversation much easier to have with your kind style.
- anonymous
"I have been sharing the link to your talk to encourage all my local co-supporters and anyone else I think might find it useful to check it out. I cannot overstate how much I think anyone who wants to help parents breastfeed should see it... I really appreciate your clear, fact based style and you truly exude a warmth I suspect makes your clients feel very comfortable." JF
"The presentation was stellar— great and organized content, excellent presentation skills, and an eye toward inclusion and shared learning! I could also listen to you talk all day. You have a lovely speaking voice. Thanks so much for doing this." AW
"Enjoyed the session a ton. This is a time where inclusivity is so incredibly important and Nekisha was an excellent facilitator."
- anonymous
Contact me
As Seen...
