Dr. Shaniece Criss is a public health scholar, civic leader, and strategic optimist. At Furman University, she is the director of the Advocacy and Social Policy master’s program and an associate professor in the Health Sciences Department. She serves on the Travelers Rest City Council, where she founded the Youth Council Academy to cultivate leadership among middle school students. Beyond the classroom and council chamber, she hosts Civically Grown, a podcast where changemakers share the roots and impact of their leadership.

As a researcher and practitioner, Dr. Criss is a founding member of a national collaborative examining the effects of societal issues on health. She previously hosted a TV show in Guyana during her Peace Corps service and has held roles at the CDC, ICF International, and CNN.

Dr. Criss earned a Doctor of Science (ScD) from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, a MPH from Emory University, and a BA in Communication from Oglethorpe University. She also holds a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach certification, bringing leadership development to the people she serves.

Deeply committed to community engagement, she brings her expertise to the boards of Prisma Health and the Community Foundation of Greenville. Her leadership has been recognized with honors including Top 50 Women Leaders of South Carolina, ETV's Women Vision SC, Multiplying Good’s ChangeMaker Award, the Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame, and the Mayors’ Ball Community Award.

Her past advisory and board roles include the South Carolina Hospital Association, Public Education Partners, Jolley Foundation, Greenville Women Giving, Together Women Rise, YMCA Teen Services, LiveWell Greenville, Greenville County Human Relations Commission, Travelers Rest Municipal Elections Commission, and REEM Commission.

At Furman, she has served as a fellow with the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, Riley Institute's DLI Program, Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection, and Shucker Leadership Institute.

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