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404.822.6781 |
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jfriday@wearestellarchs.com |
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LinkedIn Profile |
Jennifer C. Friday
Evaluation Advisory Team
Dr. Jennifer C. Friday is a nationally recognized psychologist, public health expert, educator, and consultant with over four decades of experience in behavioral and social science research, health policy, education, and organizational leadership. Her career reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing health equity, addressing social determinants of health, and expanding access to education and leadership opportunities for underrepresented populations.
Dr. Friday currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Georgia Gwinnett College, where she teaches a diverse array of undergraduate courses and actively contributes to institutional development. She has served on the Institutional Review Board, the Internationalization Committee, and chaired the Psychology Faculty Search Committee.
As President of The Friday Consulting Group, LLC, Dr. Friday leads a consulting practice specializing in behavioral research, program evaluation, strategic planning, organizational development, management consulting, human resource development, and executive coaching. Her firm has consulted with local, national, and international organizations, including the World Health Organization, UN High Commission for Refugees, Morehouse College, Medical University of South Carolina, and numerous healthcare and educational institutions.
Her previous roles include serving as a Senior Research Scientist with The MayaTech Corporation, where she directed major public health projects in HIV/AIDS prevention, rape prevention policy, bioterrorism preparedness, and healthcare services evaluation. Dr. Friday also spent nearly a decade at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she contributed to epidemiologic studies on youth violence, domestic violence, homicide, suicide, and HIV/AIDS prevention. As a Senior Fellow at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, she led efforts to influence public policy addressing health disparities in the African American community.
Dr. Friday’s consulting and research work includes evaluations of national public health initiatives, surveys of Black elected officials regarding HIV/AIDS policy, school violence prevention projects in Jamaica, and injury mortality surveillance in South Africa. She has contributed to groundbreaking research on unintended consequences of HIV/AIDS education for women of color, bioterrorism preparedness training, and STD/HIV prevention among refugee populations.
Her leadership extends beyond academia and public health into community service. Dr. Friday has held prominent board and civic leadership roles, including serving as President of the Atlanta Caribbean Association, President of the Rotary Club of South DeKalb, Director of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church Food Pantry, and Emeritus Trustee of Millikin University. She has also been an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the National Council of Negro Women, and various advisory and leadership councils focused on educational equity and public health.
Dr. Friday is a past President of the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) and has contributed to numerous professional associations including the American Psychological Association (APA), American Public Health Association (APHA), and the Society for the Analysis of African-American Public Health Issues. She has served as a reviewer for leading journals such as the American Journal of Public Health, Public Health Reports, and Injury Prevention.
Her extensive contributions have been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including the Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) Honorary Degree from Millikin University, the CDC Special Service Award, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda Achievement Award, and induction into the Millikin University Athletic Hall of Fame. She is also a recipient of the Rotary District 6900 “You Are the Key” Award and multiple performance and service awards from the CDC.
Dr. Jennifer C. Friday is a transformational leader whose career bridges public health, behavioral science, education, and community advocacy. Her work has had a lasting impact on policy development, health equity, violence prevention, and leadership development in both the United States and abroad.