Cassaundra Jah, CPM, PhD has served as Executive Director of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM) since 2023, leading national efforts in policy, workforce development, research, quality improvement, and systems integration.
A former aerospace engineer, Dr. Jah trained first as a doula and then as a Certified Professional Midwife, building more than a decade of community-based clinical experience across Hawaii, New Mexico, Virginia, and Texas. She spent nine years at the National College of Midwifery helping to grow it to the largest direct-entry midwifery college in the country and where she served as Provost and helped lead its growth and transition to distance education. For nearly a decade she served on the board of the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) and contributed to state licensing boards, birth justice coalitions, and midwifery associations.
Dr. Jah's work has helped shape state guidelines and legislation, improve Medicaid reimbursement for licensed midwives, and establish birth center licensure. She consults on midwifery policy at the state and national levels and is recognized as a leading voice for equitable, sustainable, community-based perinatal care.
ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
As a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. I studied aerospace engineering and built a career in the field before realizing my calling lay elsewhere.
Becoming a parent changed everything. My own experiences of birth led me to birth work first as a doula, then as a Certified Professional Midwife. Over the years I've had the privilege of attending hundreds of births in home and birth center settings, training the next generation of midwives, and advocating for the profession.
Moving into academic leadership showed me how much further that impact could reach: by helping more students become Certified Professional Midwives, I could strengthen the whole profession. That drew me toward midwifery education, policy, and leadership.
Since then, I've volunteered with organizations dedicated to birth justice and midwifery access, contributed to state guidelines and legislation, helped improve Medicaid reimbursement for licensed midwives, and supported the creation of birth center licensure. Over time I came to see that national organizations shape not only policy but the culture of midwifery in this country and that is where I focus my energy today.
Midwifery is my calling. My passion lies in making education accessible, ensuring families may access care from CPMs who reflect their communities, and building systems that make this work sustainable.
GIFTS OF SERVICE
-
I am an activist committed to advancing justice, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of my work. At the core, I’m a facilitator of innovation—someone who builds systems that work by bringing together people, ideas, and disciplines in service of equity and impact.
-
As a storyteller, I believe in the power of compassion and empathy to create meaningful relationships and drive lasting change. I’m also a strategic thinker and problem solver who blends creativity with structured planning to address complex challenges.
-
I lead with a balance of passion and flexibility, centering ethics, kindness, and integrity. I thrive in collaborative spaces, where relationship-building and clear, open communication are essential. Whether supporting teams or communities, I listen deeply to understand and help generate solutions that reflect shared values and real needs.
-
With experience as both a qualitative and quantitative researcher, I gather data not just to inform decisions, but to illuminate patterns, track progress, and continuously improve. My work in justice-focused policy and procedural development is rooted in advocacy and guided by the goal of creating systems that are not only effective—but truly equitable.
EDUCATION
PhD Midwifery Research, 2020
National College of Midwifery
-
Descriptive Case Study of Actualizing a Social Justice Framework Within a MEAC-Accredited Midwifery Institution.
AS Midwifery, 2010
National College of Midwifery
-
Certified Professional Midwife
-
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
MS Aerospace Sciences, 2002
University of Colorado, Boulder
BS Aerospace Engineering, 2000
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
AREAS OF INTEREST
-
My work is driven by a deep commitment to inspiring growth, purpose, and strategic vision in both individuals and organizations. I’m passionate about creating environments where people feel supported, empowered, and prepared to make meaningful change—whether through midwifery, education, or systems design.
-
I believe in the transformative power of compassionate peer review and am dedicated to advancing models of accountability that are both effective and affirming. One of my central goals is to make midwifery education truly accessible—ideally free—so that the next generation of care providers reflects the full diversity and richness of our communities.
-
My approach is grounded in informed decision-making, inclusive and culturally sensitive care, and deep respect for each person's lived experience. I have a particular commitment to providing midwifery and well-person care to survivors of sexual abuse and assault, and to offering counsel and support to those navigating postpartum mood disorders.
-
At every level, I aim to meet people where they are—with empathy, evidence, and a belief in their inherent capacity to heal, grow, and thrive.