As the Executive Director of the Maternal Wellness Center, Christina Moran has dedicated her career to supporting women and families through the complex journey of parenthood. Her story stands as a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative potential of turning personal tragedy into a force for good. 

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Celebrating exceptional local women making significant impacts in our community.

Our 2024 Women of Influence Award Winners were nominated by peers and selected by the Family Focus Media team based on their achievements and dedication to creating positive change, as revealed through comprehensive questionnaires. Their profiles showcase their inspiring journeys and accomplishments.

Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees form our growing “Women of Influence Network,” a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support. We invite you to explore our Award Winners’ stories and leverage our Network Directory in the Women of Influence Guide. Reach out to fellow members to harness the power of our network through shared growth and support. For further engagement, we welcome business and nonprofit leaders to join our Family Focus Media Community Builders Group on Facebook and our NEW Women of Influence LinkedIn Group.

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A Journey Rooted in Personal Experience

Christina’s path to maternal wellness advocacy was shaped by profound personal experiences. After a career in Higher Education Student Life, where she supported students through major life transitions, Christina’s own journey into parenthood took an unexpected turn. She and her husband became involved in foster care, and then welcomed a biological daughter who they tragically lost at just four months old to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

This devastating loss in 2015 became a pivotal moment in Christina’s life. “Nothing has ever been or will ever be the same after that loss,” she reflects. Rather than allowing grief to overwhelm her, Christina chose to channel her experience into a mission to support other parents.

From Higher Education to Maternal Wellness

Christina’s career pivot from higher education to maternal wellness was driven by her newfound passion for supporting parents through life transitions. In her role at the Maternal Wellness Center, Christina combines her executive skills with a deep personal commitment to improving access to quality mental health care for women and families. She sees her work as a way to honor her daughter’s memory, saying, “I see my current role as a way that the light my daughter brought to my life gets to keep making an impact.”

Advocating for Mental Health and Gender Equality

Christina is a strong advocate for improving insurance and health care equity, recognizing how lack of access to care exacerbates inequalities, particularly for women and children. She’s also passionate about normalizing women’s experiences and challenging internalized misogyny. “So often, women think that their struggles are due to their own failings rather than systemic failings,” she observes.

Balancing Professional and Personal Life

When it comes to balancing various roles and responsibilities, Christina is refreshingly honest. “I don’t. My life is often not very balanced,” she admits. Instead, she embraces the idea of different seasons in life and focuses on doing what she can, when she can. Her approach includes using high-quality childcare, partnering with her husband in equal parenting, choosing a flexible job, and maintaining her own mental health through therapy.

A Beacon of Hope and Inspiration

Christina’s colleagues and nominators speak highly of her impact. Mary Wilkinson describes her as “sensitive to the need for quality mental health care and the importance of building communities of support for all stages of motherhood.” Kellie Wicklund adds that she is a “passionate force for maternal mental health and wellness in our community. Her abilities, dedication and spirit are an inspiration and delight.”

Through her work at the Maternal Wellness Center, Christina Moran continues to make a significant impact on the lives of women and families, turning personal tragedy into professional advocacy with resilience and strength.