Makia Ward is a Community Health Worker Lead with the South Carolina Department of Public Health, where she supports both Anderson and Greenville counties. In this role, she assists the Community Health Manager with team leadership, logistics, and program development, while also serving community members through education, resource navigation, and harm reduction efforts.
An Anderson County native, Makia graduated from Clemson University in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology. She began her career in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially coordinating mobile vaccine clinics before transitioning into a Community Health Worker (CHW) role.
She earned her CHW certification in June 2024 and is also a certified ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) trainer, regularly hosting community trainings to promote trauma-informed care.
Passionate about equitable healthcare access and building community trust, Makia is excited to join the Leadership Institute to grow as a leader and connect with others committed to strengthening public health in their local areas.