About

Hi! I'm Chris

I am an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and founder dedicated to empowering teen and single mothers to achieve academic and personal success and emotional health and wellness.

I am the founder of Wellness pH Productions, LLC (established 2023) and Teen Moms Anonymous (established 2020), a support and mentorship program for teen mothers and adult mothers who were teen mothers, especially those who survived violence and abuse.

In 2023, I published my first book, Helping Teen Moms Graduate: Strategies for Families, School, and Community Organizations, which received two prestigious awards: the Nautilus Book Award (Silver Winner, 2024) and the PenCraft Book Award (Literary Excellence Runner-up, 2023). My work centers on breaking cycles of trauma, abuse, and teen pregnancy, providing women with the tools and guidance to thrive.

My academic and professional background underscores my expertise. I earned my B.A. in English from Wofford College and M.Ed. in Secondary English from Converse College. I began my career as a public school English teacher and served in that role for seven years.

I later advanced to higher education, receiving my Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and holding a position as Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Claflin University. My doctoral research focuses on strategies to support pregnant and parenting students (teen mothers) in achieving their educational goals.

Through my research, teaching, coaching, and public speaking, I am grateful and humbled to have guided countless women and families toward academic achievement and personal growth.

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy maintaining a balanced and enriching lifestyle. I enjoy yoga, traveling, reading, shopping, decorating, cooking, and gardening.

My personal interests reflect my holistic approach to wellness and life balance, which I also bring into my work with clients and mentees. I am grateful to continue inspiring others through my writing, speaking engagements, and coaching, helping women build confidence, resilience, and lasting success.

I am a single mother. I live in the Upstate of SC with my teenage son. I have successfully navigated single parenthood; however, I know the overwhelming challenges of being a Black single mother.

I am using my experience as a Black single mother to help single mothers and fathers develop a healthy co-parenting partnership and break the cycle of children growing up without a father in the home. 

I attribute my success to my faith and my commitment to remaining teachable. My faith provides guidance and purpose in every endeavor, while maintaining a teachable spirit allows me to learn from every experience, adapt to new challenges, and grow both personally and professionally