CPH 31 — Learning to Want: A Conversation with Dr. Linda Animashaun

Dr. Linda Animashaun’s story is one of faith, courage, and rediscovery. From growing up in a Ghanaian household shaped by discipline and service, to choosing public health over medicine, to leaving behind job security to build a consulting business aligned with her purpose—her journey reminds us that courage often begins with permission to want. In this episode, we talk about integrity in evaluation work, the power of saying both no and yes with intention, and the radical act of dreaming—especially when the world tells you not to.

Meet Dr. Linda Animashaun

Dr. Linda Animashaun is the founder and principal of Amammere Consulting, LLC, an equity-focused evaluation firm that advances public health through community-rooted insights and action. She has over 15 years of experience in health equity research and evaluation, working with federal agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and community-based organizations.

Her work centers on the social determinants of health, with a focus on chronic disease prevention and control, nutrition, and community engagement in historically marginalized communities. Dr. Animashaun specializes in designing and implementing qualitative and mixed-methods evaluations that reveal the stories behind the data, empowering organizations to understand, strengthen, and sustain the impact of their work.

Known for her collaborative, culturally responsive, and community-centered approach, Dr. Animashaun has developed data collection instruments, led interviews and focus groups, and produced accessible case studies, training materials, and findings reports for both technical and public audiences. She also supports organizations through facilitation and strategic planning, helping to align their efforts with equity goals and community priorities.

Deeply committed to uplifting community voices, she views evaluation not just as a learning tool but as a vehicle for equity and lasting change.

Dr. Animashaun holds a BA in African American Studies from Columbia University, an MPH in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University, and a DrPH in Community Health Behavior and Education from Georgia Southern University.

Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast

Conversation Highlights

• Courage as Integrity: Dr. Animashaun shares how, as an evaluator, she insists on reflecting the community’s truth—resisting pressure to “massage” data for funders or optics.
• The Courage to Want: She talks about learning to dream beyond expectations, to “want” without guilt or limits, and how entrepreneurship helped her claim that freedom.
• Saying No, Saying Yes: She and Dr. McClamroch explore how both no and yes can be powerful when chosen with clarity and conviction.
• Faith and Hope in Uncertain Times: Even in a shifting political landscape, Dr. Animashaun holds onto hope that the work of public health—and health equity—transcends administrations.
• Redefining Success: From stability to self-determination, she shares what it means to build a business, a vision, and a life rooted in courage and authenticity.

“We can’t stop doing the work just because the administration changes. Health equity is bigger than any presidency.”— Dr. Linda Animashaun

Stay In Touch:

Dr. Linda Animashaun on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-a-animashaun-drph-mph-ches-0b5b5416/

Amammere Consulting - https://amammereconsulting.com/

Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/

www.CourageousPublicHealth.com

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