The Doula Alliance of Arkansas has named Liyah Wasson its new executive director.
Wasson is a founding board member of the organization and a longtime advocate for equitable maternal health. She has served on the board since the DA-AR’s launch in August 2024 and most recently held the roles of secretary and director of operations. Her appointment marks an important milestone in the alliance’s continued growth as it begins the formal process of applying for a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation.
The Doula Alliance of Arkansas is a collaborative initiative dedicated to enhancing Arkansas’s maternal health outcomes by advancing the profession of birth work through advocacy and education, expanding access to high-quality doula services statewide and providing a professional support system for doulas in Arkansas.
As executive director, Wasson will guide statewide efforts to expand access to perinatal support, strengthen the doula workforce and advance equitable maternal health outcomes across Arkansas. Her leadership will focus on building collaborative systems, promoting community-driven solutions, and ensuring that doulas have the necessary training, resources and advocacy infrastructure to thrive.
“As a doula, I’ve learned that leadership requires equal measures of compassion and clarity, and I intend to bring both to this role,” said Wasson. “Arkansas families deserve care that is respectful, evidence-based, and rooted in community. I am honored to lead this organization alongside the doulas who make this work possible, and I’m committed to building the systems and support that will drive real, sustainable change in maternal health across our state.”
READ ALSO: Cory Anderson Named CEO of Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
