Dr. Portia Jackson-Preston

Assistant Professor of Public Health at California State University Fullerton, Educator, Speaker & Agent of Change

Dr. Portia Jackson-Preston

Assistant Professor of Public Health at California State University Fullerton, Educator, Speaker & Agent of Change

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Biography

“Our experience working with Dr. Portia Jackson Preston was nothing short of amazing. Dr. Jackson Preston is clearly passionate about her work, which made her presentation even more inspiring. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from conference attendees. Overall, Dr. Portia Jackson Preston was wonderful to work with and is an incredibly engaging speaker. If you are searching for an inspiring and passionate keynote speaker, look no further!” -Connect for Health Colorado

“She easily engaged the group ...people were moved and motivated by her message. She has a natural approach to speaking and I would definitely recommend her for any speaker engagement, facilitation or coaching. Her energy is contagious and perspective and experience is invaluable!” - G3 Conference

“Thank you so much for sharing your life struggles and triumphs with us...We appreciated your vulnerability as you moved us through traditional definitions of balance to your own life struggles and ways to ensure personal wellness in our own lives... We will definitely remember your talk for years to come!” - National Black Women’s Life Balance and Wellness

Dr. Portia Jackson Preston is a leading expert in driving sustainable wellness and impact. As an Associate Professor of Public Health at CSU Fullerton, she has published widely on stress, coping and burnout in professionals, and the impact of stress on Black women's health.

As the founder of Empowered to Exhale, she coaches individuals and organizations to embrace mindset and culture shifts to create and sustain impact. Dr. Preston is a sought-after speaker, and has been featured at two TEDx events. She candidly shares her experiences as a Black woman navigating health challenges, including a late-stage AuDHD diagnosis, and offers insight into creating personalized systems that are responsive to individual needs.

With a background in Cultural and Social Anthropology from Stanford, a Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan, and a Doctorate in Public Health from UCLA, Dr. Preston advocates for systemic change to combat burnout. She also inspires audiences to shed shame and embrace self-compassion. Her forthcoming book, Hustle, Flow, or Let it Go? A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness that Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life (Revell Books, August 2025), provides a framework for inclusive wellness that extends beyond the individual to the collective.

Speaker Videos

TEDx: The Missing Ingredient in Self Care

Speech Topics

Portia has worked with many clients to deliver high-quality live and in person, as well as remote presentations (both live and recorded) that are engaging for participants. She works with you and your team to provide offerings that serve the needs of your organization to deliver an experience based on your objectives. Right from the beginning you can expect a quick turnaround on emails and requests, as Portia is deeply invested in your success. She ensures the presentation or workshop she conducts for you is current and cutting edge, and presents information in a way that is easy for your audience to grasp and apply immediately.

Workplace Well-Being

Multilevel approaches to promoting holistic well-being in the workplace, and developing an action plan for individual self-care and creating an organizational culture of self-care.

Education K-12

Learn holistic approaches to promote student success! Portia will help educators review how they navigate personal and professional responsibilities, develop boundaries to promote their well-being, and effectively utilize learning management systems and other tools to advance equity in the classroom. Participants discuss approaches they can use to proactively identify student needs in light of the transition to virtual learning, and connect students with resources that promote their holistic well-being (e.g. basic needs resources, warmlines, etc.).

Healthcare

This keynote is for community health workers, hospital administrators and non-clinical staff.

Testimonials

"She easily engaged the group ...people were moved and motivated by her message. She has a natural approach to speaking and I would definitely recommend her for any speaker engagement, facilitation or coaching. Her energy is contagious and perspective and experience is invaluable!"

- G3 Conference

"Thank you so much for sharing your life struggles and triumphs with us...We appreciated your vulnerability as you moved us through traditional definitions of balance to your own life struggles and ways to ensure personal wellness in our own lives... We will definitely remember your talk for years to come!"

- National Black Women’s Life Balance and Wellness

"Thanks, again, Dr. Jackson, for your phenomenal keynote presentation during our Celebration of Achievement! Your authentic delivery in sharing real life college experiences, coupled with your effervescent, approachable manner, readily captured the hearts and minds of our Scholars and parents! I really loved the way you were able to weave the basic tenets of your personal coaching philosophy into the conversation to help our Scholars realize the importance of “Soaring Beyond the Stars” in their personal and professional lives!"

- Young Black Scholars

"Thank you for facilitating and sharing your gift with each of us during the Vision Board/Life Map session. I was expecting a positive experience with a group of forward thinkers but was beyond amazed with your approach and ability to engage and guide participants through what I found to be an incredible journey of discovery. I wish you much continued success as you move forward with your endeavors. I strongly encourage and support any organization considering having you facilitate a workshop or lead an initiative. Your experience and knowledge will prove valuable to all you encounter."

- Client