Clifton J. Kenon

Clifton J. Kenon Jr. is the Assistant Dean for Global Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. His career has been dedicated to advancing global maternal-child survival, with a particular focus on breastfeeding and human milk provision, direct-to-consumer family planning, and intersectional equity through community self-determination.

Kenon has worked globally to create and implement community-centered programs aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality. His scholarship centers on advancing policies that support breastfeeding/chestfeeding, the provision of human milk, and fostering nurse philanthropy, while advocating for health equity led by nurses and communities. He is an inaugural fellow of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses and a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Before joining NYU Meyers, Kenon held leadership roles at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Indian Health Service, where he focused on maternal and infant health, global partnership cultivation, and empowering communities to drive their own health outcomes. Additionally, he practices as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in a home visiting practice.

Kenon’s many honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Winston-Salem State University Nurse Alumni Organization, multiple Congressional Special Recognitions, and acknowledgment from several U.S. Presidential Administrations. He has served on the boards of international organizations such as the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.