Author and educator Julia Considine Pierce first became passionate about advocating for girls’ health as a UNC Chapel Hill graduate student studying middle and high school health education classes throughout North Carolina. As part of her master’s degree, Pierce interviewed health educators across the state and discovered gaps in what students were being taught about reproduction and puberty.
“Schools don’t always have the time to provide puberty education,” she said. “We don’t have enough places where we’re teaching health in terms of reproduction, health and safety.”
Only 22 percent of elementary schools in the country are teaching puberty, she said. Getting a good foundation of knowledge early on can help prevent sexual assault, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy and STDs.
In a new children’s book geared toward 5– to 9-year-old girls and their parents, Pierce has stepped up to fill the gap in girls’ health education. My Body is Sacred, winner of a Gold 2026 Nautilus Book Gold Award, tackles tough subjects like hygiene, safety, self-respect, and setting boundaries. With beautiful illustrations, this “prequel to puberty” teaches young readers about the connection between body, mind, and spirit.
For Pierce, the book also draws on her two biggest passions, public health and spirituality. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, Pierce spent a lot of time outdoors as a young girl. She discovered Rumi’s poetry and became interested in his religion, Sufism, which highlights Islamic mysticism. After graduating high school in 1999, Pierce moved to Santa Barbara to study at the University of Sufism for a Master of Divinity degree.
Pierce hopes to bridge the gap between public health and spirituality. She aims to shift taboo thinking on subjects like menstruation, menopause, and reproduction from shame to acceptance and empowerment.
“If it’s something that every single female goes through, then why is it so hidden? Why isn’t it celebrated among women? How can I contribute to that,” she said.
By using the word “sacred” to describe girls’ bodies, she hopes to evoke a sense of spirituality and interconnectedness to nature.
The Ashe County native earned an Associate in Arts degree from A-B Tech and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from UNC Greensboro before pursuing a master’s in public health.
Pierce’s career has taken her in many interesting directions. She has worked as a teacher of puberty education and reproductive health and safety in Asheville elementary schools and taught Health and Wellness at A-B Tech for two years. She also has combined her love for faith and well-being in leading spiritual retreats for women to Morocco and offers one-on-one wellness counseling via Zoom, as well as occasional workshops.
Pierce credits an A-B Tech advisor for helping her choose her life’s path. After learning about her interest in health and fitness, the advisor recommended she study public health. Upon hearing more about the field, it resonated on a deep level. “I started to sob,” she said. “I had always been interested in health behaviors, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness.”
Pierce is grateful for the guidance and support she received at A-B Tech that helped shape her career. “It opened doors I never imagined that were deeply meaningful.”
Learn more about Julia Considine Pierce and her book at Women's Pilgrimage to Morocco | Julia Sumaya.