Championing Community: LaShaunna Thomas ’20, ’26 and the Impact of Community Advocacy
Written by Chris Worthy
For LaShaunna Thomas ’20, ’26, serving others is more than a career path. Her commitment to caring for her community – and continually learning ways to improve that service – means her schedule and her heart are full. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thomas is a student in Converse University’s inaugural class of the Master in Management in Community Advocacy (MiM-CA) online program and the director of Valkyrie Supply, a basic needs hub designed to offer supplemental support to Converse students. She is also the founder of BASIC Babies, a nonprofit organization that provides a network of resources to families through collaboration with local businesses. Thomas began her journey with Converse by earning a bachelor’s degree in the health sciences field that still serves her well.
“I still work in the laboratory and in the hospital, but that’s service work too,” she said. “I love helping people. I’m a problem solver by nature, and if I can do it in healthcare, I feel like I can help my community as well.”
That calling to serve led Thomas back to the classroom.
“Initially, I was looking for something to do to better my knowledge of the community service and nonprofit world,” she said. “I founded a nonprofit, but it was from purpose and passion, and I just really did not know the other side of it.”
Translating Care to Action
The MiM-CA was the perfect fit for Thomas. It affords working professionals the opportunity to expand their skills through an online program that focuses on identifying, understanding, and helping underserved populations, translating passion and care into real-world action. Thomas said it can benefit anyone serving or working in or for their community.
“Every class that I’ve taken has had something to do with the work that I do in the community or the youth that we serve.”
LaShaunna Thomas ’20, ’26
“I feel like it’s been the best decision. Every class that I’ve taken has had something to do with the work that I do in the community or the youth that we serve,” she said. “I’m learning better ways to communicate our resources. I’m learning more about resources that are available that I can utilize and refer our students and families to, but it also just helps me get a better overview of issues.”
Through an emphasis on working with diverse and marginalized populations, students in Converse’s MiM in Community Advocacy explore real-world approaches to addressing complex social issues and applying social justice theories in practice, the program empowers students to create informed, compassionate, and sustainable community impact.
Supporting Student Success Through Stigma-free Care
Thomas’ impact at Converse’s Valkyrie Supply extends beyond a neat job description – it’s a bit of administration, a lot of community care, and a healthy dose of one-on-one connection for students who get everything from a healthy snack to a listening ear. The primary service provided by Valkyrie Supply is a helping hand, offered with dignity and care. Students facing food insecurity find help with food, hygiene products, and school supplies, and the site even offers professional clothing to help with job interviews or workwear.
There is no application required to access Valkyrie Supply. Students can get support without stigma, no matter what they need. It is a living example of how the MiM-CA equips students to start with a cause they care about and increase their impact as they become leaders and advocates. In 2025, their work with Valkyrie Supply even inspired Converse students and staff to join with other South Carolina college representatives to advocate with state lawmakers about making education financially inclusive by meeting students’ basic needs.
Thomas said sometimes students have specific needs or wants but they are reluctant to ask for help. With the goal of stigma-free access, she added a community grocery list to the refrigerator, just like students might find in a home kitchen. And she addressed special dietary needs by adding gluten-free and healthy options.
“…students in Converse’s MiM in Community Advocacy explore real-world approaches to addressing complex social issues and applying social justice theories in practice.”
“That has taken off, and I just love to see them fill it in and the different things that they request,” Thomas said.
By cultivating relationships with the students, Thomas has been able to connect many with other resources when needed. Often, students come by for community as much as physical nourishment.
“Initially I thought my service here was just going to be stocking, making sure that things were on the shelves,” Thomas said. “But if the students want a snack and want to talk a little bit – because some of them get homesick – I welcome them. It isn’t just about food. It is so much deeper than that. I get to talk and connect and make relationships with the students.“
More about the MiM-CA
The Master in Management (MiM) in Community Advocacy at Converse is a 30-hour, 100% online, master’s program that focuses on identifying, understanding, and helping underserved populations. This program is designed to be the next step for professionals in law enforcement, first-responder positions, social services, or non-profit groups to be leaders in advocacy and social policy.
Converse’s MiM-CA allows students to balance their career and education while still enjoying a student-focused and individualized program of study. It prepares graduates to provide leadership and effect real change in the communities they serve.
Coursework includes reading, discussion of, and writing about community issues involving human rights, social and economic justice. The program culminates with a capstone project where students integrate the knowledge and skills gained through coursework to plan a solution for a local advocacy issue.