Evonnia

Woods, PhD

Social Impact Strategist

15 years of experience integrating education, research, and community organizing to advance economic, racial, and reproductive justice

Evonnia simultaneously started her sociology PhD program, became a community leader at a local economic justice organization, and began working with campus leaders at every level to increase student participation in decision-making processes. So while she studied and taught about social inequalities and movements, she also worked on issue and legislative campaigns like protecting and expanding Social Security and Medicaid, and co-founded and/or served as a leader in several campus groups and organizations. She went on to gain experience as a reproductive justice organizer and opposition researcher, which led to her co-founding and/or serving as a leader at several health-focused collectives like the Missouri HIV Justice Coalition and Mid-MO Repro. Now, she continues to jointly address social justice issues with professionals, community leaders, and community members as a cofounder and the Executive Director of Center for Collective Action.

BIOGRAPHY

Create collaborative learning and working spaces for generating and assessing evidence-based practical solutions

PURPOSE

Conduct and disseminate research that informs our ongoing work and the work of our partners

Provide guidance and opportunities for developing effective leadership and communication skills

Award funding for direct impact community oriented projects jointly led by professionals and community leaders

LEADERSHIP & SERVICE

Court Appointed Support Advocate (CASA) | Heart of Missouri CASA

Co-chair/Chair/Board Member | Academic & Social Justice Committee | Sociologists for Women in Society

2025—


Member | Advisory Board | Sociologists for Women in Society

2024-2025


Mentor | First Generation Mentoring Program | Washington University, St. Louis

2024


Chair/Cochair | Social Action Committee | Sociologists for Women in Society

2023-2025


Member | Graduate Student Paper Award Committee | Midwest Sociological Society

2021


Cohost | Women’s Issues, Women’s Voices | KOPN-Columbia (89.5 FM)

2018—


Member | Public Transit Advisory Commission | Columbia, MO

2017 - 2020


Member | Social Action Committee | Sociologists for Women in Society

2016—2025


Graduate Student Representative | Chancellor’s Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Protests, Public Spaces, Free Speech, and the Press | University of Missouri-Columbia; Recipient of MU Faculty Council’s Shared Governance Award

2016 - 2017

HONORS & AWARDS

2025

Spark Prize | Missouri Foundation for Health


2017

Social Actions Initiative Award | Sociologists for Women in Society


2016

Rollins Society Inductee | Graduate and Professional Council | University of Missouri


2008

Alpha Kappa Delta Inductee | International Sociological Honor Society


2007

President’s Mentoring Initiative Award | Family and Youth Services Bureau/US Department of Health and Human Services

National Big Sister of the Year Nominee | Big Brothers, Big Sisters

EDUCATION

2020

PhD in Sociology [via Departmental Teaching Assistantships]

University of Missouri-Columbia

Specialization Areas: (1) Social Inequalities (2) Political Economy, Power & Movements

Minor: Women’s and Gender Studies


2019

Graduate Certificate: Nonprofit Management

University of Missouri-Columbia


2009

MA in Sociology [via the Proactive Recruitment of Multicultural Professionals for Tomorrow (PROMPT) Fellowship]

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale


2006

BA in Psychology

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Minors: Sociology and History


2003

AA in Liberal Arts [via the Advanced Honors Escrow Program]

Shawnee Community College, Ullin, IL

INTEGRATIVE APPROACH*

  • EDUCATE

    From developing college courses to developing trainings and workshops, advancing social justice is always the goal.

  • RESEARCH

    Academically trained qualitative researcher and experienced opposition researcher raising the bar for accountability.

  • ORGANIZE

    An unwavering commitment to social justice exemplified by organizing in local, state, and national movement spaces.

*Inadequacy of language and the prevalence of mutually exclusive categorical thinking presents the challenge of dividing my work history and experience when nearly all of it has been and is designed and implemented together.