Shawn
Wilson

Shawn D. Wilson, a resident of Lafayette, LA, and product of the public school system obtained a Bachelors Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While a student there, he served as Student Government President and represented over 60,000 students on the University of Louisiana System Board. Shawn earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Southern University where his published research was on Diversity and Nonprofit organizations. Shawn has applied his knowledge and skill in this community through several organizations, including Progressive Baptist Church, United Way of Acadiana, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Shawn served as Executive Director of the Louisiana Serve Commission in the office of Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco for an unprecedented 6 years. He also served as her Deputy Legislative Director and then as her the Confidential Assistant to Secretary of Transportation throughout her term. In 2006 Shawn joined the National Forum of Black Public Administrators and completed the Executive Leadership Institute, an eight month intensive academic and practical instruction program hosted at the nations top public administration programs.

In 2004, Shawn was elected as the first African-American President of the University of Louisiana Alumni Association, the only person to have served as Student Government and Alumni President. Under his leadership, the University celebrated 50 years of desegregation, recognizing the 80+ students that desegregated UL. During his tenure President, Shawn and Dr. Authement awarded honorary degrees to the four students that desegregated the university, but never graduated.

Shawn and his wife Rodricka, a public school teacher, have two children: Shawn Denise and Joshua Bakari.