Evonnia Woods, PhD
Executive Director
Evonnia has 15 years of experience jointly addressing community-based issues with professionals, community leaders, and community members. She simultaneously started her PhD program, joined a local economic justice organization, and began working with campus leaders. She studied, wrote, and taught about social inequalities and movements; worked on issue and legislative campaigns like protecting and expanding Social Security and Medicaid, raising the minimum wage, capping the rate on payday loans, and addressing student loan debt; and co-founded and served as a leader in several campus groups and organizations, including laying the groundwork for and launching what would become the graduate employee union. For the last 9 years, Evonnia has co-founded and served in senior leadership roles of several health-focused coalitions and collectives while working as a reproductive justice organizer and opposition researcher. As the Founding Director of Center for Collective Action, Dr. Woods continues to engage in an integrative approach while working alongside other leaders addressing community-based issues.
Founding Board Members
Dr. Kenneth Bryant Jr.
President
Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at Tyler, where he specializes in American politics, race and ethnicity, and civic engagement. Recognized for his innovative, student-centered approach to teaching, he is the creator of The System Works, a vital civic education initiative. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Bryant is an accomplished author and public scholar dedicated to bridging the gap between media, politics, and the public. He will also co-lead Center for Collective Action's forthcoming podcast.
Shatonya Woodard
Treasurer
Principal HR Associate at Capitol One with 10 years of experience across onboarding, recruitment, employee relations, HR systems, compensation, benefits, performance management, and succession planning, as well as prior experience as an operations manager. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, an Associate’s degree in Business Administration, and certifications in Human Resource Management and Strategic Human Resources. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, juicing, playing bingo, driving, and spending time with family and friends. She also co-leads Center for Collective Action's wellness retreats.
Secretary
Alex R. Dopp, PhD
Child clinical psychologist and a research scientist at RAND, a non-profit, non-partisan policy research institute. His work utilizes research and community-defined evidence to enhance services and systems for underserved populations. By leading interdisciplinary teams and community partnerships, he strives to reform traditional systems to better serve those in need. He also co-leads Center for Collective Action's Missouri Comprehensive Health Alliance.
Dr. Angela Haeny
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in substance use disorders. She leads the Racial Equity and Addiction Lab (REAL), where her research focuses on improving alcohol and drug treatments for Black adults by addressing racial stress, trauma, and other understudied risk factors. She also co-leads Center for Collective Action's wellness retreats.
CranioSacral therapist and wellness educator who owns a healing-focused practice and teaches at Encircle Technologies in Columbia, MO. She loves being outside, where she finds strength, creativity, and optimism. She also co-authors Center for Collective Action’s Mid-MO Take Action Newsletter.
Corri Flaker Fraser
Director of the Center for Social Change and Belonging at Penn State University with affiliate appointments in African Studies, Philosophy, and Law. He has over 15 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as an educator, advocate, student affairs practitioner, and consultant, he brings deep expertise in creating inclusive learning and working environments. As a first-generation college graduate, he holds degrees in Political Science, Philosophy, Economics, Philosophy (M.A.), and a J.D., and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Education at Penn State.