Evonnia
Woods, PhD
Black Feminist Sociologist
and
Movement Builder
BIOGRAPHYDr. Evonnia Woods’ movement building approach integrates education, research, and organizing to address social justice issues. She currently co-authors a Mid-MO monthly take action newsletter and cohosts Women’s Issues, Women’s Voices - a weekly feminist community radio show on KOPN-Columbia (89.5 FM) where she discusses social justice issues with other experts and community leaders.
EDUCATION2020
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
LEADERSHIP & SERVICEChair-elect | 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
Big Sister | Big Brothers, Big Sisters Inc. | Columbia, MO
2012 - 2013
Member | United Way GenNext | St. Louis, MO
2011
Counselor | Camp Little Giant | Makanda, IL
2009
Big Sister | Big Brothers, Big Sisters Inc. | Carbondale, IL
2005—2008
HONORS & AWARDS2025
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 of the Year Nominee | Big Brothers, Big Sisters
INTEGRATIVE APPROACH*
-
EDUCATE
From developing college courses to developing trainings and workshops, advancing social justice is always the goal.
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RESEARCH
Academically trained qualitative researcher and experienced opposition researcher raising the bar for accountability.
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ORGANIZE
An unwavering commitment to social justice is exemplified by a history of campus and community organizing.
*Inadequacy of language and the preference for mutually exclusive categorical thinking presents the challenge of dividing my work history and experience into an either/or framework when nearly all of it has been and is designed and implemented within a both/and framework.