Shelva Thomas

Shelva Thomas serves as the Chief Deputy Director and People Officer at the Housing Authority of the City of Monroe, blending a rich and diverse background in public health with extensive leadership experience spanning over two decades in both private and public sectors. Ms. Thomas is dedicated to leading initiatives aimed at promoting affordable housing, empowering and fostering family self-sufficiency, and improving health outcomes, through policy advocacy, educational efforts, and community engagement. Ms. Thomas plays a pivotal role in shaping organizational strategy and cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce, where employees are empowered to excel and contribute meaningfully to the organization’s mission of “Building Strong Communities, One Home, One Family at a Time” ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. In addition to her role at the Housing Authority, Ms. Thomas is involved in various community organizations, serving as the President of the Northeast Louisiana Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (NELA SHRM), on the Board of Directors of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts of America, and contributing to the Community Advisory Board of the Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity (SCMHE). She also serves on the Development Board of The Center of Children and Families, the Master of Public Administration Community Advisory Board of Grambling State University, and the United Way of Northeast Louisiana in various capacities. Ms. Thomas is currently a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at Tulane University, focusing on Leadership, Advocacy, and Equity. She holds a Master of Science in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Louisiana State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) certification from the University of South Florida, and she is a 2022 Graduate of Leadership Louisiana.