La'Shea Green-Thomas
Class of 2024
La’Shea is a native of Buffalo, with more than 20 years of experience in the field of childhood education. She strives to be an agent of change and consistently models commitment in pedagogical and andragogical environments. She is a lifelong learner who maintains the ability to engage, connect, and direct others who are not afforded equitable educational experiences. Noted for her work with at-risk youth, young adults, and adults from diverse populations, she is adept as a group facilitator in problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Green-Thomas worked for a nonprofit organization in Western New York from 2008 to 2021, starting as a site coordinator, creating and implementing programming for school-age youth and advancing to roles as an education manager administering after-school programs, summer camps, and the leadership academy. She concluded her time with the organization as an assistant director in the Youth Services Department, managing seven inner-city programs and one south town program overseeing 85 team members.
Green-Thomas serves as a community and youth advocate, sitting on the boards of directors for the Osborne Association for youth of incarcerated parents, 4-H Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rebecca Rose Recovery Centers of WNY, and Spirit of Truth Urban Ministries, and Buffalo State University’s Graduate Student Association and President’s Medal and SUNY Chancellor’s Award committees.
La’Shea Green-Thomas earned a master’s degree (2023) in creativity and change leadership while working as the administrative assistant in the Higher Education Administration Department at Buffalo State. She holds a graduate certificate in adult education (2022) and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics (2007) from Buffalo State. She also earned her associate’s degree (2004) in business management at SUNY Erie. Green-Thomas has received the SUNY Graduate Diversity Fellowship, the Graduate Student Association Merit-Based Scholarship, the Ron Brown/ITEC Scholarship, Dr. Firestein Family Award, Mary Murdock Award, and Phillip Santa Maria Award for Student Leadership in Equity and Campus Diversity,
She is the wife of Sherman Thomas Jr. and mother to three sons, Shermarion, Nehemiah, and Noah Thomas. La’Shea currently works as the Housing Director for PUSH Buffalo.