Driving Change

Having a vision of transforming communities, Shahnee Thompson began with a simple idea: to bring interactive education, empowerment, and entertainment directly to people. Driven by her passions for public health, youth development, and community engagement, she launched her community organization, Workshops on Wheels (WOW), in 2014. Three years later, she graduated from NC State with a graduate certificate in youth development and leadership, gaining the skills and academic foundation to take WOW’s mission to new heights, creating events that uplift and inspire people of all ages.

Thompson’s path to NC State’s Youth, Family, and Community Sciences (YFCS) program was shaped by her vision for WOW and her drive to ground her business in academic knowledge. “I knew the YFCS program was right for me,” she says. “It allowed me to connect my business and my passion for community engagement.” The program helped her develop her leadership skills and build WOW into a successful organization known for events focused on the “3 E’s”: Entertainment, Empowerment, and Education.

As creative director and founder of WOW, Thompson leads workshops and events across North Carolina and virtually across the United States. The events cover topics like social skills and public health and aim to address real community needs. “Our work shines a light on issues that can be overlooked, helping people while also making a difference,” she says. Through WOW, Thompson has built an organization that offers powerful programs for youth, families, and adults. Her background in community health, health promotion, and program design guides WOW’s workshops, which are created to foster growth through hands-on experiences that participants remember long after they end.

Looking back on her time at NC State, Shahnee emphasizes how her education here shaped her career. “My time at NC State made an impact on me both personally and professionally. It opened doors to jobs and advanced studies in public health, where I could work directly with youth and families,” she says. The classes at NC State gave her practical skills and guidance that she continues to use today.

One professor who made a lasting impression was Andrew Behnke, a former associate professor at NC State, whose engaging teaching style and experience in youth development had a strong impact on Thompson. “His personal stories and connections to our lessons were fascinating and inspiring,” she recalls. Even years later, his lessons guide her work in community outreach and youth engagement.

Thompson also finds inspiration in her grandparents, whose resilience motivates her. “I am lucky to have three grandparents living, ages 83 to 93, who overcame hardships and paved the way for our family,” she shares. Hearing their stories has given her a purpose and a drive to make a positive impact.

Thompson sees a future focused on self-growth and making a difference in the community. “I believe it’s important to look inward and make changes before judging others,” she says. Over the next five years, she plans to keep developing ideas for events that meet her community’s needs while advancing WOW’s mission to bring empowerment, education, and entertainment to everyone. Thompson says this career path allows her to bring health education, youth development, and event planning together in a way that’s accessible to everyone. “If we don’t have an event that fits your interest, we can create it!” she says.

What started as a vision in 2014 has turned into a mission that reaches communities everywhere. Drawing on her experience and education at NC State, she continues to inspire, educate, and empower through WOW, embodying the values of the Wolfpack in each event she creates.