Rosaia Shepard (she/her) grew up in what was known as Seattle’s Colored District, where, as a student activist in the 1960s, she fought racism, sexism, sexual abuse, and sexual orientation discrimination. Over the decades, ableism and ageism were added to the list. Rosaia has held many management, advising, and consulting positions for various entities, including the Internal Revenue Service, the University of Washington, and Deloitte. Recently retired in the Atlanta metropolitan area, she writes nonfiction and volunteers her time to support Georgia political candidates who advance LGBTQIAP+, BIPOC, and women’s rights.
Rosaia holds a B.A. in African American studies and literature from the University of Washington and an M.B.A. from the University of Arizona. In her spare time, she gardens, reads voraciously, and plays ukulele.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Turning Discovery into Health