Our Board & Staff
Board Members
Shauna Clayborn, President
Shauna Clayborn is a dedicated relationship builder who believes that trust and meaningful connections are the foundation of any successful endeavor. Born and raised in Champaign, Illinois, she possesses a profound understanding of the local culture, diversity challenges, and the perceptions of underserved communities. Drawing from her background in business development and diversity, Shauna leverages her communication skills and experience with diverse populations to shed light on critical issues both on a national scale and in our own neighborhoods. As Irvine Welsh wisely put it, "Awareness is seventy percent of the solution."
In 2022, Shauna translated her passion for assisting others and promoting a better quality of life into action by launching Honey Kissed Fitness. This venture aims to provide community and group fitness opportunities tailored for women and youth. Shauna's dedication has extended to providing workouts for esteemed organizations such as Jack and Jill of America, Inc - Greater Champaign-Urbana, and the Urbana Middle School after-school program.
For Shauna, empowerment of women, advocacy for the underrepresented, continuous learning, personal growth, and striving to be the best version of oneself are the keys to taking impactful action in the world. Through her endeavors, she exemplifies the potential that lies within each of us to make a positive difference in our communities and beyond.
Bernice Dallas
Bernice Dallas is the founder and Executive Director of C a Better U, a life mentoring and coaching firm. To keep in contact with potential customers and businesses, she works as a temporary employee around town. In the summer of 2019, Bernice got an opportunity to train as trapeze artist as part of her CONQUER YOUR FEAR TOUR.
When Bernice worked at Cunningham Children's Home, she got a chance to meet wonderful people who were fighting for women's rights, especially those of the underprivileged and underserved, one of those people was Denise Taylor. When Bernice founded C a Better U one of its pillars is to help their clients, particularly women, show up authentically in their lives for the betterment of themselves and the communities they serve. It was during lunch, when Denise suggested Bernice become a Board member of YWCA since empowering women aligned with her core business values. And the rest is history.
Staff
Executive Director
Andrea Rundell
Andrea is unabashedly in love with the mission of “eliminating racism and empowering women.” Residing in Champaign-Urbana since 1992, and working as a professional in the nonprofit sector since 1998, she originally came to Urbana to work on a PhD in Philosophy, but was inexorably drawn to the high-stakes, lucrative world of local nonprofits. Andrea has worked on statewide healthcare advocacy, facilitated teen parenting groups, and been Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Champaign County. Most recently she served as the Director of Programs for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, and she continues to be passionate about hunger in the US. She proudly served as Chair of the local Human Services Council and was a founding member of the Latino Partnership of Champaign County.
STRIVE Program Coordinator
Brandy Smith
Brandy Smith was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She joined YWCA in 2021 in the role of Program Coordinator for YWCA Strive Program. She brings experience in teaching technology as well as facilitating racial healing and justice programs. Brandy was formerly the Technology Program Coordinator with Jane Addams Hull House in Chicago. She has studied at Loyola University and is currently completing her degree with SNHU. Brandy is passionate about YWCA’s mission that ALL women have the right to be safe and choose the direction of their lives.