Shakera Vaughan, MPA, currently serves as a Community Engagement Strategist for the City of Raleigh Municipal Government, a position held since February 2024. Prior to this role, Shakera was the Community Engagement Manager at Waterford.org from August 2022 to February 2024 and the Community Connections Coordinator for the Town of Chapel Hill, NC from May 2020 to August 2022. In these roles, Shakera focused on implementing initiatives that promote racial equity and community engagement, leading cross-departmental teams, and fostering partnerships with various stakeholders. Shakera gained valuable experience as a Graduate Student Intern, Graduate Research Assistant, and through various internships including a Mayor's Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia, and with the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama. Shakera holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.