LaVonna Connelly earned her BSW from San Diego State University, graduating with distinction in the field. She is currently working toward her MSW, with a concentration in administration and plans to graduate in May 2008.

After the Cedar Fire of 2003, which destroyed more than 2,000 homes in San Diego County, LaVonna worked with the rural communities, assisting them in the recovery process. She facilitated educational workshops to help disaster survivors navigate their insurance claims and rebuild their lives. She was recognized by California Insurance Commissioner, John Garamendi, for her work.

LaVonna graduated from CSUSM’s Leadership North County program in 2005 and is actively involved in curriculum development for their Health and Social Services seminar. While interning at the Academy for Professional Excellence, LaVonna will be assisting the organizational development division with strategic planning and policy and procedure development and will be providing research and training evaluation support to the Southern Area Consortium of Human Services and Leaders in Action programs of the Academy.

LaVonna lives in San Diego’s back-country where she and her husband have a gourmet specialty farm, Connelly Gardens, which serves fine dining establishments throughout San Diego. In her free time, she studies the Spanish language and Mexican culture, which are her passions.