Lawanda is a Macon native and a graduate of Southwest High School. In 2005, she graduated from Albany State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems. She continued her education by achieving her her Master of Science in Business Administration at
Ashford University in 2011. Lawanda spent 11 years working for a state agency before transitioning into a new occupation with Middle Georgia Center for Academic Excellence on October 11, 2017 as a Pre-College Advisor for Educational Talent Search. She is skilled in résumé writing, assisting individuals with career options and skills identification, facilitation of workshops (group and one-on-one), and teaching.