Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith
Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC), where she leads the organization’s strategic vision and mission execution across a diverse, multi-county footprint. Guided by the mission, “Ignited by faith, we live out God’s love by embracing, equipping, and empowering vulnerable individuals, families, and communities toward self-sufficiency,” Dr. Beckwith drives innovative, cross-sector solutions that address complex social challenges.
Under her leadership, LSSSC operates across six counties with more than 150 employees and 13 offices, delivering comprehensive services that strengthen underserved and marginalized communities. She is known for building collaborative partnerships across public, private, and corporate sectors to expand impact and advance sustainable community transformation.
Dr. Beckwith brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience spanning nonprofit, higher education, and federal service. Prior to joining LSSSC, she served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at California Southern University. She also completed a distinguished 27-year career with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), retiring as Vice President of the Eastern Region, where she held full profit and loss responsibility for a large, complex operational portfolio.
A visionary leader and advocate for empowerment, Dr. Beckwith founded Professional Christian Women in Service in 2005 and has developed numerous leadership and capacity-building initiatives throughout her career. Her work consistently reflects a deep commitment to service, faith, and the advancement of others.
Her personal mission—to enable, encourage, empower, and energize others to become all that God has called them to be—continues to guide her leadership. Grounded in her faith, she is inspired by Proverbs 31:8–9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Dr. Beckwith holds a Doctor of Business Administration, graduating cum laude from California Southern University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Leadership and Organizational Management from Capella University. She also holds a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Arts in Business Management from Webster University. In addition, she has earned professional certifications in strategy from the University of Michigan and in leadership from both the Center for Creative Leadership and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
