WCCD hosts Shoo Cosmetics CEO, Wallace alum Shawanda Vickers - Wallace Community College

WCCD hosts Shoo Cosmetics CEO, Wallace alum Shawanda Vickers

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Published: October 19, 2021
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Pictured l to r: Nicole Boyce, WCCD Salon and Spa Management instructor; Amanda Campbell, WCCD Salon and Spa Management instructor; Delvick McKay, outgoing Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce chairman; Dr. Linda Young, WCCD President; Ms. Shawanda Vickers, Shoo Cosmetics CEO; Dean Mitchell, Executive Director, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

In partnership with the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Wallace Community College-Dothan recently hosted Ms. Shawanda Vickers, CEO of Shoo Cosmetics, on Monday, October 18, 2021, as a special guest speaker to students in the Wallace Community College–Dothan Salon and Spa Management and Esthetics Technology programs.

“We are so fortunate to have alumni that continue to give back to Wallace Community College and share their experiences and successes with students,” said Martha Compton, WCCD Associate Dean, Career and Technical. “Ms. Vickers reminds us that Career Pathways are not a one-size-fits-all, and that you must work hard and be resilient to reach your goals. WCCD offers many career and technical pathways that culminate with high demand training and industry recognized credentials.”

Ms. Vickers, a Dothan native and Wallace alum, is a former educator turned entrepreneur and businesswoman who in 2016 began her own cosmetics company that focuses on clean ingredients. Her current product line includes eyeshadow, lip wear, masks, and nail polish. Identifyingand then meeting the need for hand sanitizer as COVID surfaced in 2020, Ms. Vickers successfully navigated her business thorough the pandemic and will now see her glass-bottled, American-made hand sanitizer featured as a pandemic collector’s item in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

In her speech, Ms. Vickers shared her experience and story of working in the cosmetics field. “I’m excited for what’s to come because it gives me more opportunities to give back to the community,” said Ms. Vickers, “and I do have Wallace on my list because this institution was so good to me. It’s a blessing to come back home to share my story. I hope I have inspired you to start your own business, and to put your community at the front and center of your business.”

After taking questions from the students, Ms. Vickers toured the Esthetics Technology and Salon and Spa Management facilities to see Wallace students “at work.”  Ms. Vickers’ visit preceded her engagement as the keynote speaker at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 Annual Meeting on the following day.

“Shawanda Vickers’ story of hard work, dedication and ingenuity is reflective of her life story and commitment to community and business,” says Dean Mitchell, Executive Director of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. “The opportunity for her to speak with WCC students was inspiring and encouraging.  We look forward to seeing much success from them in their future work.”