June 10, 2022
Press Release
City of Clarkston Unanimously Appoints Shawanna Qawiy as Clarkston’s First Female City Manager
Clarkston, GA.- The City of Clarkston City Council unanimously appointed Shawanna N. Qawiy for the role of City Manager at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Ms. Qawiy was serving as the Interim City Manager since September 2021.
As the city’s first female City Manager, Ms. Qawiy has been in the trenches long before the appointment of City Manager assisting in building communities and relationships with business owners and residents. With over 25 years of experience in the county and local government she provides an extensive city/county government background. Her wealth of knowledge, and trainings brings experience in zoning, code compliance, comprehensive planning land use, transportation, and strategic planning, along with budgeting and finance, community, and economic development and project management.
Ms. Qawiy holds a bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta University and master’s degrees from Albany State University and Kennesaw State University.
Ms. Qawiy currently serves as a member of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators, American/Georgia Planning Associations, and the International City/County Management Association-ICMA, where she graduated from the prestigious two-year Leadership-ICMA University and the Senior Executive Institute (SEI), University of Virginia-Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. She is a recent graduate of Leadership DeKalb, Class of 2022.
Serving as Interim City Manager and the Planning/Economic and Development Director. Ms. Qawiy has played a key role in the city’s strategies to support economic development, innovative housing while overseeing the city’s (and State) first cottage (tiny) home development.
”The City of Clarkston is the most diverse and culturally rich city in the State of Georgia. I am excited about the opportunities that are in the works for the city, the growth of the businesses, and working to enhance departmental organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity.”