Chauna C. Lawson is a philanthropist, organizer, and entrepreneur from Washington, DC. She serves as the Associate Director of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Chauna aids the HBCU Program Director toward the goal of achieving equity and full LGBTQ+ equality by mobilizing and supporting HBCUs through collective action, leadership development, and system change & assessment. She primarily serves as the liaison between HRC and University administrators dedicated to nurturing an inclusive environment on their campus.

Chauna's activist work extends as far back as 2007 as a volunteer in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. She subsequently founded the Alternative Spring Break (@BSUASB) program at her undergraduate alma mater, Bowie State University. She has since built her career around public service and human rights. Prior to working at HRC, Chauna worked for organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Howard University, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the Delta Research and Educational Foundation.

Chauna takes pride in using her platform to create safe spaces for Black and other marginalized people. Beyond HRC, Chauna is the founder and CEO of the HBCU Convention, celebrating the influence and intersections of historically Black institutions and the geek/nerd community. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.