Shaonta's research draws on race, social movements, and intersectionality literatures to examine how Black resistance to racial inequality varies across social institutions. She specifically explores Black political ideologies and behaviors within Religion, Higher Education, and Pop-Culture & Sport to theorize contemporary strategies for navigating racial and gendered hierarchies. Supporting the discpline of sociology's efforts to reclaim the contributions of marginalized and erased scholars, Dr. Shay also writes about the theoretical, methodological, and epistemological legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Believing in the radical potential of sociology, Shay teaches and produces research with the goal of facilitating social change.