Shanya Luther, M.Div

Founder, Co-Owner, & Training Program Director

My name is Shanya and I am the founder and director of Among Friends, LLC. I have been specializing in healthy relationships and sexual development for over 20 years and a Behavior Professional for more than 10 years.  On May 1st, 2023 I became business partners with my dear friend and former employee, Cara.  She is now the director of the Behavior Services Program branch of Among Friends, which allows me to focus on the Training and Resource branch of our agency.  I have the joy of spending my time creating and providing trainings for families and teams that support individuals with disabilities and disorders, focusing on sexuality, gender and healthy relationships.  I also provide consultation and advocacy services.  

When I’m not working, I love to travel, engage in adrenaline sports, cook, and play with my dogs!  While we were cooped up during the COVID pandemic I discovered drag queen culture and have decided I may just be a drag queen in spirit, too!

I am honored to have the opportunity to change lives every day.  I hope to see you in one of my trainings soon!

Professional Information

  • Undergrad: California State University in Sacramento, CA; Grad: Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA

  • 14 years (as of 2024)

  • I was a youth pastor in California and Oregon, a community outreach coordinator for a domestic violence prevention agency in Oregon, an intern for an HIV and AIDS prevention program in South Africa; and I scooped ice cream for my first job in California.

  • My philosophy about work evolves over time. Right now my focus is on helping people live their own best lives according to what they want and need.

  • I am extremely proud of helping several people with intellectual and developmental disabilities avoid prison time for issues that they did not understand and had received no education or support for.

  • My dearest mentor was Rev. Lizann Bassham. She died a few years ago, but I think of her all the time and she inspired me to get into the work I am doing today.

  • I love so many things! I love our team, I love our purpose, I love the diversity of our staff and our clients, and I am proud of having built an agency that honors each of us.

  • Here is what Shanya has to say about her education and work experience related to human sexuality, gender, consent, etc.:

    I graduated from California State University Sacramento with a bachelor's degree in Human Development and a certificate in Family Life Education  (aka “sex ed”). That was the beginning of my journey as a sexuality educator.

    Next, I graduated from Pacific School of Religion (seminary) with a Master's Degree in Divinity. While I was there I focused on learning what the world’s major religions think about sexuality. At the time my plan was to provide sexuality education work within faith communities.

    While I was in college I wrote my first curriculum on healthy body image. I have since written 3 additional curriculums and designed over 75 trainings related to sexuality.

    While I was in grad school, I also completed an internship with an agency focused on clergy sexual abuse.

    After grad school, I worked in HIV/AIDS prevention in Southern Africa. This was especially meaningful to me because I was born in Zimbabwe.

    After I returned, I worked in domestic violence prevention in Oregon. This was a return to the Pacific Northwest where I grew up as a kid.

    And then, finally, I founded this agency, Among Friends, LLC.

  • Here is what Shanya has to say about her personal lenses for this work:

    I have multiple lenses for the work we do at Among Friends, LLC. All of my identities and experiences (listed below) inform how I approach supporting people and how I train on these topics.

    1. I was raised in a religious household and am the daughter of a minister and missionary parents;

    2. Growing up, I experienced countless non-consensual sexualized interactions and sexual harassment and I am a survivor of sexual violence. I have also done a lot of therapy to process my sexual trauma;

    3. Working in HIV/AIDS prevention and domestic violence prevention gave me many insights into healthy and unhealthy relational dynamics;

    4. I am an advocate and activist for healthy relationships, healthy touch and healthy sexuality;

    5. I have worked for over 10 years as a behavior professional in the field of intellectual, developmental, and neuro- diversity in Oregon (USA).

Get to Know Shanya

  • I spend a lot of time with my dogs. I love photography, dancing, art, and drag queen culture. And lately I have been doing a lot of home improvement projects.

  • Yes! I have two sweet rescue dogs named Zubi and Moxie.

    Zubi is milk-chocolate colored, about 45 pounds and FULL of energy. She’s a border collie / Australian kelpie mix and she’s incredibly intelligent. She even knows over 30 tricks!!!

    Moxie is chai-latte colored, about 45 pounds and a little skitish. She’s a husky / dingo / akita mix and she’s funny and quirky. She’s working on learning new tricks!!!

  • I live in a cute little home in McMinnville, Oregon with my dog. I painted it orange because I love orange. And I am creating a backyard oasis!

  • I haven’t given birth to any kids, but I have co-parented and helped raise several throughout my life. I also refer to my former youth group kids as “mine”. 🙂

  • I was born in Zimbabwe, Africa. I have lived a lot of years in NW Oregon, but also in Northern California. I have also lived for shorter periods of time in Brazil and South Africa.

  • The quarantine was very challenging personally and professionally. For all of our work, we had to pivot and re-create everything from scratch to be available online. And while it was extremely difficult, it has allowed us to reach far more people and be more of a support. Personally, it was very isolating and lonely. For over 2 years I only saw about 15 people in person, and not very often. But I’m starting to venture out again in small amounts.

  • I have been privileged to travel to over 30 different countries. I love them all for different reasons… I love the people, the cultures, the foods, the sounds, and learning about other customs and ways of living. One of my favorite moments, however, was walking off the plane onto the soil of the country where I was born after being gone over 25 years. I felt like a missing piece of me was reconnected with my heart.

  • Richard Marx at the Oregon State Fair when I was 14!

  • Because I was born there and I care about social justice issues I love movies that are based in Africa – like The Constant Gardener, Blood Diamonds, Hotel Rwanda, etc.

  • Oh man! I love so many foods!!! Thai coconut soup, Italian gnocchi, Mexican chimichanga, Japanese sushi… I love textures, smells, flavors, and the kinesthetic experience of food.