Jessica Johnson is a Howard University graduate and recipient of over $200,000 in scholarships. As the Founder and Executive Director of The Scholarship Academy, she has spent the last decade serving as a family scholarship consultant and travels throughout the country conducting scholarship workshops for organizations such as The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLS), The U.S Department of Labor, The New York Urban League and the National Center of Philanthropy.
Jessica is the author of The Scholarship Workbook, a 3-step guide to securing top scholarship awards. She has helped students claim more than $40 million in private scholarships, and her work has been honored through several national fellowships including Echoing Green, the Ashoka Changemaker Awards, and the Points of Light Foundation’s Civic Accelerator. She currently serves on the Georgia GEAR UP Leadership Team and the Atlanta Public School’s Equity Taskforce.
Chris Mance is the Chief Technology Officer with The Scholarship Academy where he leads the design, development, and product roadmap of the Virtual Scholarship Center application. In his role he also works with the leadership team to set clear priorities and goals for IT management and implements the overall technology strategy to support The Scholarship Academy’s mission.
With a background spanning from consulting for leading companies like Accenture, Amdocs, and Lockheed Martin to supporting Atlanta startups as a software engineering consultant and founding a technology startup of his own, Chris brings diverse expertise to his role.
He has an undergraduate degree in computer science and a master’s degree in software engineering from Florida A&M University. Beyond this technological prowess, Chris is passionate about nurturing mental skills and mindset development. Holding a certification as a sport psychology coach (CSPC), he guides young athletes, particularly high school wrestlers, toward success in both academics and sports. This deep commitment to fostering holistic growth stems from his foundation in systems engineering while a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was also a member of the Army West Point Football Team.
Chris’ journey, marked by academic excellence, technological innovation, and a genuine passion for supporting young minds, underscores his role as a driving force in The Scholarship Academy’s mission to empower students and create lasting educational equity.
Virgil Murray is the Vice President of Operations where he provides senior leadership to The Scholarship Academy team. In his role he also manages the program operations and financial systems as well as supports the fundraising and program evaluation.
Prior to joining The Scholarship Academy in March 2022, he served as the Program Director for the East Lake Community Foundation, Research Coordinator for Morehouse School of Medicine, and Executive Director of the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation where he was responsible for the operations, fundraising, and management of the organization.
Mr. Murray serves on numerous boards including the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League, Chair of Reynoldstown Zoning Committee as well as the past Vice-President of the Maynard Jackson High School Go Team (Board). He currently serves on the Board of Overseers for the Ben Franklin Academy.
He has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Georgia State University and attended graduate school at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.
Lauren Wright is the Director of Programs and Outreach with The Scholarship Academy. In her role she oversees all programming as it pertains to the grant-funded projects, as well as directs the AmeriCorps program.
Previous to joining The Scholarship Academy, Lauren served as a Post-Secondary Transition Specialist with DeKalb County School District where she served as an advocate and resource for students in their pursuance of postsecondary opportunities. She has experience in K-12, higher education and non-profit. Lauren’s mission is derived from a passion in uplifting and advocating for today’s youth and supporting them in unlocking their minds to postsecondary successes. The organizations she has worked with include Goodwill Education Initiatives, Easter Seals Crossroads, and GEAR UP Georgia with Georgia State University.
Lauren is a native of Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a proud alumna of Indiana State University. Lauren is married with two beautiful daughters. A fun fact is that she is a four-time All-American who also competed in the Olympic Trials for track and field. In January 2022, she was inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame where she still holds the Triple Jump and Long Jump records.
Brian Cornelius is the College Access Program Manager with the Scholarship Academy. In his role, he oversees earned revenue partnerships & supervises a team of AmeriCorps members. Brian brings with him 8 years of experience working with college-age students where he has made a significant impact in the non-profit and post-secondary sectors as a Higher Education Specialist. He believes in empowering youth from historically marginalized backgrounds, by ensuring they are properly informed about the resources, opportunities, and options they need to navigate college. He holds impressive academic credentials, including a B.A. in Art from Oglethorpe University and an M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.
Outside of his professional commitments, Brian is an active and engaged community member. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., reflecting his commitment to leadership, service, and academic excellence. In addition, he serves as the Advocacy Chair for the Urban League of Greater Atlanta-Young Professionals, where he continues to be a driving force in advocating for positive change and empowerment within his community.
Brian also serves on the steering committee for the Black Jewish Coalition of Atlanta, is an Alum of the New Leaders Council-Atlanta, and is a member of the Oglethorpe Black Alumni Network. Outside of work and community engagement, Brian enjoys photography/art, museums, community services, and discovering new restaurants across the Metro Atlanta area.
Our 10-Month Program Fellows, Sponsored by AmeriCorps.
