Odyssey Staff

Kisha Stanley is the Executive Director at OdysseyAtlanta, an organization dedicated to improving student performance through academic summer enrichment programs serving children in greaterAtlanta. Before taking the helm at Odyssey, Kisha served as Vice President of Engagement at UnitedWay of Greater Atlanta (UWGA), where she oversaw corporate & community engagement efforts across 13 counties of metro Atlanta.

With more than a decade of experience as a non-profit leader, Kisha has led diverse projects and teams and is recognized for helping to build sustainable volunteer-supported partnerships with some of Atlanta’s most prominent brands including The Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot,Comcast, and Delta Airlines just to name a few.Under her leadership, programs such as Season ofGiving, Opportunity ATL, The Superbowl LIIICharacter Playbook Experience, and The ShoeboxProject engaged more than 70,000 volunteers and contributed more than 200,000 hours with a financial impact of more than $5 million to greater Atlanta communities. Before starting her journey to non-profit leadership, Kisha attended Spelman College (B.A., Political Science, 1998) and ClarkAtlanta University (MBA, Marketing, 2002),and has worked for major corporations such as Greenberg Traurig, Miller BrewingCompany, and AIG in the areas of Marketing and Brand Management. Kisha’s passion and personal mission to help improve the lives of children in greaterAtlanta continues to be realized in her current role with Odyssey Atlanta by leading a team dedicated to closing learning gaps, positioning children for academic success, and ensuring a healthy start to each school year. An avid volunteer in her personal time, she supports The Corporate Volunteer Council ofAtlanta, A.G. Rhodes Health & Rehab, andNorth Atlanta High School (CTAE Board).Kisha is a proud member of Alpha KappaAlpha Sorority, Incorporated and resides in Buckhead with her husband Quentin and two children, Sasha and Kaleb.

Rebecca serves as the Director of Development at Odyssey Atlanta, a transformational academic program dedicated to improving student outcomes and fostering a lifelong love of learning among scholars. In her role, she combines her passion for equitable education with her expertise in nonprofit development to engage community and corporate partners in supporting underserved children and youth in Atlanta.

Prior to joining Odyssey, Rebecca was a Development Manager in the healthcare nonprofit sector, where she played a pivotal role in raising millions of dollars for cancer research and patient care. At The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, she contributed to the success of key fundraising campaigns, including Light The Night, Students of the Year, and Man & Woman of the Year, generating over $10 million to support patients and advance the fight against blood cancer. Following this, Rebecca led the Lung Force Run/Walk at the American Lung Association, doubling its impact during her tenure.

Rebecca’s career began in education after graduating summa cum laude from Georgia College & State University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. She taught Kindergarten and 3rd grade in Jacksonville, Florida, and provided tutoring for elementary through high school students. Her commitment to education extends globally, as she has participated in several mission trips to Central America, focused on improving access to education for children in underprivileged communities.

Rebecca’s personal journey has deeply influenced her passion for learning. An avid reader of both classic and modern literature, she continuously seeks to expand her knowledge by taking classes to develop new skills. She currently resides in Roswell, Georgia, with her beloved dog, Scout.

With more than 20 years in the public education sector, Michelle has been an integral part of Odyssey Atlanta since its inception. Initially serving as the sixth-grade lead and language arts teacher, her passion and expertise in the classroom were evident through the high level of student engagement, the intensity of student work, and her focus on fostering college and career readiness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and unbridled creativity.

As the Middle School Division Director, Michelle spearheaded Odyssey’s transition to Project-Based Learning and served as the Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator across divisions. In her current role as the Dean of Strategic Programs and Culture, Michelle continues to shape Odyssey’s transformative journey, embedding the organization’s core values into every facet of the program and imparting insights into the Seven Pillars of an Odyssey Scholar.

Michelle is instrumental in ensuring that Odyssey’s curriculum remains dynamic and aligned with the evolving demands of the 21st-century workforce and industry trends. Her commitment and strategic, vibrant leadership ensures that Odyssey scholars are equipped with essential skills such as critical thinking, innovation, and adaptability, positioning them for success in an ever-changing, technology-driven world. Understanding that exceptional programs require outstanding educators, Michelle is deeply committed to cultivating a staff that embodies professionalism, deep content knowledge, and a shared enthusiasm for teaching and learning. By fostering a culture of continuous feedback, collaboration, and joy, she ensures that Odyssey’s educators not only excel in their fields but also inspire visionary students to reach their fullest potential.

Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Agnes Scott College, where she completed the teacher certification program, and a master’s degree in instructional curriculum design from the Atlanta InterContinental University.

Kristen Wingate brings a wealth of experience and passion for student success to Odyssey, having served as the Assistant Director of Academic Services for Georgia Tech Athletics for five years. At Georgia Tech, Kristen honed her ability to empower students academically, professionally, and personally by fostering meaningful relationships built on trust. Her efforts in academic advising, professional coaching, mental health advocacy, and recruiting contributed to notable achievements, including record-high GPAs for women’s tennis and women’s basketball teams, maintaining a GPA above 3.0 for the softball program, and achieving record high Academic Progress Rate (APR) for all sports.

Before her time at Georgia Tech, Kristen held multiple roles at Benedict College, where her journey in student development truly began. She served as a sports information assistant, football operations coordinator, athletic office coordinator, adjunct professor, and advisor. Through these diverse roles, Kristen discovered her passion for guiding students toward achieving their goals.

Kristen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Benedict College (2011) and a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business with a focus on Sports Management from Full Sail University (2014). She is committed to fostering inclusive and supportive environments, as demonstrated by her certifications and licenses in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in higher education, Safe Space (LGBTQIA Ally), Mental Health First Aid, Culture Champion-Inclusive Leaders, and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeping.

In her free time, Kristen enjoys traveling, crafting, watching college women’s basketball, and spending quality time with her family and friends—especially her beloved nephew and niece, Kaeden and Layloni.

Patricia is an accomplished administrative professional with over 5 years of experience working in diverse settings, including healthcare and finance. Her expertise lies in enhancing productivity and service quality in any work setting. She specializes in clerical support, conducting report analysis, managing digital marketing, and leading project management. Patricia has consistently delivered measurable outcomes by streamlining operational processes, optimizing workflows, and reducing budgets.

Overall, Patricia is a dependable, results-oriented team player with a strong work ethic and a passion for driving success. Patricia is a dedicated lifelong learner who seeks to enhance her skills and positively impact society. Patricia engages in community outreach programs in her free time and enjoys reading novels.