Every Girl Shines Organization Brings Middle and High School Students to Clayton State’s Campus to Explore Higher Education Opportunities
(August 10, 2026) - Members of the Clayton State University community are making an impact on and off campus by investing their time and talents in the Every Girl Shines mentoring organization. Through faculty, staff, student, and alumni volunteerism, middle and high school girls and their parents are preparing for college, careers, and future success. Every Girl Shines organization recently brought a group of middle school and high school students to Clayton State University for a campus tour and informational session. The young women had the opportunity to learn about majors and career paths offered by Clayton State, from healthcare to business to social sciences and the performing arts.
Every Girl Shines is the vision of Executive Director & Founder Carrisa Jones, who wanted to create a support network for the young women in her community that served as an inclusive space for them to learn from each other. In 2008, while serving as a Youth Director for her church, Jones partnered with Dr. Melva Robertson, current Associate Professor of Management at Clayton State, to launch the Angels Ministry group mentor program that later served as a model for Every Girl Shines. The organization pairs middle and high school girls with professional women across all industries to help them learn the values of loving, leading, and living.
The young women of Every Girl Shines enjoyed their opportunity to walk around the natural beauty of the Clayton State campus and learn about academic programs and campus life. During the tour, they explored the James M. Baker University Center, learned about the College of Business, experienced the College of STEM AI and Robotics labs, and visited the campus Student Activities Center.
From the college lifestyle experience perspective, Every Girl Shines participants explored the Student Activities Center, the hub for student activities, student organizations, programming and events, fitness, intramural sports, and recreation. The tour also included a special behind-the-scenes tour of Spivey Hall, a premier performance venue in the Atlanta metropolitan area located on the Clayton State Campus that attracts top jazz and classical music artists. Students also enjoyed viewing a model residence hall suite inside Clayton Hall for first-year students that features private individual bedrooms and a shared common area.
Bridgette McDonald, Clayton State’s Executive Director of Career and Professional
Development, is a dedicated volunteer who recently facilitated a parent workshop during
their annual conference. McDonald discussed “utilizing career resources available
to them if they're looking for employment and talked about career tools that they
need, such as effective resumes and networking events. It was geared towards helping
parents utilize community resources for career research and applying for jobs,” McDonald
said. “The conversation was really vibrant and was centered around today's workforce.
How to maintain a healthy culture in the workspaces that they're in and what it takes
to move from one industry to another. I also talked about what Clayton State had to
offer if they were considering returning to college to further their careers.”
Clayton State alumni also have an active presence in the organization. Ambria Flanders,
a 2022 MBA graduate, started out as a mentor and now serves on the Emerging Leaders
Board. Flanders has been a part of Every Girl Shines for four years.
The Every Girl Shines. campus visit to Clayton State helped expose young women to what the University offers for increased social mobility through higher education.
The organization’s leader, Ms. Jones, highlighted the success of the program by sharing that, “As we approach milestones such as our 10th anniversary, we are excited to see our first group of girls graduate from college last year. We also had our first inaugural fundraising gala and have chapters in Florida, Seattle in addition to two in Georgia.”
Dr. Robertson, who will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies at the 2nd Annual Gala, added, “The most rewarding part of working with this organization is seeing the impact these experiences have on our girls. Our programs are offered at no cost to families, which is why our gala is so important. We can create opportunities that reveal possibilities they may not have otherwise considered. The support of the Clayton State community enhances possibilities for higher education, new career pathways, and positive relationships with mentors who encourage them to dream big.
More information about the Every Girl Shines, mentor or mentee opportunities, as well as their upcoming Gala on November 14, is available online.