
About Us
Graduation Generation knows the exponential power of access to education for our young community members. For some, it’s an uphill climb. We engage students more fully, involve families more regularly, and empower teachers more effectively so kids have every opportunity. We mobilize the students, faculty and staff, of Emory University to collaborate with K-12 schools and community organizations to provide and support effective programs and services with schools in the metro Atlanta area seeking to prepare students to graduate to the next level and be both career and life ready.
History
Graduation Generation has a history of meeting the community during its hardest times. We were founded in 2010 during the great recession as an effort to invest in improving schools in local neighborhoods. Mr. Rick Rieder - a philanthropist, businessman, Emory alumnus/trustee, Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc., and member of the Communities in Schools National Leadership Council - donated $1 million to jumpstart the GradGen initiative.
Want to learn more? Read these:
Programs
How To Get Involved with Graduation Generation
With different projects happening every week around Atlanta, there are many ways to get involved.
All of them require different commitments from volunteers. Most of our undergraduate students have elected to continue as interns for seven semesters or more they find working with GradGen so rewarding.
“The ideas of college and the college application process are two very daunting ideas and students who come from low-income communities, who are often first-generation, may feel distant from the idea and even be intimidated by it. This should not be the case because the students we work with are incredibly talented.” –Emory undergrad volunteer
- Reach out to us to see which program you’re right for.
- See what works in your schedule.
- Sign up and get any training you need to start.
Leaders, Staff, Student Interns

James Roland
Sr. Director, Civic and Community Engagement

Christy Bradley
Director, Atlanta Urban Debate League & K-12 Engagement

Micah Tucker
Senior Program Coordinator, K-12 Outreach and Support Graduation Generation

Sarah Longa
Assistant Program Coordinator

Jack Miklaucic
Affiliate Program Leader- EmPower
Nina Chi
Curriculum Designer- College Prep/ Program Leader- EmPower
Benjamin Cho
Advancement & Partnership Coordinator

Kathy Ding
Program Leader- SAT/ACT Prep
Anya Kasubhai
Events Manager/Program Leader- College Exposure

Lauren Zambrana
Media Specialist- Social Media

Eileena Mathews
Curriculum Designer/Program Leader- Maynard Jackson College Prep

Jordan Watson
Program Leader- College Exposure
Karen Valle-Frias
Program Leader- Cross Keys AVID

Samaia Hill
Affiliate Program Leader- Black Is Gold
Celeste Sotelo
Program Leader- Cross Keys AVID

Paris Buren
Assistant Program Coordinator

Sophia Yang
Assistant Events Manager

Brandon Scarlett
Affiliate Program Leader- Model UN