Shayla Lee is a Master of Public Administration (MPA) student and recipient of the Morris E. and Frances G. Williams Minority Student Assistance Fund. Shayla is specializing in both local government and nonprofit administration. A first-generation college student, Shayla served as a mentor, led several student organizations, and worked part-time at the University of North Carolina Greensboro while earning her undergraduate degree.

In addition to her MPA coursework, she works as the Inclusion Fellow with Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, is the Community Impact intern at the United Way of Northeast Georgia, and serves as the President of the University of Georgia’s Graduate Student Association. Shayla hopes to utilize her MPA to serve those in need and also create more representation for Black people in leading roles in the public sector.

Join us in creating more opportunities for students like Shayla by supporting the Morris E. and Frances G. Williams Minority Student Assistance Fund for underrepresented students enrolled in the MPA program. Our goal is to increase the recruitment and educational opportunities for under-represented students in the graduate program so that future government leaders and policy-makers are more reflective of the communities they serve.