Governing Board

Kenneth Asher is GCA's Governing Board Chair and the President & CEO of KASHER Capital Inc, a financial firm providing funding & advisory services to small and mid-sized businesses. Kenneth is also the founder of an EdTech start-up with a mission to expand access to quality education to out-of-school children in Africa. He has over 20 years of public and private sector leadership experience directing different global organizational initiatives to improve financial, operations, risk and technology management. He currently serves as an Alumni Board Director at Webster University, as a Board Director at JCRC Atlanta, and as a Board Councilor at AJC Atlanta. Kenneth earned his Ed.M. from Harvard University and M.S. in Finance from Webster University, and he holds the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) credential from the Association for Financial Professionals.

Alisha Birthá serves as Assistant Principal of Scholar Support for KIPP Atlanta Schools. She began her teaching career in Washington, DC after working in the legal field. She earned a Master of Education Degree in Administration & Supervision from National Louis University, and a Master of Arts in Education & Human Development from The George Washington University. She has served 25 years as an educator, special education coordinator, Head Start manager, assistant principal, and school leader. Alisha has an uncompromising view that all scholars can succeed, given a positive learning atmosphere that welcomes exploration and enhances confidence. She has a tremendous love for academia and places a high standard on learning. Her mission is to ensure that scholars are given the support, tools, and exposure they need to access the curriculum, recognize their gifts, and make appropriate choices that lead to independent, productive, and joyful lives.

John Brooks is Chief Executive Officer of Clarity Consulting Group with over 26 years of experience in senior executive human resources management, organizational development and technology consulting in the government, nonprofit and private sectors. Prior to founding Clarity Consulting Group, John served in various chief human resource officer and senior human resources management roles in institutions and systems including the Missouri State Office of Administration Division of Personnel, Missouri State Supreme Court, University of Missouri System (Administration, Healthcare, MOREnet, eMINTS, MOBIUS), the University System of Georgia, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Tennessee Technological University, Armstrong State University and Radford University. He has also served as senior consultant and project director for several large human resources and payroll enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (PeopleSoft, Banner, ADP, Oracle HCM, Kronos, Workday).

He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Missouri State University and Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice Administration and Psychology from Drury University.

Dr. Brittny James is the Chief Operating Officer of Healthcare & Emergency Solutions. She has a strong background in public health research, management, and practice, with expertise in analyzing complex systems and their impact on policy and practice. She has been a leader in higher education for over a decade, serving as a faculty member, department chair, and data analyst across multiple institutions. Recognized for her innovative instructional methods and research designs, she has contributed significantly to advancing education and healthcare studies. Additionally, Dr. James has a proven track record in successfully managing grant contracts and is widely published in health and higher education research.

She attended both Fisk University and the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education in Health Promotion. She has a Doctor of Public Health degree in Behavior Sciences and Health Education from the Florida A&M University and is also credentialed as a Certified Health Education Specialist and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. She is also a current Doctor of Business Administration student in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, and will graduate in 2026.

Mark serves as the Chief of Staff for the Technical College System of Georgia, which includes 22 colleges throughout the state. He is also a leader in the charter school and education reform arenas and has served as Board Chair for the Georgia Charter Schools Association, former Executive Director of the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, and as CEO of one of Georgia’s College & Career Academies. He has extensive entrepreneurial and business-world experience as both a start-up entrepreneur and a business owner. He is a 1992 graduate of Princeton University, a 2008 graduate of Leadership Georgia, and a proud 20-year Veteran of the U.S. Army.

Juliann Sergi McBrayer, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor and Co-Director for the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Research Center at Georgia Southern University. She holds a Doctorate and Educational Specialist from Georgia Southern University, a Master’s degree from Ohio University, and a Bachelor's degree from SUNY College at Buffalo. She has served 20 years as an educational leadership associate/assistant professor, educational program coordinator, instructional school leader, professional development and federal programs coordinator, classroom teacher, and teacher leader. As a scholarly practitioner, her research interests include the development, implementation, and assessment of educational leadership and teacher preparation programs with a focus on purposeful, collaborative, and sustainable professional learning, specifically professional learning and programming to ensure effectiveness and accountability.

Adria N. Welcher, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and the Director of General Education at Morehouse College. She is very passionate about social justice issues and understanding inequalities. Her primary research interests are race and class inequities in educational outcomes and residential choices. Her public scholarship has been an active part of her dossier, regularly participating in podcasts, telecasts, and community panels.

Adria Welcher earned her doctorate in Sociology from Emory University. She also holds a BA in Theatre with a minor in Mathematics from Spelman College, an MA in Higher Education from the University of Michigan, and an MA in Sociology from Stanford University.

Dr. Welcher is very active in her community. She serves on the PTA and Principal’s Advisory Councils at her children’s schools. Currently, she is the Board Program Chair of Leadership Dekalb and a Board Member of RedefinED Atlanta. Dr. Welcher also serves as the Chair of the Georgia State Charter School Foundation Board. She is an active member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., and First Baptist Church East Point.