Over the past ten years, Kenyae L. Reese (pronounced Keen-yae) has explored the issues of underrepresented youth in education, written about the American quandary of college access, and discussed the dilemma of how to move forward in an unequal educational system. Her publications and professional presentations have discussed the interplay of race, socioeconomic factors, and systemic barriers to education for underserved students in the United States.
Her fervent desire to increase the number of underrepresented students in higher education led her to found the Multicultural College Club in 2004 (renamed Collegiate Candidates in 2006). The organization is currently hosted by Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA, and supported by a chapter of Collegiate Candidates at the University of Georgia. Collegiate Candidates provides selected seniors with college admission and transition assistance. Within six months of the organization’s beginnings (under the Collegiate Candidates name), the organization received a front-page article published in the Red & Black newspaper, the former University of Georgia student newspaper.
Reese hails from South Bend, Indiana and attended Hampton University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing in May of 2000. While at Hampton, she held internships at major corporations, such as Johnson & Johnson; JP Morgan; and Allstate Insurance Company. Reese was involved in three honors societies and served as a charter member for the marketing honors society Alpha Mu Alpha. She also stayed active in student government, and was a twice appointed leader in her sorority. Impressively, she was named the American Marketing Association Hampton Roads Chapter Student of the Year for 2000.
Following college, Reese began her professional career with Ford Motor Company in Atlanta, GA as a noted Zone Manager before returning to school at the University of Georgia (UGA) to obtain a Master’s degree (M.Ed.) in College Student Affairs Administration (2005), and an Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in School Guidance & Counseling (2006). Throughout her tenure at UGA, Reese volunteered with Upward Bound, appeared twice in the local newspaper for her achievements, taught a class on career readiness, and graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
In just over five years, Reese has presented at more than 10 state, regional, and national school counselor and student affairs conferences. She has published two scholarly articles (2005, 2008). Currently, Reese is employed as a School Counselor for the Center for International Business & Marketing at North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Her fervent desire to increase the number of underrepresented students in higher education led her to found the Multicultural College Club in 2004 (renamed Collegiate Candidates in 2006). The organization is currently hosted by Clarke Central High School in Athens, GA, and supported by a chapter of Collegiate Candidates at the University of Georgia. Collegiate Candidates provides selected seniors with college admission and transition assistance. Within six months of the organization’s beginnings (under the Collegiate Candidates name), the organization received a front-page article published in the Red & Black newspaper, the former University of Georgia student newspaper.