Dr. Lee-James is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and published author with expertise in language development, language disorders, and literacy in the context of linguistic differences and socioeconomic disadvantage. In her current role as the Director of the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School, Lee-James is responsible for working collaboratively with community-based organizations and key stakeholders to impact language and literacy achievement for our most vulnerable children. Before joining the team at the Atlanta Speech School, Lee-James had the privilege of training and mentoring graduate level speech-language pathologists as a member of the Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty at Adelphi University in New York. Lee-James holds a B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Michigan State University and a M.S. in Speech Pathology from West Virginia University. She explored language differences and disorders at Louisiana State University for post-graduate work, and received her Ph.D. from Georgia State University.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
What I love most is the mission – it’s lofty, radical, and rooted firmly in equity and social justice.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I’m passionate about educational equity because it is a basic human right. For far too long, children have been robbed of their right and access to a prosperus life and therefore society at-large continues to be disadvantaged – it’s time to change this reality and ensure that every child is on path to living lives of self-determination.

Laura Bollman is an education leader focused on equity, access and opportunity. She has served as a nonprofit executive, lead project designer and director, social sector consultant and classroom teacher. Bollman is skilled in developing and implementing strategy, evaluating and achieving complex goals, and leading broad and diverse stakeholders toward a shared vision. Prior to her role at the Rollins Center, Bollman served as the President and CEO of the State Charter School Foundation of Georgia (SCSF), where she built and launched the statewide foundation, recruited and supported its Board of Directors and created the strategic plan to guide the future of the organization. Previously, Bollman served as the Director of Program Design and Implementation for the CF Foundation in Atlanta, where she led ducators, architects, students and families to design, construct and open a state-of-the-art high school to complete the cradle-to-college education pipeline in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. Bollman worked to replicate this model as a Community Development Advisor for Purpose Built Communities, and provided coaching and consulting to civic, business and neighborhood leaders across the country. Bollman began her education career as a 6th grade social studies teacher at Charles R. Drew Charter School as a Teach For America corps member. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Wellesley College and her master’s degree in education from Harvard University with a focus on policy and management.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
The brilliant team at Rollins and Cox Campus make our shared work of literacy and justice for all not only possible, but also joyful. The Cox Campus, powered by the experience and expertise of our team, is the most scalable and sustainable antidote to our literacy crisis. I love that when science leads the way, children everywhere can be on a path to a life of self-determination.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Simply put, I believe that access to excellent educational opportunities is a fundamental right and equitable access should be afforded right now, if not sooner. Every person is born with unlimited human potential; excellent education and equitable opportunities help ensure we can each become who we are meant to be.

Dr. Payne’s focus is on ensuring the successful integration of the science of early brain development and language nutrition across the perinatal and pediatric continuum. Payne is a developmental behavioral neuroscientist and systems leader dedicated to building systems that work for babies and families, with over 10 years of experience facilitating cross-disciplinary collaborations in public, private and academic sectors. She was a contributing architect to the development and implementation of Georgia’s statewide public-private Talk With Me Baby (TWMB) collaborative and has strategically extended the impact of the TWMB initiative across the state through collaborative management, stakeholder engagement, workforce development, program evaluation, data-informed decision making, and technical assistance. Payne has nearly 20 years of experience in early neuroanatomical, social, emotional, and cognitive development, and holds a Master of Science in Neurobiology and Anatomy from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, TX, and a Ph.D. in Psychology, Neuroscience and Animal Behavior from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love supporting families so they realize the power they have in building their babies’ brains, language skills and socio-emotional development.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Healthy brain development isn’t a privilege. And there’s no secret code to unlock it that only certain people can know or do. Everyone has the power to have loving, brain-building conversations with babies.

Shenikia Robinson supports the development and fidelity of Rollins’ Birth to 5 Coaching Model. Robinson’s background focuses on early childhood education and mentoring/coaching early learning professionals. Robinson serves as a model and leader in demonstrating how to professionally manage change using best practices in coaching, for both internal and external audiences. Early in her career, she worked at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, as the Early Childhood Director. Robinson holds a B.S. degree in Child Development/Family Studies and a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. She has also received her coaching endorsement.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
What I love most is the opportunity to provide children with a choice filled life.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Every child deserves justice and the opportunity to live a life full of opportunities.

Dr. Nitza Vega-Lahr is a bilingual developmental psychologist with expertise in children’s socioemotional development and learning in the early years, and special interest in the developmental trajectory of young emergent bilinguals. As Director of Dual Language Learners at Rollins, Dr. Vega-Lahr spearheads the Center’s efforts to bring about transformative outcomes for young dual language learners through their access to equitable learning environments that recognize their strengths and promote their bilingualism and biliteracy. During her tenure at Rollins, she has contributed significantly to the design of Cox Campus courses, particularly in the B-5 track. Nitza was Director of the Georgia Coalition for Dual Language Learners and has served on various state-level committees developing policy recommendations regarding culturally and linguistically diverse children and families. Prior to joining Rollins, Nitza was on the faculty at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, serving as Principal of the Debbie Institute, an early learning center for research, training, and service affiliated with the Dept. of Pediatrics. Dr. Vega-Lahr has had an extensive career in early childhood education as a researcher, administrator, consultant, and online professional learning designer. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the Florida International University.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I enjoy the sense of shared commitment to our mission, and the persistence with which we, as a professional community, pursue this mission.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Our systems are filled with barriers that prevent children from becoming their best selves. I am passionate about bringing down those barriers, and transforming children’s learning environments, so every child can experience the joy of learning and gain access to a world of opportunities.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
The enthusiasm, determination, and heart for service that my colleagues bring to their work makes me proud to be a member of this team!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Education truly does have the power to change the world and in the words of Dr. Anthony Muhammad, “Equity can never become a reality in education if it’s viewed as charity instead of professional obligation.”

Dr. Wallen is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and former clinical associate professor of communication sciences and disorders at Georgia State University. She has over 20 years in the field and has clinical areas of expertise in pediatrics; parent/caregiver education; and sociolinguistics. Dr. Wallen earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Oakwood University. She holds a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Speech and Language Science from The Ohio State University. As an academic, Dr. Wallen has taught courses related to clinical practice, language development, and fluency disorders. She also served as the Director of Admissions and Director of Satellite Clinical Programs, which provided community-based learning and service opportunities for students through partnering with organizations in the Atlanta community and beyond, including the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, the Global Village Project, Refugee Family Literacy, Thomasville Heights Elementary School, and the LENA Organization. Dr. Wallen’s research interests include language development/disorders in culturally- and linguistically-diverse populations (including second language/dialect acquisition) and acoustic phonetics.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Working at Rollins allows me to do the collaborative work that is necessary to make systemic change and bring language and literacy research to the people.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
My ancestors were systematically denied access to education because of the color of their skin. The fact that there are still so many people in this country that continue to be denied equity in education is a testament to the need to do something different. I believe that I owe it to my ancestors to be part of the movement that rethinks and redesigns the system so that educational equity is a reality for all.