Building Pathways of Opportunity for All.
Our Team
Our team works to advance lasting, transformational change for all. We plan to take bold action in the years ahead so, together, we earn a new reputation as a community that is “Leading on Opportunity.”
Sherri Chisholm
Executive Director
Sherri Chisholm joined Leading on Opportunity as its director in September 2020, bringing nearly a decade of experience as an educational and nonprofit strategist to the role. She has worked in senior leadership at national nonprofits and major school districts across the country, where she drove transformation through strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and leadership development. Prior to joining Leading on Opportunity, Sherri served as the founding Executive Director of Urban Alliance Detroit, a national youth workforce development nonprofit that aims to expand access to economic opportunity for youth from under-resourced neighborhoods through paid internships, job skills training, and mentoring. She is also the founder and CEO of FreeSpace Consulting Group where she has worked to guide and support districts and nonprofit organizations across the country seeking to effect positive change in public education
Josie Hovis
Community Research Coordinator
Josie Hovis serves as the Community Research Coordinator at Leading on Opportunity, largely working with the data and policy initiatives. She received her B.A. in Latin American Studies from Davidson College. Prior to joining the team, Josie worked with other organizations striving to create positive social change, including the Housatonic Valley Association and the Latin American News Digest. Investing in community remains a central value for Josie. In her free time, Josie enjoys spending time outdoors and trying out new recipes.
AJ Calhoun
Director, Research + Impact
AJ Calhoun is the Director of Research and Impact at Leading on Opportunity (LOO). In this role, he leads a team of designers and social scientists to build inclusive, data-driven tools to advance economic mobility. Before LOO, AJ worked on similar projects with the United Way, Knight Foundation, World Resources Institute, Chicago Community Trust, and Consultive Group to Assist the Poor at the World Bank. He’s a proud alum of UChicago, Furman University, and Fulbright Malaysia.
Dr. Virginia Covill
Deputy Director, Strategy + Operations
Dr. Virginia Covill is a community psychologist focused on improving outcomes for children and families in Charlotte through systems change and strategic problem solving. Dr. Covill earned her PhD in Community Health Psychology and M.A. in Clinical & Community Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to joining Leading on Opportunity, Virginia was Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Impact for Communities In Schools (CIS) of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, an organization dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed in life.
Tonya Jameson
Director of Civic Advancement
Tonya Jameson is a consigliere providing consultation and campaign management services to elected officials, community leaders and rising political stars seeking to make Charlotte a better place to live, work and raise a family. She managed winning campaigns for Mayor Vi Lyles, District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, State representatives Brandon Lofton and Becky Carney as well City Council members Larken Egleston and Julie Eiselt. She began her career in Charlotte as a reporter and columnist for the Charlotte Observer, and later worked as online editor for Radio One Charlotte. Tonya earned her Master’s in Communications from the University of Maryland and her Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Alabama.
Faith Mejia
Strategy + Operations
Faith Anthony Mejia serves as Leading on Opportunity’s Operations and Strategy Coordinator, supporting the implementation of internal and external projects that advance the social and economic wellbeing of her native Charlotte community. Faith earned her M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and B.A in Spanish from Queens University of Charlotte. Her background in adult education and systems changing nonprofit work has culminated in a passion for moving the mission of equity in Charlotte forward. Prior to joining Leading on Opportunity, Faith has served with Road to Hire, Charlotte Country Day School and as a Latin Americanist professional development guest lecturer for North Carolina educators.
Kymberly Byrd
Community Research and Engagement Manager.
Kymberly serves as Leading on Opportunity’s Community Research and Engagement Manager. She has over 10 years of research, evaluation, and community engagement experience. Prior to joining Leading on Opportunity, Kymberly served as Director of Impact Services at ResultsLab, an evaluation consulting firm. She holds bachelors’ degrees in Social Work and Spanish from Oakwood University, masters’ degrees in Social Work and Public Health from Boston University, and an MS and PhD in Community Research and Action from Vanderbilt University.
Matt McBride
Data and Evaluation Manager
mmcbride@leadingonopportunity.org
Matt McBride serves with Leading on Opportunity as the Data and Evaluation Manager, where he uses data to support equitable, systems-level change. He is a self-taught computer coder fluent in Python, SQL, and Power BI. While working for the State of Vermont, Matt developed custom data quality tools, automated yearly federal reporting, and built apps and dashboards to support policy, infrastructure, and compliance initiatives. His work spans both public and private sectors, including building data systems that drove operational insights for a small business and a consulting team. With roots in both classroom teaching and higher education, Matt brings a learner-centered, analytical mindset to everything he does. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s in Recreation Administration from Georgia Southern University.
Caitlin Collins
Operations Manager
ccollins@leadingonopportunity.org
Caitlin Collins serves with Leading on Opportunity as an Operations Manager, where she draws on her expertise in people and operations to streamline systems in order to maximize impact. Her career began in the classroom as a Middle School Science teacher at Whitewater Middle School in Charlotte, where she joined through Teach For America. Since then, Caitlin has remained focused on driving systems-level change that leads to better outcomes for children. With a career spanning the education and nonprofit sectors, Caitlin also brings experience from the corporate world, where she played a key role in the successful and efficient launch of a Fortune 500 company, prioritizing both operational excellence and human-centered design. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Mercyhurst University and a Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University.