Dr. Nina Gilbert is an Assistant Professor and the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Education at Morehouse College, and the former Senior Advisor on Education Reform for the Morehouse Research Institute. Prior to her transition into higher education, Dr. Gilbert served in a variety of teaching and leadership roles in the K-12 sector, and has served as an educator in district, charter, international and independent schools and founded Georgia?s first single, gender charter school, Ivy Preparatory Academy in 2008. Dr. Gilbert has also been deeply involved in education policy and community advocacy activities and has developed programs and services that promote authentic civic engagement and stakeholder collaboration. Dr. Gilbert is a national thought leader and education innovator and works closely with leaders from other sectors and who are in search of her expertise. In addition to consulting with agencies, non-profit organizations and school leaders, she also works in the film and entertainment industry to ensure compliance with local, state and Screen Actors Guild requirements that pertain to the education, safety, and welfare of minor actors and entertainers. She has also served as a consultant and producer for three independent films. Because of her many contributions to education, Dr. Gilbert has been profiled by magazines such as Rolling Out and Essence and was identified in 2013 by The Root as an Education Class Act. She is a 2007 national recipient of Maybelline?s Beauty of Education Award, and was recognized by CNN for her commitment to her students. In her local community, Nina has been recognized as an Outstanding Georgia Citizen by the Secretary of State, NAACP and the Atlanta Business League who named her as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Atlanta. Dr. Gilbert has participated in several national educational fellowships including the Pahara-Aspen Fellowship, the 50 State Campaign for Achievement Now (50CAN) and Building Excellent Schools. She holds a BA degree from the University of West Georgia, an M.Ed degree from Clark Atlanta University and an Ed.D from the University of Pennsylvania