Dr. Jillian Whatley

Dr. Jillian Whatley grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama where she received her BS in education, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she received her MS in education.

Dr. Whatley attended Gallaudet University in Washington, DC to obtain an MA in developmental psychology. She earned her doctorate degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Whatley’s dissertation, published in 2018, was entitled Implicit Bias as a Contributing Factor to Disproportionality of African Americans in Special Education: The Promise of a Bias Literacy Intervention.

Dr. Whatley was a school psychologist in Gwinnett County Public Schools in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and Prince George’s County Public Schools, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. As the former coordinator of psychological services for Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Whatley successfully led a team to reduce disproportionate suspensions of African American males by designing a systemwide intervention.

Dr. Whatley is the former executive director of student support services in Clarke County Public Schools in Athens, George. She led the student services division through Covid-19. Along with the nursing division, Dr. Whatley organized four large-scale vaccine drives for staff and students in partnership with University of Georgia, Athens Department of Public Health, and the Department of Public Health. She also led the district in discipline reform, the systemic implementation of Restorative Practices, and Trauma Informed Practices in schools.

Dr. Whatley co-developed and trained district and school-based leaders on the Equitable Hiring Tool in order to recruit, hire and retain a diverse pool of staff. She developed and implemented district-wide training to promote cultural understanding and competency and a climate of equity and inclusion.

Dr. Whatley is an adjunct professor at Georgia State University in the Graduate School of Education Department–Counseling and Psychological Services, and instructor and implicit bias expert for Academy of Creative Coaching, which serves individuals and organizations across the globe wishing to elevate their skills and credibility around coaching, leadership, and cultural competency.

Dr. Whatley is the proud mother of a daughter. She enjoys dancing, reading, and traveling. Dr. Whatley is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Junior League of Gwinnett/ North Fulton. She is also a former board member of Revved Up Kids which provides safety resources that empower participants to recognize and avoid dangerous situations and people, and to escape violence if necessary. Dr. Whatley is the 2021 recipient of the Jack and Jill of America – Stone Mountain Chapter Shero award for community work in eliminating racial barriers in Gwinnett and Dekalb County Georgia.