Professional Staff

Dr. Randell E. Trammell
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Dr. Randell E. Trammell has long been involved youth development. He holds an undergraduate degree in Religious Education as well as a Master in Business Administration from Reinhardt University. In 2014, he completed his Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in organizational leadership and communication. That same year, after seeing a dire need for resources and support in the area of civics education in Georgia, he developed the concept of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement. In 2017, Dr. Trammell officially launched the Center as a 501c3 nonprofit becoming our founder and President & Chief Executive Officer.
In October 2021, Dr. Trammell was recognized as one of Georgia Business Trend's "40 Under 40" award, which honors the state’s best and brightest leaders. Trammell was also recognized as the Bill Bolling Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award Recipient by TechBridge in 2021. In 2022, Dr. Trammell was appointed to serve as Chair of the Georgia Commission for Civic Education by Governor Kemp and was also awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award through Points of Light for his service in the community. In 2023, Trammell was selected as one of sixty participants from across the nation for Presidential Leadership Scholar program of the Johnson, Bush 41, Clinton, and Bush 43 Presidential Libraries.
Trammell serves as a member of Reinhardt University’s Board of Trustees, a member of the CivXNow national coalition, chair of Georgia’s Coalition for Civic Education, and serves as Georgia’s public representative member on the Board of Trustees for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Dr. Trammell is a visionary and passionate leader who is nationally recognized in youth civic education and development.
Email Randell at randell@georgiacivics.org.
Read his blog, Generation Civics.

Dr. Angela Hargis
Chief Operating Officer |
Director of Mission Advancement
Dr. Hargis joined us in December of 2019 after retiring from a distinguished career in education. She served most recently as the principal of Westside Middle School (Whitfield County Schools) since 2013 until her retirement in December of 2019.
Email Dr. Hargis at angela@georgiacivics.org.

Christine Hartness, M.Ed.
Director of Educational Programs
Christine has a background in Political Science and Public Policy which she combines with a passion for civic engagement to educate students on civic duties. After several years teaching Government, Christine became involved in the creation of curriculum for Georgia's revamped Government and Public Administration pathway, ultimately piloting the program in Barrow County. Christine joined the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement as Director of Educational Programs in September 2023 in order to further support the mission of civic education.
Email Christine at christine@georgiacivics.org.

April Burel, M.Ed.
Coordinator of Administrative Services
April has been an educator for 25 years in various school districts in Georgia in both public and private schools. Her specialty is in Social Studies Education and Language Arts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education and a master’s degree in Middle Grades Social Studies. April has been involved in the organization as a volunteer prior to join our staff. She is currently assisting the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement with educational trip planning/implementation and other administrative services.
Email April at april@georgiacivics.org
Board of Directors

Joe Barnett
Whitfield County Schools

Dr. Eddie Bennett
Georgia Council for the Social Studies

Rebecca Bernson
Community Volunteer

Justice Charlie Bethel
Georgia Supreme Court

JASON BRAGG
Georgia Electric Membership Cooperative

Harrison Caswell
Youth Governor
Student Board Member

Liza Chapman
Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

Lauren Fralick
FralickBozeman

Rep. Matthew Gambill
State Representative

Cody Hall
Full Focus Communications

Evan Karanovich
CHICK-FIL-A

Comm. Daylon Martin
Commissioner, Jones County

Scott Maxwell
Mathews & Maxwell

Macy McFall
The Robbins Firm

Irene Munn
The Munn Firm

Michele NeSmith
Assoc. of County Commissioners of Georgia

James Nixon
Meadows Health

Caitlin O'Dea
Greater Georgia

Joe O'Kelley
O'Kelley & Sorohan, Attorneys at Law

Sen. Chuck Payne
Georgia Senate (District 54)

Judge Allison Barnes Salter
State Court of Cobb County

Ed Thomas
Deloitte

Abigail Heys Thompson
Wellstar Health System

Dr. Randell E. Trammell
President and CEO
Georgia Center for Civic Engagement

Melissa Tymchuk
Northeast Georgia Health System

Alli Waltman
Youth Governor
Student Board Member

Brad Vaughn
Office of Lt. Governor Burt Jones

Mayor vince Williams
Union City

Brian Wallace
Georgia Municipal Association
Emeritus Board Members

Claire O. Bowen
Claire Bowen & Co.

Ray D. Moses
Genoa Construction

Charles B. Lassiter
Lassiter Financial Advisors, LLC

Gerald W. Wade
Executive Director, Emeritus

Dr. Penny Lott
Educator
ENGAGE CTSO Advisory Board

Lynsey Singleton
CTSO Program Specialist
GADOE