Meet the Team

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. More recently, Dr. Trammell was appointed to 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.

Trammell serves as a member of Reinhardt University’s President’s Advisory Council, 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

Director of Educational Services

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.

Hannah Conway

State Program Coordinator

Hannah joined our staff in February 2022 as the State Program Coordinator. Not only a youth participant in our programs, Hannah volunteered as a College Alumni Staff member and later served as a Fellow. Email Hannah at hannah@georgiacivics.org.

Catherine Trammell, M.Ed.

Coordinator of Administrative Services

Catherine has been an educator for 15 years in various school districts in North Carolina and Georgia. Her specialty is in exceptional education. She has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Exceptional Education & Curriculum. Catherine has been involved in the organization for many years as a volunteer. She is currently assisting the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement with educational trip planning/implementation and other administrative services.

Email Catherine at catherine@georgiacivics.org

Education Staff

Melanie Kellam

8th Grade Content Specialist

Ms. Melanie Kellam of McDonough, Georgia currently serves as the Instructional Personalized Learning Lead for Woodland Middle School in the Henry County School District. Prior to moving into this instructional support role for Humanities, Ms. Kellam taught middle grades social studies for 16 years. Ms. Kellam received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English communications from High Point University and a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix. Teaching history and civics is Ms. Kellam's passion, and she empowers teachers to take strategic risks that will enrich the academic lives of the students they serve. As a leader in Henry County Schools, Ms. Kellam has served as a Social Studies Department Chair, a school leadership team member leading various focus groups and committees, and a social studies professional learning specialist, presenting at social studies workshops at the school, district, and state levels. This engaging educator provides opportunities for her students and teachers to experience social studies education through academic competitions, interactive museum tours, field trips, and arts integration by using fine arts skills to master the curriculum. Ms. Kellam has advised student groups for the GCCE's Junior Youth Assembly and Georgia United Nations Assembly (Model UN) programs for the past eight years and has advocated for civic education across the state. In January 2022, Ms. Kellam participated in the Ronald Reagan Foundation's "State of Civics: Georgia " as a panelist advocating for increased investment and support for civic education in the state of Georgia. Ms. Kellam is the recipient of the 2018 “Georgia National History Day Teacher of the Year” award, the 2019 “Gwen Hutchinson Outstanding Educator” award, the inaugural McDonough Middle School 2020 “Teacher of the Year” award, and the “2020 Henry County Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year," and 2021 National History Day Geogia "Alonzo Classroom Award."

LeighAnn Noll

High School Content Specialist

Leigh Ann has dedicated her professional career to civic and history education. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of the Arts in Journalism and a Master of the Arts degree in political science, she has been a teacher in Whitfield County Schools since 2003. She currently teaches Economics/Government, Honors US History and is an adjunct professor at Dalton State College teaching dual enrollment Political Science 2101 and 2102. She is also the co-creator of the Raider Ambassador leader program whose goal is to train civic-minded, service-focused, and engaged community leaders. She has served in a variety of leadership roles in her school and district including AP coordinator, gifted-lead teacher, department chair, WCS Leadership Academy, and the PAGE Leadership Academy. Most recently she helped develop curriculum for the Government and Public Administration pathway.

Jill Ryerson

6th-7th Grade Content Specialist

Jill has been an educator for 27 years, with 6 years in Florida and the remaining years to present in Whitfield County Schools. She currently teaches 7th Grade Humanities. Jill has a Bachelors in Education, BS in Counseling, and a Specialist in Leadership. She has served in many leadership roles including, but not limited to, Lead Teacher, WCS Leadership Academy, and PAGE Leadership Academy. In 2007, Jill was awarded the National Milken Educator of the year. Jill has been participating in Youth Government training for over 20 years and is inspired by citizens of the future.