Kathaleena Edward Monds, Ph.D., EdChoice Fellow

Kathaleena Monds is professor of management information systems and founding director of the Center for Educational Opportunity (CEO) at Albany State University in 2018. The CEO is a $3M, five-year grant funded by the TMCF and CKF/CKI and provides support for K-12 research on educational innovations, opportunities, access and models germane to students living in fragile communities.

She served as co-director of the Center for Economic Education from 2007-2018 to improve economic and entrepreneurship education to under-served communities. She helped students and K–12 teachers deploy creative skills, design thinking and problem-solving skills in developing the economic and entrepreneurial way of thinking.

She worked for Unisys Corporation from 1981-1995. Monds is a 2012 graduate of the Georgia Academy of Economic Development, Region 10. She served on the Georgia Department of Education Steering Committee researching open-source economics education curriculum. Monds is a graduate of two nationally-recognized programs: Babson College’s Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) and Oklahoma State University’s Experiential Entrepreneurship Program.

Recognized for her contributions to teaching and leadership, she has received the following awards: Ignite the Flame Award (Oklahoma State University), Teacher of the Year given (Albany State University), Faculty Technology Training Award (National Urban League), and Faculty of the Year (Albany State University). She was also named a Fulbright Professor at the Universiti of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, along with Researcher of the Year and the Teacher of the Year given by Grambling State University.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Kathaleena holds a Ph.D. in instructional technology from Wayne State University, a M.A. in economics and entrepreneurship for educators from University of Delaware, a M.S. in computer science from Wayne State University, and a B.S. in computer science from Spelman College. She is a first-generation college graduate and mother of four—two sons who graduated from Morehouse College, one daughter at Spelman College and one 13-year old son. Monds is wife to John H. Monds—a Morehouse College graduate and 2010 Libertarian candidate for Governor in the State of Georgia.