About Us » Staff
Chelly Ali-Watkins - Development Coordinator
A proud alum of our high school and continuing education programs, Chelly joined our team as a Program Assistant and now is a Development Coordinator. In her role, she helps manage sponsorships, donor communications, data entry and more while remaining diligent and passionate about student success.
Chelly has over seven years of experience in customer service, where she developed strong communication and problem-solving skills. She also brings over six years of discipline and leadership from her service in the U.S. Army, where she learned the importance of perseverance, and teamwork.
Chelly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Forensic Investigations from Wayne State University. Her journey from student in our program to member of our team is a powerful example of our program's impact.
“I consider myself a student of life,” said Chelly. “I’m heavily inspired by art and literature of all genres and maintain the philosophy, ‘Knowledge is power.’ I believe that education is self-care and the foundation of understanding. As Paulo Coelho wrote in The Alchemist, ‘When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.’”
Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and raised on the east side of Detroit, Chelly is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her favorite color is purple, and she enjoys traveling, fashion, and trying new things.