Stephen D. Dolinger, Ed.D
President
Joined the Partnership in 2003 as its president. Served as the Superintendent of Schools for Fulton County for seven years prior to joining the Partnership. Served in the Fairfax County, VA school system for 26 years before accepting the Fulton position. He has an Ed.D from Vanderbilt University, an M.Ed. from George Mason University, and B.B.A. from Wake Forest University. He currently serves on the Business LEADS cabinet for the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, and also on the Board of Directors for several organizations including: the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Voices for Georgia's Children, and the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he has been appointed to the President’s Roundtable of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the Education and Health Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Diane Hopkins, CAE
Vice President
Joined the Partnership in 1992. She has 30-plus years in non-profit management. Prior to her Partnership service, she held positions with the Industrial Development Research Foundation, 1991-92, and the Business Council of Georgia, 1986-91. She became a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 1999. She is a board member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives; a member of the American Society of Association Executives; a member of the Education and Worforce Development Committee of the Georgia Economic Developers Association; and a member of College Access, Grant Leadership Team. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of North Alabama and an MS degree from the University of Alabama.
Alice Ford
Administrative Assistant
Joined the Partnership in 1998. She has 15-years administrative experience and has particular expertise in scheduling and travel planning and conference, meetings and other large event coordination. She earned an Associates Degree in Business Management from Georgia State University.
Bill Maddox
Communications Director
Joined the Partnership in 2004 after serving seven years as the director, external communications with the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross. He has more than 25-years communications experience, much of that in public affairs assignments with the U.S. Army. He holds a B.S. degree in communications from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and is a member of the Atlanta chapter of the Public Relations Society of America as well as the Georgia School Public Relations Association.
Dana Rickman, PhD
Policy and Research Director
Joined the Partnership July 2011 after serving as the Director of Research and Policy at the Annie E. Casey Foundation - Atlanta Civic Site. She has also worked for more than 10 years at Georgia State University conducting research on education programs within Georgia. She holds a PhD from Georgia State University in Political Science and a BA from Mary Washington College. She has authored multiple articles in peer reviewed journals and book chapters related to education policy.
Jane Simpson
Development Director
Joined the Partnership in February 2004. She brings more than 25 years of fund raising experience to the position, 16 years of that seeking funds for education, including for The Children's School and Kennesaw State University. She holds a B.A. degree in English and art history from Converse College.
Angela Hurtado
Summer Intern
Senorita Hurtado's summer internship has come to end. She was a contributing member of the team for almost two months. She made many contributions in a variety of areas. She will be missed. Her future is bright and we wish her well as she returns for her senior year at Georgia Gwinnett College. She will graduate next year and perhaps pursue a career in law. She is a Goizueta Scholar and has served with the Partnership as a Southern Education Foundation intern. She has convinced us that no matter her chosen life's work, she will be a smashing success. Que chevere!
Tom Upchurch, Ed.S
President Emeritus, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
After serving as the Carrollton City Schools superintendent for 13 years, Tom accepted the reins of the Partnership where he served as president from 1994 until his "retirement" in 2003. He remains active in many Georgia Partnership events and programs and travels the state for a variety of education causes. His community service knows no bounds. He has a long list of accomplishments and awards. The Sertoma Club for West Georgia has presented him their Service to Mankind Award. He resides with his wife Patsy in Bowdon.
Dr. Donna O'Neal*
Community Planning/Special Projects
She has worked with the Partnership since 1990, leading the design and implementation of the Next Generation School Project - a research arm of the organization. She has taught elementary and high school, and severely emotionally dsiturbed students in a psychoeducational program. She served as Preschool Handicapped Consultant for the Georgia Department of Education and Director of Communications for the Georgia School Boards Association before founding Advancing Education, Inc. in 1998. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, an MEd in Special Education and a B.S. degree in Home Economics Education all from the University of Georgia.
*Contract member of the Georgia Partnership team.