Women’s History Month continues with our ‘Women Leading with Heart’ series! In this week’s episode, we spotlight an emerging change-maker in education, the Assistant Director of the First Gen Scholars Program at Jackson State University, Ms. Shandell Lewis. She is a first-generation college graduate, former counselor, and passionate advocate for Mississippi education that is bridging K-12 and higher ed to empower the next generation. Drawn to Jackson State’s standalone first-gen program, she brought her K-12 lens to fill critical gaps—modeling transparent engagement rooted in her own first-gen journey and counseling expertise. Find out how she builds student agency by showing how “love is in the details” when recognizing the family sacrifice to attend college. Her approach helps students and families choose schools that match their ambitions, proving one woman’s calling can transform lives across generations.

Shandell completed her M.Ed. in Counselor Education at the University of Mississippi and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi. She is known as a light-giver, community servant, and temperature changer in education. As a proud first-generation graduate herself, her work is deeply personal and rooted in expanding access, support, and opportunity for students navigating college for the first time. A proud Southern belle from Vicksburg, Mississippi, she served as a licensed school counselor for four years before transitioning into higher education at Mississippi State University, where she began her career in Higher Education. Shandell is also the Founder and Owner of A Touch of Magnolia Fragrance Company, a southern luxury fragrance brand inspired by scent memory and her Mississippi roots. She is also a proud active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. To learn more about Shandell, connect with her on IG @ATouchofMagnolia or email her at [email protected].