Clayton State University Hosts 2025 Social Mobility Summit
(June 27, 2025) - Clayton State University’s Social Mobility Summit, held on June 25, offers a valuable platform to assess the role of higher education as a key driver of social mobility and to explore ways that institutions of higher education can effectively partner with community stakeholders to promote social mobility.
Our definition of social mobility is a change in social status that aims to improve outcomes related to socioeconomic status. This includes creating opportunities for enhanced job prospects, better healthcare, affordable insurance, retirement benefits, and better housing options.
“Every member of our staff and faculty is committed to the Social Mobility of our students. That is our number one mission as an institution,” said Dr. Georj Lewis, president of Clayton State University. “You can see evidence of how this directed focus has impacted student success in the fact that Clayton State University has been ranked this year as #26 in Top Performers on Social Mobility in a survey by U.S. News & World Report.”
“I am very excited about how this summit has grown since our inaugural event last year. From our engaging keynote speaker, Dr. Mahnaz Charania of TNTP, our outstanding faculty, amazing community partners, and our energized students and successful alumni – this is a truly collaborative event and a transformative day for Clayton State University,” Dr. Lewis added.
The Summit’s Keynote Speaker was Dr. Mahnaz Charania, Chief Transformation Officer of TNTP. In her role, she drives innovation and growth by aligning leadership, expanding partnerships, and leveraging data to drive innovations and yield improved educational outcomes and economic and social mobility for all learners.
The Summit featured panels, workshops, and discussions centered on issues related to social mobility, including access to education, economic opportunities, and student success. This Summit is part of Clayton State University’s ongoing commitment to advancing social mobility on our campus, in the broader community, and throughout the state of Georgia.
Panel 1 | Students & Alumni Share Their Story
Bringing together current students and alumni to explore the transformative power of education and community in promoting social mobility, this panel discussion highlighted the personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs of Clayton State University students and alums who have navigated systemic barriers to achieve academic, personal, and professional success.
Panel 2 | Focus on the Why: Partnering to Create
Social Capital Platforms that Promote Upward Social Mobility
This panel focused on how Clayton State University partners with different college access organizations to support students in their post-secondary education journeys. We took a deep dive into why these organizations are committed to their work, how the data from their work contributes to our partnerships, and what the current landscape of social mobility in Metro Atlanta looks like and where it could be headed in the future.
Concurrent Session | Advancing Social Mobility Through
High-Impact Practices
This session examined how High-Impact Practices (HIPs) can serve as effective drivers of social mobility within higher education, particularly for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Key strategies include immersive simulations and industry application projects that challenge students to solve real-world problems.
Guest speakers help connect classroom content to real-world expectations, expanding students’ understanding of potential career pathways. Student comments and feedback were included to provide insight into the effectiveness of these strategies and their influence on career confidence, skill development, and upward mobility.
Concurrent Session | Empowering Futures:
Faculty-Led Collaborations with Community Agencies and Nonprofits
This lightning talk highlighted innovative faculty-led initiatives within the College of Health that engage students in meaningful collaborations with community agencies and nonprofits.
Drawing on first-hand experience, presenters shared strategies for establishing and sustaining cross-sector partnerships that enhance student learning while addressing real-world community needs.
Concurrent Session | From Access to Impact:
Designing Cross-Sector Pipelines for Equitable Student Success
This interactive workshop equipped participants with tools to design and strengthen K-16 pipelines that promote equitable access, persistence, and upward mobility. Grounded in a real-world partnership between DeKalb County School District’s IGNITE program and Clayton State University School of Education, this session highlighted how cross-sector collaboration can dismantle systemic barriers and build sustainable pathways to college, career, and workforce success.
Concurrent Session | From Alumni to Professional: Building Social Capital Beyond Graduation
This dynamic panel of Clayton State University alumni shared real-world stories of how campus involvement, mentoring relationships, and leadership opportunities shaped their professional journeys. Participants learned how these experiences help them build social capital and successfully navigate the job market. This session highlighted the power of college networks in fostering social mobility and offered valuable insights for students, educators, and leaders committed to expanding opportunity through higher education.
Concurrent Session | From Barriers to Bridges: Advocacy in Action for First-Gen Mobility
This session highlighted how faculty, campus professionals, and community nonprofit leaders can partner to support first-generation college students through intentional, advocacy-driven collaboration. A brief panel showcased real-life examples of partnerships that promote student success and social mobility, spanning academic engagement, mentoring, and community-based programs.
Panel 3 | Community Agency Partners
This panel brought together community leaders working at the intersection of education, equity, and advocacy to explore inclusive pathways to opportunity across Metro Atlanta. With a focus on system-level change and community-driven solutions, panelists shared insights on how public policy, cradle-to-college education, grassroots organizing, and equitable development can dismantle barriers and foster upward mobility.
Featured Research Poster | Sustaining Social Mobility Through Sport Psychology: Navigating Professional Standards for Equity Implementation and Institutional Support in Higher Education
This study, grounded in cultural sport psychology, explored how educators navigate evolving national regulations affecting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice (DEIBJ) initiatives. DEIBJ principles enhance performance, promote equitable opportunities, and support culturally responsive practices within the scientist-practitioner model. Recent policy shifts also involve a change in institutional support and educator responses in classrooms, as well as in scholarship and service to communities in need.
For a complete list of panels, topics discussed, and speaker bios, visit the Social Mobility website.