AYS Alumni Council Spotlight: Christabel Ghansah

ATLANTA — Georgia State alumna Christabel Ghansah (B.S. ’14, M.P.A. ’17) embodies the true spirit of a “multipotentialite,” or, as she describes herself, someone with multiple interests and passions who can excel in various fields. This philosophy guided her academic journey at the university, where she pursued diverse disciplines and later added an MBA to her credentials.

Ghansah immersed herself holistically in campus life while at Georgia State. She served as a student justice for the Student Government Association Judiciary, a branch of the Student Government Association. She was also a secretary for PantherBreakaway, a program that organizes community service trips for students during their school breaks, and a board member of the Georgia State chapter of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. These experiences, along with what she learned in a pivotal career planning and management class, helped shape her career trajectory.

“That class helped me figure out what I wanted to do career-wise,” she explained. “I also made a lot of connections in the department with professors and other alumni. The support from this community made the decision to continue into grad school easier.”

Her experience also influenced why she decided to join the AYS Alumni Council and her desire to give back to a community that helped shape her career path and personal growth.

“My education contributed largely to who I have become, and I wanted to give back something more impactful like my time. I wanted to be to the next generation what the university and AYS was to me.”

Ghansah's professional journey has likewise been diverse and impactful. She worked in the financial field before transitioning to economic development. Notably, while working in her latest role as the procurement and capital projects manager for the City of Norcross, she created a paid internship program for AYS students.

“It was my small contribution to make it easier for AYS students to explore careers in local government and lower the barrier to entry a little bit more,” she said.

Her commitment to global affairs is evident in her involvement with the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, where she chairs the Young Leaders Council. In that position, she recently helped promote the Global Leadership Fellowship study abroad program to Germany. Ghansah herself participated in the fellowship in 2023 and the 2019 program in China.

To current and incoming students, Ghansah emphasizes the importance of networking and active engagement with the campus community.

“It's not enough to just go to school and back home,” she said. “Interact with your peers and professors and join organizations that interest you.”

With her story, she hopes to serve as an inspiration to others while exemplifying the transformative power of community engagement and the importance of giving back to Georgia State University, specifically to students of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

Are you an alum of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies? To connect with alumni like Christabel Ghansah, learn more about how you can get involved with the AYS Alumni Council and stay updated on AYS news and opportunities, get connected!

- By AYSPS graduate student assistant Ayomidotun Olugbenle (M.A. in Political Science)