Alisha Morgan (39)

Alisha Thomas Morgan , a Democrat, served as Georgia House Representative for District 39 from 2003 to 2015. Born on September 5, 1978, in Miami, Florida, she made history at age 23 as the first African American to represent Cobb County in the Georgia House. Notable achievements include leading education reform efforts, such as passing HB 251 in 2009 to expand public school options, serving on key committees like Appropriations, Education, and Health & Human Services, and authoring the book No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics. Post-legislature, she founded Morganics for public speaking and leadership, served as executive director of Ivy Preparatory Academies , and ran unsuccessfully for Georgia State School Superintendent in 2014.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a BA in Sociology and Drama from Spelman College; MEd from Kennesaw State University.
• Political Experience: Elected to five terms in the Georgia House , named Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, participated in national education policy under Secretary Arne Duncan, served on the National Board of Directors for the Black Alliance of Educational Options, and held leadership roles in NAACP youth divisions. She championed charter schools, opposed stand-your-ground laws, and supported Voting Rights Act protections.