Alabama Possible Team
Chandra Scott (she/her)
Executive Director
Clifton Strengths: Strategic, Achiever, Connectedness, Learner, Relator
Chandra is driven by the need to increase equitable postsecondary access and success in Alabama and to shift mindsets on how to eradicate poverty. Under her leadership, Alabama Possible convenes statewide and regional networks including the Alabama College Attainment Network, the Higher Education Alliance, Alabama Degrees When Due, 75,000 Degrees Talent Hub, and Bold Goals FAFSA Action Network. The organization leads the Alabama Goes to College Campaign as a strategy to increase FAFSA completion and postsecondary enrollment. Read more…
Manisha Mishra (she/her)
Deputy Director
Clifton Strengths: Connectedness, Learner, Relator, Arranger, Belief
Manisha is the Program Director at Alabama Possible and directs all of the poverty education and educational attainment programs. She is instrumental in the launch of Alabama College Attainment Network (Alabama Possible is the backbone agency for this private-public partnership collaboration) whose mission is to increase college and career readiness, access, and completion in Alabama, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color. She joins Alabama Possible following 15 years’ service at Miles College as the director of student activities, first-year enrichment program manager, and English instructor. Read more…
Mae Whiting (she/her)
Data and Research Director
Clifton Strengths: Developer, Achiever, Learner, Empathy, Relator
Mae advocates for equitable education outcomes by managing Alabama Possible’s data and research initiatives. Prior to joining the team, Mae received her master’s degree in Sociology of Education while serving on the Advisory Board at Teens Take Charge, a student-led movement working to ensure student voices are prioritized in educational policy decisions. She has held positions in advocacy, research, and policy roles seeking to address disparities in education and health outcomes across the South. She is interested in the way activism and community voice intersect with research and public policy. In her free time, Mae enjoys walking trails with her wife, son, and two dogs.
Yoruba Butler (she/her)
Strategy Director for Postsecondary Access
Clifton Strengths: Achiever, Learner, Input, Developer, Strategic
Yoruba serves in the capacity of the Strategy Director for Postsecondary Access with Alabama Possible. In this capacity she leads the Alabama Goes to College campaign and its initiatives, supports stewardship of relationships with postsecondary stakeholders, including Alabama State Department of Education, Alabama Community College System, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, K-12 educators, college and university administrators and postsecondary access providers. Most recently, Yoruba was with Miles College for almost 11 years where she served in the capacity of director of student success and retention, first year enrichment, and was the program manager for the intelligence community center of academic excellence. Read more…
Anondo Banerjee (he/him)
Strategy Director for Postsecondary Success
Clifton Strengths: Input, Connectedness, Intellection, Positivity, Learner
Anondo strongly believes that a postsecondary education is a necessary next step for our nation’s high school students to succeed. As such, he’s excited that his work as the Strategy Director for Postsecondary Success is primarily focusing on the Alabama College Attainment Network’s goal of increasing the number of Alabama students working towards a postsecondary credential. Anondo is coming to this work with a background in higher education, learning and development in the private sector, and working one-on-one with high school students on their college applications. In his free time, Anondo volunteers for local community organizations and enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends.
Daniel J. Washington (he/him)
Intern
Daniel J. Washington is from Chelsea, AL. He is a current graduate student of social work at Jacksonville State University (JSU). He also obtained his Bachelor of Social Work from JSU in 2023. All that to say, he is a proud JSU graduate! Daniel is overjoyed to begin his journey with Alabama Possible. With a heart for advocacy, service, and a strong desire to learn, there is no better place to be than with Alabama Possible’s outstanding team. He has a history of working in higher education as the Student Government Association Vice President at JSU. He also has much advocacy experience from his time as the JSU NAACP Chapter President. He comes to Alabama Possible with work experience in community development, human resources, talent acquisition, learning and development, office administration, disability resources, and higher education.
You can find him spending much time with family, friends or reading a book in his free time. He also values his faith in God and shows that value through volunteering at his local church.