Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Jillian Whatley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Dr. Jillian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
“Parenting is a life time job and does not stop when a child grows up.” – Jake Slope
As I reflect on the aforementioned quote, those are the very words my mother repeated throughout my childhood and adulthood. My parents grew up in Birmingham, Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. My father is 10 years older than my mother; therefore, he was one of the first African American men to integrate white schools during that time. My mother, ten years younger, was a student of the movement and one of her very close friends and Girl Scout troop member was one of the four little girls whose lives were taken in the horrific bombing at 16th Street Baptist Church. My purpose for explaining the background to my parents, provides a little insight into their guiding practices for parenting.
As a child of “out of the box thinkers” my life was filled with many experiences and an intense encouragement to excel academically and social-emotionally (outside of the state of Alabama). My father and mother were educators, but they also had other careers and passions. For example, my father sold insurance (while working as a teacher and a counselor) for almost 30 years. On the other hand, my mother believed in physically and emotionally showing up for her “girls”. My mother was the ultimate volunteer for Girl Scouts, Children’s Choir, school/ church plays, etc. Also, she was an example to my friends as an extension of their own mother.
Essentially, I learned very important lessons from my parents.
1. My parents taught me about Equity and Justice efforts in our community and how to amplify my voice for change. I have continued the Equity and Social Justice efforts in my career and civic alignments. My dissertation: Implicit bias as a contributing factor to disproportionality of African Americans in special education: The promise of a bias literacy intervention, was the catalyst for my research to contribute improving the outcomes of those marginalized in our society.
2. My parents taught me that having multiple career options is a value add in a myriad of ways. Primarily, my parents instilled in me that God blessed us with multiple talents; therefore, you MUST use them. That lesson has allowed me to expand my career options: School Psychologist for over 15 years, doctorate in Education Leadership allowed me to expand my leadership role in the field of education; adjunct professor for Georgia State University and University of Georgia, Athens- College of Education; and Anderson University-Center for Leadership and Organizations.
3. My mother emphasized to me the importance of treating people with integrity and fairness. As my parents matriculated and earned degrees, and advanced in their careers, there were times that they were unfairly treated. Mom always emphasized to me the importance of building people up in their spirits, while holding them accountable for the work. As I have moved in and out of leadership roles, that lesson has guided my decisions of improving engagement in leader and staff; and improving culture and climate in organizations. While working in Atlanta Public Schools as Coordinator of Psychological Services, I was recognized by Gallup for increasing employee engagement in my department. My mom sure did emphasize the importance of people in the workplace.
In summary, my parents are amazing people who have left an impression on my life, and I have impacted my journey in significant ways. My prayer is that I can continue the legacy with my daughter.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I received my B.S in Education from Miles College Birmingham, Al. I continued my education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where I received my M.S. in Education, and Gallaudet University in Washington, DC to obtain a M.A in Developmental Psychology and a Specialist degree in School Psychologist, both with an emphasis in deafness. I received my Ph.D. in Education Leadership from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Whatley’s dissertation was entitled Implicit bias as a contributing factor to disproportionality of African Americans in special education: The promise of a bias literacy intervention, which was published in 2018.
I began my career as a teacher for students with emotional/ behavioral disorders and a School Psychologist for 15 years. I am a former Coordinator of Psychological Services and Behavior Programs for Atlanta Public Schools and a former Executive Director of Student Support Services in Clarke County Public Schools in Athens, GA. I joined International Center for Leadership in Education- a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as Director of Professional Learning for the Southeastern Region in 2022. I am an adjunct Georgia State University in the Education Department- Counseling and Psychological Services, Instructor and Implicit Bias Expert for Academy of Creative Coaching, and Adjunct Faculty at Anderson University courses on Non-Violent Communication.
After years of practicing as a psychologist and leader in education, I focuses on helping people and organizations remove the barriers that prevent productivity, growth, and destroy culture and climate. My trainings are specifically tailored to the client(s) by using a needs assessment to determine the scope and sequence of trainings and deliverables. Trainings offered by Dr. Whatley include (though not limited to): Implicit Bias and Bias Intervention Training, Trauma Informed Leadership, Trauma Informed Practices, Understanding Organizational Trauma and Healing, Mental Health in the Workspace, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership. I also provides consultation with organizations with their Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives around creating systems and processes for HR, school discipline, special education, and policy review.
My skill set is unique in that there is an understanding and training of human behavior and mental processes, for which the training aligns to current theories of leadership and organizational changed. I am skilled at helping people identify patterns in their lives that are rooted in childhood, that are impacting their work and personal lives. I have a passion for helping people achieve their goals and live better lives.
I recently published a children’s book entitled: Where Is My Teacher? This book provides counselors, therapist, psychologists, teachers or anyone working with children with a tool to help children work through the grieving process. The book launch will occur on October 24th at 7 pm. I look forward to connecting with you all on Oct 24th via Zoom to answer questions and give a deeper dive into our story! 📕💻
Be sure to use the link to RSVP! https://mailchi.mp/28534956eeff/virtual-book-release
#Author #AmazonAuthor #BarnesandNoble #Therapist #SchoolCounselor #MentalHealth
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
On Saturday, February 11, 2012 I sat in a cold auditorium taking the LSAT Test for the second time, wondering is this God’s plan for my life; or is this, again, a battle between His desires for my life and my own personal desires, which may not align with His. Initially, I thought going to law school was the completion of my career journey, and that would be it. Wrapped up in a tiny little bow my purpose would be fulfilled. Now, I have come to learn much more about God’s multi-layered purpose in my life. We will talk about that later. Later that evening after my second exhausting attempt at the LSAT, while laying in bed holding my new born baby girl the awful news of the death of Whitney Houston, a lady for whom was deeply admired and known as ‘The Voice’ died. My heart literally dropped as uncontrollable tears fell down my face. Out of fear and love for my new baby girl, I grabbed her and held her closer to my chest taking in breaths as my prayers bellowed for the grieving mother and daughter left behind.
As the news of Whitney’s death rolled across my television, it was confirmed that our beloved Whitney had died by drowning in a bathtub full of water, after a long battle with drug addiction. As I reflect on that day, I was not only mourning the loss of Whitney, but for her visible struggle to find her purpose, and how that image mirrored many of the women I knew, including myself. Many of us may say, well she found her purpose in singing melodies that we fondly relate to events that occurred in our lives. However, her ever present struggle to perform, to be a superstar, or to stand on a superficial stage, set in motion a downward spiral to seek God.
There we were one week later, my mom, my daughter and I sitting on the sofa preparing to attend the funeral of a woman that was apart of my life in so many ways. Anyone who REALLY knows me knows that I love Whitney. The night she died a few of my ex boyfriends called me to “check on me”. While holding my precious baby girl, I sat anxiously awaiting the funeral and to say my final goodbye and mourn the life of a fallen star.
While several superstars, politicians, family friends, and many others spoke at Whitney’s funeral, there was nothing like Kevin Costner’s speech. His speech not only spoke to the many grieving family members, friends and fans; rather it resounded ever so loudly in my soul as a new mother, someone searching to hear God’s voice, a faithful daughter, a protective sister, dedicated friend, and a psychologist for many adolescent girls to countless women. In essence, Kevin spoke to issue that many young girls face everyday….. that not good enough feeling. In his words, “and so to you, Bobbi Kristina and to all those young girls who are dreaming that dream, that may be thinking, are they good enough? I think Whitney would tell you, ‘Guard your bodies, guard the precious miracle of your own life, and then sing your hearts out,’ knowing that there’s a lady in heaven who is making God himself wonder how he created something so perfect”. Those words permeated a part of my soul that was struggling. God spoke to me like never before, and it seems that with every breath I took God continued to speak louder to me about my purpose here on earth.
During that time my life resembled a roller coaster that derailed, while falling free into the air with no end in sight. I had fallen in and out of “what I thought was love”, had a beautiful baby girl, discovered my strength and my weaknesses, experienced God’s goodness in valley moment of life, and began a journey to finding my purpose in life. Something happens when you have a child. Some mothers call it worry, others anxiety; despite the descriptor we assign to that feeling none of us can deny that an awareness that is birthed out of our psyche about ourselves as mothers, daughters, individuals and our role in society. Now take a step further, more specifically something happens when you give birth to a child that is of your same gender. As women, we embrace the happiness of being a girl, the anxious autonomy of our adolescence, the giddy freedom of young adulthood and the emerging confidence of being a young woman optimistically embarking on all of our hopes, dreams and desires. On the other hand (you knew it was coming), we are well aware of the struggle to intimately know God while conforming to society’s norm, the struggle of falling in and out of love, the struggle with being independent or dependent as we transition through relationships, the struggle to find boundaries, the struggle of learning that beauty goes beyond the physical, the struggle to find a self-esteem that is not reliant upon unrealistic expectations, and the struggle to not lose yourself in people, situations, and life transitions. As a recent single mother, these thoughts circled in my mind regarding my own precious daughter. Thinking about the profound words of Kevin Costner and reviewing the life of Whitney Houston I ponder, “What tools do I need to give myself and other mothers to raise strong girls”.
Over the years, I have prayed, gone to therapy, and redefined myself as a woman who will never give up on what God has for me. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has been: word of mouth and LinkedIn. I am thankful that people in the community are aware of my skillset and my integrity. That has been a blessing to get me in certain rooms. Additionally, increasing my presence on social media, particularly LinkedIn has provided me access to clients across the world. I am currently working a strategy to increase that connectivity in a more consistent way. Stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jillianwhatley.com
- Instagram: Dr.Jillian Whatley
- Facebook: Dr. Jillian Whatley
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-whatley-ph-d-ncsp
Image Credits
Photos: Kimazing Photography LLC Makeup: Shalawn Beauty Architect Hair: Ann Marie