Atlanta Girl Scouts name Jai Ferrell to be first woman of color as CEO

Former Hartsfield-Jackson executive Jai Ferrel will take over the role of CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta effective July 1. (Courtesy of Angelo Byrd Studio)

The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta have named the first woman of color to be the CEO of the 100-year-old organization.

Jai Ferrell takes over the role beginning July 1.

The Atlanta native is a Spelman graduate who began her scouting career at a troop out of the nearby Lindsey Street Baptist Church, where both her mom and godmother served as troop leaders.

Jai Ferrel and her mother, Lolita Ferrel, with their Girl Scout Troop out of Lindsay Street Baptist Church in 1992. (Photo courtesy of Jai Ferrel)

Ferrell gave an interview at her alma mater Monday following the announcement.

“Coming to Spelman was one of our big times, to ride by, come to the school and see, so it’s hallowed ground here,” said Ferrell. “I’m a proud alumna, but I literally think my fiber of who I am is at this place, so whether it be Girl Scouts, whether it’s Spelman, the idea of girlhood and sisterhood is truly something I hold dear to me.”

Ferrell says she hopes to take the organization “beyond the cookie” with opportunities in a diverse range of activities including, robotics, entrepreneurship and other interests geared towards the future.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta currently includes around 30,000 members and volunteers in the metro area and surrounding counties.