News
Alumnae to Return to GPS for Women’s History Month Panel
Six GPS graduates will share their career trajectories and offer advice to current students
In honor of Women’s History Month, Girls Preparatory School is excited to host a powerful panel discussion for faculty, staff, and students on March 7, showcasing a diverse group of trailblazing alumnae who have made remarkable impacts in their fields. The panel will feature Teresa Lawrence-Phillips ’76, a legendary figure in athletics and education; Maria Balais ’90, a leader in community engagement and women’s business advocacy; Marshall Persinger ’77, an acclaimed producer in the entertainment industry; Shelby Dooley Mullins ’13, a fine jewelry designer blending architecture and artistry; Chandler Key-Logan ’13, a leader in manufacturing and quality management; and Whitney Bell ’06, a communications expert in sports and entertainment. These accomplished women will share their stories of perseverance, leadership, and success, all of which began when they were students at GPS.
About the Panelists
Maria Balais ’90 is a dynamic leader in community engagement, business development, and the arts. She currently serves as Director of Programs for the Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC) and is the Founder & Principal of The Balais Group, a consulting firm specializing in community engagement, communications, and strategy.
Previously, Maria was Executive Director of Leadership DeKalb (2013-2020), where she cultivated over 500 leaders, supported 50+ nonprofits, and strengthened the organization’s financial position. She also spent a decade in corporate community relations at ING Americas and Troutman Sanders, managing $6 million in grants and sponsorships nationwide.
Maria’s career spans both public and private sectors, including managing two successful political campaigns and founding the Atlanta Downtown Arts Festival (2002-2011) to spotlight emerging artists. She has actively engaged with Hispanic and Asian communities through organizations such as The Latin American Association and The Philippine Chamber of Commerce.
A Leadership Atlanta alumna (Class of 2006) and recipient of the Outstanding Atlanta 50th Anniversary Award (2018), Maria has served on numerous advisory boards and civic organizations, including the Emory Board of Visitors, Atlanta Commission on Women, and Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation.
Maria holds a degree in Theater from Agnes Scott College with a minor in modern dance. She lives in Atlanta, GA, with her son, Christopher.
Whitney Bell ’06 is a dynamic public relations leader with a proven track record in sports and entertainment communications. As the Head of Player Marketing and Communications at Overtime Elite, she has been instrumental in crafting the media strategy for the groundbreaking basketball league, securing national media coverage and forging high-profile partnerships with brands like Amazon Prime Video and adidas. Before joining OTE, Whitney held senior PR positions at Netflix, Smithsonian Channel, and TLC, where she led impactful campaigns for top nonfiction series and renowned brands. Known for her expertise in strategic storytelling and talent relations, she excels at creating narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Whitney currently resides in Atlanta.
Chandler Key-Logan ’13 earned her Mechanical Engineering degree from Tennessee Tech in 2018 before launching her career in Honda’s Engineering Development Program. She later became Cylinder Head Quality Lead in the Engine Department. In 2022, Chandler returned to Chattanooga as a Senior Manufacturing Quality Leader at Roper Corporation (GE Appliances), first overseeing a 14-person team across three shifts in fabrication/finishing. She now leads quality operations for Built-In Products, managing a team focused on wall ovens and gas/electric counter units.
Teresa Lawrence-Phillips ’76 is a trailblazer and icon in the world of sports, best known as a mother and leader. In April 2002, she became the head of Tennessee State University Athletics, where she led the program to new heights, including launching the athletics department’s first website, increasing sponsorships, and securing the NCAA Pilot Grant. Under her leadership, TSU saw improvements to its athletic facilities, championship titles in multiple sports, and a return to on-campus football games.
As the first woman to coach an NCAA Division I men's basketball team, Teresa has earned numerous accolades, including being named one of 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports by Sports Illustrated in 2023 and "Second Most Influential Woman in Sports" by The Tennessean. Teresa's career also includes a legendary tenure as head coach of the TSU Lady Tigers, leading them to their first NCAA tournament appearance, being named USA Today National Coach of the Year in 1990, and guiding the team to multiple tournament championships.
Before TSU, Teresa coached at Fisk University, where she won two WIAC championships. She also had coaching stints with Vanderbilt University and has served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball and the U.S. Olympic Festival.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University and TSU, Teresa is a proud member of several prestigious halls of fame, including the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame and the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame. She has earned multiple awards throughout her career, including the Betty Probasco Lifetime Achievement Award and the TSU Woman of Merit honor.
Outside of athletics, Teresa has served on numerous boards and committees, including the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Committee and the Vanderbilt Alumni Advisory Board. Her dedication to community service and leadership has earned her recognition, but above all, she is most proud of being a mother to her sons, Micah and NFL veteran Kyle Phillips.
Shelby Dooley Mullins ’13 is the owner and fine jewelry designer at Studio Mullins, where specializes in engagement rings, wedding bands, heirloom recreations, and custom designs. She works with natural diamonds, gemstones, pearls, and precious metals like platinum and 18 karat gold.
A University of Alabama graduate with a degree in Interior Design, Shelby spent nearly a decade gaining experience in residential design and architecture, working with firms like Laurel Powell Designs, Christopher Architecture and Interiors, and Betsy Brown Inc. After honing her design skills, she pursued a second degree from the Gemological Institute of America, earning her certification as a Graduate Diamond.
Shelby’s background in Interior Design and Architecture heavily influences her jewelry design. Her ability to blend architectural precision with creativity shines through in her work, where she combines her love for neutrals, textures, and patina to craft modern heirlooms that marry vintage and contemporary styles. With a growing clientele across the country, Shelby and her husband, Haddon, call Birmingham, Alabama, home.
Marshall Persinger ’77 is a seasoned producer known for her keen eye for innovative and creatively daring projects. Through her company, Fresh Produce Pictures, she has produced films, documentaries, and television that blend commercial appeal with originality, showcasing both established and emerging talent.
As a creative executive producer, Marshall has led high-profile projects, including The Continental (Lionsgate/Peacock), The Good Lord Bird (Showtime), and two films in Hulu/Blumhouse’s Into the Dark series. She co-executive produced the Emmy & Golden Globe-nominated limited series The Alienist and served as executive producer for the Peabody Award-winning Rectify (AMC/SundanceTV) and the hit drama Army Wives (ABC Studios/Lifetime).
Her documentary, Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, premiered at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, while her past productions include Wild Iris (Showtime), starring Gena Rowlands and Laura Linney, and the cult horror satire Cherry Falls.
Marshall launched her entertainment career in New York under Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme, working on films such as Married to the Mob, Miami Blues, and the Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. She also produced Amos & Andrew, starring Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson.
A former co-chair of the Independent Film Producers Committee for the Producers Guild of America, Marshall is a Lookout Mountain, TN, native and a University of Virginia graduate. After years in Los Angeles and New York, she has returned to her hometown, where she continues her work in the entertainment industry.
The Women’s History Month panel promises to be an inspiring event, highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of these alumnae. Their diverse experiences and insights will offer valuable lessons for all attendees, and we look forward to welcoming them back to campus!
