Our Mission
To make college access clear, achievable, and actionable for every student we serve.
Dr. JoNataye Prather (also known as Coach Dr. J) is a speaker, author, academic strategist, and project management professional who helps students and families navigate the journey from high school to college and career success. With over 20 years of experience woven across higher education, social work, leadership development, and agile project management, Dr. JoNataye brings a unique blend of heart, strategy, and real-world insight to student success. Her background as a former college professor and administrator allows her to bridge academic knowledge with practical life and career readiness skills that students need beyond the classroom.
She is the creator of the MERIT Blueprint™, College Ready Blueprint™, and College Time Hacker™ programs, designed to help students build confidence, improve time management, overcome procrastination, and prepare for long-term success. Dr. JoNataye is also the author of Don’t Even Think About Getting Your Ph.D. Without Reading This Book First and contributor to The Best College Student Survival Guide Ever Written. Through dynamic workshops, STEM presentations, and student success programming, she empowers students, parents, schools, and organizations with strategies that support resilience, leadership, and future-ready success.
Website: College Career Blueprint
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 669-444-4139
Paula Dofat is a college funding strategist, national speaker, education advocate, and founder of Cut College Costs LLC and HBCU Money Guide. A first-generation college graduate with nearly two decades of experience in college counseling and youth development, she is dedicated to helping families make college affordable and cost effective.
Paula gained national recognition through the award-winning documentary Step for her college counseling mentorship and commitment to student success.
Through her trusted platform and community of more than 100,000 followers, she shares practical strategies on scholarships, financial aid, HBCUs, and reducing student debt, empowering students and families to confidently navigate the path to college and beyond.
Chris Corinthian is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur whose passion is to empower others in the areas of personal finance and best strategies for cutting college costs. After experiencing a series of financial setbacks including a layoff and a fire, he realized the importance of financial literacy.
With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education in Financial Aid and Financial Literacy, he has helped thousands understand financial strategies, particularly in paying for college without student loans. Corinthian founded FinLit University, LLC and Debt-Free Degree Academy to educate people on financial principles.
He has worked with organizations across the country like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Taco Bell Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Prudential Emerging Visionaries to name a few, and his message has reached over 50 million people through various channels. He is also a cohost on PBS’s (WABE) Emmy-Nominated docu-reality series ‘My Money Mentors’, designed to make financial literacy enjoyable and empowering for Millennials and Gen-Z. Corinthian’s mission is to help everyone achieve financial literacy. He is currently studying for his AFC (Accredited Financial Counselor) Certification.
Dr. Ebonee R. Mayo-Mitchell is a national college choice consultant, scholar, and HBCU enthusiast who helps students and families navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives. Known as “where research meets practice,” she translates complex college choice theory into real, actionable strategies that lead to acceptance, alignment, and long-term success.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a minor in Sports Management from Johnson C. Smith University, along with a Master of Arts in Mass Communication Media Studies and a Master of Education in Education Administration and Policy from Howard University. Dr. Mayo-Mitchell earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University, where her research focused on college choice and student decision-making.
With more than 15 years of experience in college counseling and higher education, she has supported over 3,400 students nationwide and has personally visited more than 550 colleges and universities, giving her a unique, first-hand perspective on campus culture, fit, and institutional differences. As the founder of College Prep 365, she specializes in essay strategy, college positioning, and helping middle-class families close the financial gap through scholarships and intentional planning—not guesswork.
Dr. Mayo-Mitchell is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and remains deeply committed to service and mentorship through college tours and national programs supporting student success.
A sought-after national speaker and published scholar, she has contributed to multiple academic publications and book chapters and has been featured at major platforms including the Congressional Black Caucus, National Urban League, Jack and Jill of America, Black College Expo, Alfred Street HBCU Festival, AERA, IECA, and various radio and television outlets. Known for her engaging and relatable style, she equips audiences across the country with the tools to make confident college decisions.
At her core, Dr. Mayo-Mitchell is committed to one mission: ensuring students don’t just get into college—but choose the right one, persist, and thrive.
