The Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is honored to welcome Racheal Woods as our new Community-Engaged Research Program & Portfolio Manager. Racheal joins Georgia Tech with more than a decade of experience leading complex projects, advancing equity-driven programs, and building sustainable partnerships across corporate, nonprofit, and community sectors.
A proud graduate of Spelman College, Racheal earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in Business and Research Writing in 2013. Her academic training grounded her in global systems thinking, cross-cultural communication, and evidence-based research—skills that have shaped her career in organizational leadership, community engagement, and sustainable program development.
Before joining Georgia Tech, Racheal served as a Consulting Project Manager in the financial services industry, where she managed enterprise-level initiatives focused on process improvement, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement. During her tenure at BlackRock, she not only led strategic project portfolios but also played an instrumental role in advancing community engagement and corporate social responsibility initiatives. In that capacity, she helped design and implement volunteer and outreach programs that built meaningful partnerships between employees and local organizations, particularly those serving underrepresented and economically marginalized communities.
Racheal’s professional and civic leadership extend deeply into the Atlanta community. She is a proud alumna of LEAD Atlanta 2025, an intensive leadership development program that equips rising leaders with the skills and insight to address complex civic and regional challenges. She also serves as an executive board member for The Atlanta Music Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing world-class music education and performance opportunities to youth in underserved communities. Through this role, Racheal helps champion the arts as a transformative vehicle for empowerment, belonging, and social mobility.
Racheal is also deeply interested in economic development, particularly in advancing strategies that drive inclusive growth, workforce opportunities, and long-term community sustainability. She believes that economic vitality is an essential component of social equity and environmental stewardship, and she is committed to helping shape initiatives that expand access to opportunity and resources for all communities.
At the heart of Racheal’s work is a deep commitment to connection, collaboration, and impact. She believes that authentic relationships and shared purpose are the foundation for sustainable progress. Outside of her professional life, she is actively engaged in faith-based mentorship, creative writing, and exploring biblical leadership principles. She enjoys fostering spaces that bring people together and spark meaningful conversation, growth, and healing.
In her new role at Georgia Tech, Racheal will lead SCoRE’s operations and manage a diverse portfolio of SCoRE’s programs, including student development initiatives, faculty-community collaborations, and the Community Catering Program. She will also lead efforts in program communications, assessment, and partnership management to advance SCoRE’s mission of centering community voices in sustainability and climate research.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Racheal is deeply involved in faith-based and community service activities. She is passionate about mentoring youth and families, studying leadership through a biblical lens, testing new recipes, exploring new restaurants, and reading sci-fi and fantasy novels. Racheal is thrilled to join SCoRE’s dynamic team to help shape a model of sustainability rooted in community, economic development, and strategy.