E. Olivia McCornell, MPA, is a powerhouse in public administration, economic development, nonprofit leadership, and community transformation, with a career built at the intersection of government, business, and service. An elected official, nonprofit founder, strategist, and public-sector executive, she has distinguished herself as a results-driven leader with the ability to turn vision into action and build initiatives that create measurable community impact.

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McCornell currently serves as the youngest member of the Locust Grove City Council and made history as the first African American woman elected to the Council. Her public-service career includes leadership across municipal government, economic and community development, planning, code enforcement, business engagement, and program administration. She has managed hundreds of business accounts, led teams and public-facing initiatives, and worked across sectors to strengthen relationships between government, businesses, organizations, and the communities they serve.

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Beyond elected office, McCornell is the Founder and President of The Johnson Foundation, Inc., where she has transformed a vision for serving students and families into a growing community platform. Under her leadership, the Foundation’s signature Back-to-School Supply Giveaway expanded from serving 25 students to reaching more than 1,500 families through strategic partnerships and community collaboration.

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She is also the founder of O. McCornell Consulting Services, where she leverages her expertise in nonprofit development, organizational strategy, governance, and public administration to help emerging organizations move from vision to structure and from ideas to sustainable impact.

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McCornell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Tougaloo College and a Master of Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University, and she has pursued doctoral studies in Public Administration at Valdosta State University.

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Whether shaping policy, strengthening organizations, developing communities, or creating pathways for others to succeed, McCornell has built a reputation for leadership that is strategic, influential, and rooted in service. She does not simply occupy seats of leadership—she uses them to build, connect, and create lasting impact.