Accelerate Student Success Through Operational Excellence

I have had the pleasure of working alongside Jamila Lyn, Chief Student Success Strategist at Bottom Up Thinking, on projects related to HBCU and MSI course sharing. Her unwavering commitment to student success is truly inspiring, and her passion for improving educational outcomes is clear in everything she does.

Jamila excels as a strategic thinker, consistently offering fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Her ability to approach complex challenges with clarity and creativity sets her apart, and she is adept at developing practical, impactful strategies that benefit both institutions and students. Jamila’s collaborative nature and dedication to seeing projects through to success make her a highly valued colleague. It has been a privilege to work with someone so committed and skilled in driving meaningful change in education.

Jamila demonstrated exceptional skills and knowledge in helping her institution improve retention rates, graduation rates, successful student loan repayment, and institutional capacity, which are the focal points of the federal Project Success initiative. She was able to prioritize the services that best suited the needs of her institution and collaborated with diverse departments to implement them effectively. Jamila also shared her expertise with the Project Success teams and helped them make positive changes that impacted all the participating minority serving institutions.

Jamila does not negotiate on excellence. Her precision, expertise, and strategic knowledge has been critical for both small- and large-scale projects, and her vision-forward leadership makes the difference.

Sometimes organizations, institutions, and individuals need momentum. This is Jamila’s specialty. By matching her decades of experience and expertise with case-specific strategy, Jamila pushes us through and above the most challenging obstacles, forward to greatest success. Jamila stands out because of her imagination for a better future and her commitment to bringing big visions to life.

I have known Jamila for over a decade and as the economy and landscape of higher education constantly change, I trust her in complex matters the most. She has maintained a steady pulse on a range of issues and strategic solutions, all the while pushing for greater equity and amplifying the voices of the most vulnerable.

At the forefront of Jamila’s work is a focus on simply doing, designing, and delivering the absolute best.

Working with Bottom Up Thinking, LLC has been transformative for our student success and retention efforts at Georgia State University. Her programming is not only strategic and impactful but also deeply relatable to the diverse student populations we serve. She brings sharp insight and decisive leadership, designing culturally relevant initiatives that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and a strong sense of belonging. 

Her work with dual enrollment students has been especially powerful; equipping them with executive presence and the tools needed to successfully transition from high school into higher education. Bottom Up Thinking has a clear vision for student success and delivers it with excellence, making her an invaluable partner in our mission to support students in achieving their goals.

I’ve always believed that the most impactful marketing strategies are built on a deep understanding of our audience. That’s exactly what Jamila and Bottom Up Thinking are doing. At Acadeum, we’re all about empowering institutions to create more accessible and flexible pathways for students. Jamila’s work perfectly aligns with this mission by helping us see the entire ecosystem through the eyes of both the student and the institution. Her ability to pinpoint systemic issues and turn them into pathways for operational excellence is truly what creates a clear and direct path to student success—and that’s a story worth telling.

Professor Jamila Lyn has been a transformative figure, elevating my perspective and self-worth in ways I never anticipated. During my HBCU Step-Up dual enrollment course with Benedict College, I was actively involved in assisting my peers as a classroom tutor. Professor Lyn recognized my efforts and took the time to publicly acknowledge me. This recognition was pivotal in boosting my confidence and encouraging me to stand out without fear of judgment. Since that moment, our relationship has grown, and I now view her as a guiding light, affectionately calling her “Professor Auntie.” She has been an incredible mentor, providing support and guidance as I navigate my journey at Clark Atlanta University. Professor Lyn regularly checks up on me, and we have scheduled times to catch up, reinforcing the deep bond we share. I am profoundly grateful for her influence; her insight on academics as well as daily life has been life-changing.

Having worked alongside Jamila and Bottom Up Thinking as a colleague for nearly 3 years, I’m convinced she is the preeminent voice and operational thought leader in higher education related to course sharing and student success, especially among HBCUs. Jamila brings an operational and strategic approach to institutional and organizational challenges that thoughtfully confront outdated paradigms and introduce space for innovation and forward-momentum. Her value as a consultant is unrivaled because the depth of her expertise and her drive to deliver is unmatched.