Professional Experience: Statewide Director for the Georgia Clients Council (GCC) since 2002. GCC was founded in 1976 by the Georgia Legal Services Program. GCC's mission is to empower low-moderate income Georgians to address is poverty in their communities through advocacy, education, legal referrals, networking, and supporting community-economic development.
Civic and Community Service: Ovita has served on the Clarke County Board (CCSD) of Education for 16 years. She chairs the Boggs Rural Life Center Board in Keysville, Georgia and represents Boggs on the Paine and Boggs Partnership, serves on the Economic Justice Coalition board, Bethel Stakeholders, and served on the Athens Area Community Foundation. She is a member of New Covenant Worship Center and the Honduras ministry.
Government Experience: former lobbyist for the Georgia Rural Urban Summit, served on the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) Governance of Operations Committee, and GSBA Delegate, led the creation of the CCSD governmental committee.
Education: Graduate of Mary McLeod Bethune University in Daytona Beach, Florida founded by Mary McLeod Bethune who was an educator, a stateswoman, philanthropist, civil rights leader and one of Ovita's mentors.
Personal: Ovita is originally from Philadelphia and is married to life-long Athenian Willie Thornton. They have three sons, Cory, Travis and Kyle.