Chanel is the Founder and Interim Head of School at Ascend Legacy Academy. The first Black Boarding school since the 1970s. 

Chanel is the founder of Gaither and Associates Consulting, Director of the Melanated Boys L.I.T Club, and the President and Founder of Minorities Achieving Collegiate Success (M.A.C.S). Chanel currently leads several international education exchange initiatives in Dubai, oversees a virtual college counseling program for students in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, and has partnerships with several businesses and universities in the UAE.

Chanel developed and implemented the strategic plan for KIPP NJ/Newark Collegiate Academy and Marion P. Thomas Charter where she developed the college counseling programs from the ground up. Most recently, she has served as Assistant Dean of Admission for the University of Virginia. Chanel served as the Education Chair for the University of Virginia Alumni Association, Club of Delaware, and as the Club President for the University of Virginia Alumni Association, Club of New Jersey. Chanel has been recognized as a 2020 ASCD Emerging Leaders Scholar and is the President of the Delaware ASCD Affiliate. Chanel is also a member of the Association of International Educators and Leaders of Color and the Diversity Collaborative.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from the University of Delaware, Chanel holds a College Admissions Certificate from Harvard University and a New and Aspiring School Leaders Certificate from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Chanel is currently working on her Doctorate at the University of Delaware.