Early Life and Family Background
Dr. Amanda Charay Campbell Cooley was born on June 19, 1979, to the late Charles and Brendalyn Campbell,
and raised in the Hoy Community. She is the granddaughter of the late Nelson and Ardella Keys, and the late
Freeman Campbell and Mary Mims. Amanda is married to Randall Cooley, and together they have twin
sons—Darian and Darius (also known as Butterbean and FatFat)—and one Godson, Tyshawn Dean. Her late
brother, Roderick Campbell, was one of her greatest supporters, and she shares a close bond with her
sister-in-law Vernita, nieces Kayla and Kaitlin, and nephew Kendall.
Educational Journey and Professional Qualifications
Dr. Amanda is a born-again Christian who values education deeply. She graduated from Northeast Jones High
School in 1997, followed by earning an Associate Degree in Medical Office Technology from Northwest
Mississippi Community College in 1999. She continued her studies at The University of Southern Mississippi,
where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and Administration in 2003.
Her commitment to advancing her knowledge led her to earn a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2006. In 2021, she became a Board Certified Christian Counselor through
Lighthouse Christian Counseling Center. Between 2021 and 2025, Dr. Amanda earned six doctorates from
Northwest Christian University in Florida, specializing in Christian Education, Counseling, Organizational
Leadership, Education Administration, Social Work, and Ministry with a focus on Youth Ministry and Outreach. She also completed Chaplaincy Certification from Lighthouse Christian Counseling Center in New York in 2022.
In addition, Dr. Amanda holds certification as a Kidpreneur Educator and recently earned Board Certification as a Christian Life Coach, where she guides individuals to reach their life goals rooted in Christian principles. She is passionate about her motto: “Meeting the Needs of Others.”
Leadership and Community Involvement
Dr. Amanda is actively involved in several organizations. She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc.
(Beta Chi Sigma Chapter) and Gamma Phi Delta (Epsilon Eta Chapter), where she has served as a past
Chaplain. She is also part of The Bathsheba Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star Pha Foundation Inc., serving
as District Treasurer.
Her leadership extends to community service as she sits on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Region
American Red Cross and United Way of the Pine Belt-Jones County. Dr. Amanda is a member of the Jones
County Chamber of Commerce and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Additionally, she contributes as a member of PWN Authors and Speaker Bureau.
Published Works and Educational Initiatives
Dr. Amanda has co-authored several influential books, including Raising African American Boys, Raising
African American Girls, and Releasing Strongholds: Letting Go of What’s Holding You Back. She is also the
author of her own biography and her latest release, Rebellion to Reward.
Her upcoming book releases in February 2026 include Now God, Not an Option, Not Yet, Continue On, and I
Still Got Joy.
Committed to supporting students with learning challenges, Dr. Amanda recently completed Ortho-Gillingham Classroom Educator Level Training, focusing on helping students with dyslexia in small classroom settings.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Future Plans
Dr. Amanda is the proud owner of Greater Expectations Children Learning Center, a daycare and preschool in
Laurel, Mississippi, known as “The Place Where Learning Meets Potential.” She also runs Unlimited Dreams
Christian Learning Center, a 100% tuition-free accredited private Christian school in Laurel, MS, serving as a
501(c)(3) organization, operated solely through faith and donations.
Her outreach efforts include Vision of Hope Outreach, which embodies her motto of meeting the needs of
others, and Unlimited Coaching’s “Get in the Game of Life: Literacy” program. Dr. Amanda is preparing to
launch a mobile literacy initiative called Enhancing Literacy in the Pine Belt and Beyond, aimed at bringing
reading programs to communities across the state and beyond.
She can also be found on her upcoming platform The Literacy Lounge within the Skool Community and her
bi-weekly podcast “Faith in Action Movement” on The One Source Network.
