When Dr. Lyasha Bishop-Gaines ’16 was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Pennsylvania, her first reaction wasn’t about personal accolades.
“I was more humbled than anything, because for me it’s about early childcare being brought to the forefront,” she says.
The recognition comes from her work with The Early Excellence Project (EEP), a nonprofit she co-founded in 2017 that focuses on enhancing early childhood education by helping Black and Brown childcare providers succeed.
“Writing grants, connecting with foundations, and advocating monetarily for education entities is what I really enjoy doing,” Bishop-Gaines explains.
Finding Lehigh — and Her Path
Bishop-Gaines’ introduction to nonprofits began in high school through Upward Bound, a program that helps many first-generation students prepare for college.
“It was really nice because the leader put together a mini college tour to introduce us to colleges in Pennsylvania,” she says, which ultimately led her to Lehigh.
Initially, Bishop-Gaines enrolled as an accounting major, drawn by Lehigh’s high ranking for undergraduate accounting programs. But she soon realized it wasn’t the right fit.
“I very seriously wanted to be a CPA, but I absolutely hated all things accounting in the first semester,” she says with a laugh. “I convinced myself business school wasn’t for me.”
She pivoted to a double major in history and Africana studies with a minor in English — a change that would open doors she couldn’t have anticipated. She studied abroad twice in Ghana, where she conducted research and discovered a passion for education that would define her career.
Lehigh faculty mentors played a crucial role in her success.
“Dr. Seth Moglen (professor of English) helped students fall in love with literature. I knew from watching him that I wanted to teach,” says Bishop-Gaines. “Dr. Kwame Essien (associate professor of history) helped shape who I am tremendously. He was the one who orchestrated the Lehigh Study Abroad summer research in Ghana, and that time shaped me professionally and made me realize, ‘I can do this.’”
Umoja House, with its diverse and inclusive programming, was another highlight.
“There was so much unity that went on there. Inviting people of different backgrounds to get to know each other, to get past our differences; it was a big part of my time at Lehigh.”
Teaching, Writing, and Learning
Key experiences at Lehigh prepared Bishop-Gaines for her future. Working with young children at the childcare center on campus sparked her love for teaching. As a humanities major, she discovered her talent for writing, especially grant writing.
After graduation, Bishop-Gaines continued her education with a master’s in law at the University of Pittsburgh, concentrating in education law. Internships at the Education Law Center fueled her passion for advocacy, especially for students whose needs were being overlooked.
She decided to get more hands-on classroom experience, earning a master’s in education and teaching kindergarten, third grade, and high school Spanish for five years.
“I’m so grateful for that time,” she says. “I was able to see very closely what gaps existed in education and how I wanted to fill those gaps.”
Filling the Gaps in Education
In 2017, co-founding EEP allowed Bishop-Gaines to merge her technical skills with her passion for advocacy. As executive director, she helped entrepreneurs start childcare centers, prevent closures, secure grants, and provide business assistance where needed.
After five years at EEP, Bishop-Gaines felt the need to expand her advocacy work to include early childhood through 12th grade, so she joined Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens (YBMKQ), first as a consultant writing grants, then as its chief impact officer.
“I watched it go from an idea to having its own community center,” she says.
YBMKQ operates in a Pittsburgh neighborhood affected by high rates of gun violence, offering a safe haven and enrichment programs for young people ages 5 to 17. One initiative Bishop-Gaines is especially proud of is the organization’s new mental health studio, funded through a naming sponsorship she helped secure. It provides free one-on-one and group therapy for youth, as well as family counseling after hours.
“You can’t heal what you don’t reveal,” she says. “Seeing our youth find space to heal — that’s the most impactful work I’ve been part of.”
Advice for Today’s Lehigh Students
Her guidance for Lehigh students is simple: “Get out of your comfort zone and try all the things,” she says. “Join clubs, even some clubs you might not think you’ll like
or be good at. You never know what you’re going to find.”
Bishop-Gaines also recommends taking advantage of all that Lehigh has to offer, including service trips, leadership, Greek life, and global travel.
“Your future might not look like a straight line. Mine didn’t. But every experience gave me tools I use today,” she says.
Whether leading a nonprofit, securing funding for community programs, or supporting at-risk youth, Bishop-Gaines embodies the idea that learning doesn’t stop at graduation — and neither does impact.
“I’ve collected a lot of degrees and skills,” she reflects. “But through it all, my love for education has been the constant. It’s the thread that ties it all together.”
