ABOUT ME

When it came time to determine her goals, Kerrijo made the deliberate choice to work in a sector

that would provide her with a sense of accomplishment while simultaneously having a

substantial impact on society. She recognized that pursuing a profession in education would help

her reach these aspirations. In retrospect, as the child of an educator, her commitment to

education has been evident for years. Her mother was a 40-year educator who cared deeply about

her students and community. She has always admired her mother’s passion for advocating for the

equality of all people. As a result of her upbringing, her attitude is always that everyone is

human and deserves the best that humanity has to offer, especially in the realm of education,

regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity, or exceptionality.

After receiving her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Tampa, Kerrijo was chosen to

serve as an AmeriCorps member for City Year. She spent that year learning about and analyzing

educational inequities that she was unaware of. Her passion for ensuring that culturally and

linguistically diverse students, such as those she served, receive the best education possible was

sparked. Kerrijo went on to earn a Master's degree in Educational Psychology, with a focus on

the use of cognition in education. She worked as a full-time teacher for the next two years and

recently started her first year in a Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida. She felt

compelled to return to continue to examine the disparities and inequities that persist in education

in greater depth, but this time to bridge the gap between research and practice.

In the educational sector, Kerrijo hopes to contribute to the representation and empowerment of

culturally and linguistically diverse students. She aspires to use her background to address

concerns of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the education system.