Clair Borrego (she/her) is working with the Latin American Association, an agency empowering Latinos to adapt, integrate and thrive in the Atlanta region. At Georgia State University, Clair is a pursuing her bachelor’s degree in sociology, minoring in Spanish. With a personal understanding of the consequences of under-resourced schools, she is passionate about addressing inequities in the education system. As a current research assistant, Clair aspires to obtain a doctorate in sociology with a focus on education. Outside of academia, she is a part-time restaurant server and enjoys meeting and interacting with many personalities on the job.

Kerrigan Clark (she/her) is serving with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in Columbia, SC, to promote access, affordability, and excellence within the state system of higher education. She is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy and administration at Mississippi State University, where she received her bachelor’s in political science in May 2022. Her academic career and personal identities have motivated her to pursue a career in service of marginalized populations and equitable and inclusive educational practices, particularly through policy research, social justice and advocacy work. Kerrigan is a graduate assistant for the university’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, developing, planning, and facilitating DEI learning opportunities for students. Outside of her studies, Kerrigan enjoys painting and works as a barista at a local coffee shop.

Emma Finch (she/her) is working with the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, a nonprofit leading a statewide movement for high-quality early learning for all children ages birth through 5. She is from Asheville, NC, and a recent graduate from the University of Denver, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience, and minors in chemistry and biology. Emma is interested in early child and adolescent development and how biases and demographic factors compound disparities in mental health, access to health care, and education. Outside of school, Emma enjoys making art, specifically ceramics, as well as spending time with friends and being in nature.

Jack Kiggins (he/him) is assisting Every Texan with its mission to strengthen public policy to expand opportunity and equity for Texans of all backgrounds. He is a second-year undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, with a core major in ethics, history, and public policy. Jackson attended public high school in Atlanta, where he experienced firsthand many of the shortcomings of American education, including limited financial support and unequal access to resources. He believes it is vital that these issues are addressed for the benefit of future students.

William Shelton (he/him) is spending his fellowship with the United Negro College Fund’s Institute for Capacity Building, which partners with Black colleges and universities in pursuit of student success, community advancement, and racial justice. He is an educator and community activist from West Philadelphia who has taught secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education. William is currently pursuing a doctorate in urban education at the City University of New York. His research examines how school-to-prison pipeline policies impact Black and brown boys and to what degree literacy and writing can be a tool of liberation for oppressed groups of people.

Jadyn Steave (she/her) is serving at Alabama Possible, a nonprofit working to break down barriers to prosperity through advocacy, education, and collaboration. She is a J.D. candidate at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law and plans to practice education and family law upon passing the bar exam. Jadyn holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in English from Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and remains involved in the Black Law Students Association, UNITE LGBTQ+ TMSL, and Women of Law, three student-led organizations that champion diversity within the legal profession. She is passionate about educational justice in every aspect and believes education is a human right.