Kemryn Lawrence

Kemryn Janall-Louise Lawrence is a doctoral student in the School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a Ph.D. with a concentration in Policy, Politics, and Leadership. Her research interests center on expanding college access, strengthening educational pathways, and advancing institutional strategies that support student success from K–12 through higher education. Central to her vision is the strengthening of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and building pipelines that connect underrepresented students to these institutions and beyond.

Kemryn serves as both an Admissions & Recruitment Fellow and an ACES (American Cultures Engaged Scholarship) Fellow at UC Berkeley. In her Admissions & Recruitment role, she represents the Graduate Division at national recruitment conferences and flagship university events, engaging prospective students and strengthening Berkeley’s visibility in graduate education. She also advises students on navigating institutional systems, contributing to strategies that improve retention and success. Through her ACES Fellowship with the School of Public Health, Kemryn supports an undergraduate course on homelessness and community solutions. In this role, she mentors 5–6 student groups, guiding their research, project design, and community engagement work.

Her fellowship record includes the UC-HBCU Fellowship, a five-year full-ride award from the UC Office of the President, where she serves as an ambassador strengthening ties between HBCUs and UC institutions. She was also an Education Pioneers Fellow with Aldine Independent School District in Texas, where she developed a five-year civic engagement strategy and launched a Civic Leadership Ambassadors Program across ten high schools. As a UC-STEER Fellow at UCLA, she conducted mixed-methods research with over 220 students, analyzing the transition from middle to high school. Earlier, as a UNCF K–12 Education Fellow, she designed innovative school models and was recognized among the top five student leaders out of 600 peers.

Beyond her academic commitments, Kemryn is the Founder and Executive Director of ProjectHBCU (Helping Beautiful Children Unite), a nonprofit dedicated to dismantling the K–12 school-to-prison pipeline and preparing students for college. Through mentorship programs, partnerships, and youth leadership training, Project HBCU equips students to build strong admissions portfolios and engage in community impact.

Her leadership extends into civic and community organizations. She is the Membership Chair of the Oakland NAACP, where she drives membership growth, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., supporting educational and political initiatives. She also served on the Women of Atlanta Advisory Council, advocating for resources for women and girls, and as the 35th Student Government Association President at Clark Atlanta University, where she shaped the university’s strategic plan, rewrote the student constitution, and represented students on the Board of Trustees.

Kemryn has been recognized as a TEDxWomen Scholar and a White House HBCU Scholar, experiences that amplified her voice in national and global conversations on education and access.

Looking ahead, Kemryn aspires to become the President of Clark Atlanta University and establish an HBCU HUB in Africa, creating a Pan-African exchange pipeline for students across the African diaspora.