Shakera Vaughan
Georgetown University
Shakera Vaughan is a third-year student at Georgetown University dedicated to creating inclusive environments where all can thrive. She is an active leader in organizing the annual BRAVE Summit at Georgetown-which celebrates identities and honor the narratives and experiences of black women-and has spent considerable time mentoring underserved youth. She is a vital contributor within our Georgetown Scholarship Program for first-generation and low-income college students and is deeply passionate about using her skills and experiences gained interning with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama to improve public education and public housing. Shakera is attentive to the needs of those she serves and is well known across Georgetown University for her capacity to create and strengthen community by building bridges of understanding through dialogue and shared reflection.
Personal Statement
As a low-income, first-generation college student from Richmond, Virginia, I have seen first-hand the inequalities within my public-school system. This startling injustice has pushed me to advocate for those failed by our education system. Through a community-based learning course at Georgetown, I have the honor of being a student teacher for 4th grade students at a Washington, D.C. charter school where nearly 90% of students are considered economically disadvantaged. I serve as Vice-President of Georgetown University Women of Color and am a founding member of the B.R.A.V.E., an all day summit that uplifts Black womanhood, celebrates black women, and strengthens our leadership skills. Both positions allow me to program diverse and open dialogues about social justice issues often overlooked.
My passion to serve my community comes from my own experience in an underserved school system. My introduction to service came through my mentor who works to improve educational outcomes for Virginia's most vulnerable students. I want to utilize my passion and work ethic to collaborate with public servants to rightfully serve the greater good through the potential and power of education.
