UCLA-HBCU Initiative​
Summer Training for Excellence in Education Research
Summer 2023
Kayla Kirkland-Johnson, Spelman College
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I am a Junior, Education Studies major from Irvington New Jersey. I attend the illustrious Spelman College and love to read, do community service, and try new foods/ restaurants.
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Jakaila Scaife, Florida A&M University
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Born in Bartow, Florida, I grew up with three brothers in a modest working-class family. Graduating high school with an AA degree at 17, I enrolled at Florida A & M University in Fall 2017, and graduated with a B.S. in History and minor in African-American Studies at 20. Desiring to gain an informal education in arts and education, I participated in African Arts festivals, poetry shows, and African-centered schools as a poet and teacher. I will be pursuing a doctoral degree in History, with a focus on oral history, folklore, and indigenous spiritual traditions. My ultimate target goal is to establish an African-centered school for children facilitated by community leaders and parents alike.
Jamya Robinson, Dillard University
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My name is Jamya Robinson and I am from Chicago, IL. I am currently studying Urban Studies and Public Policy at Dillard University, a historically black institution in New Orleans, LA. I am very passionate about education, social change and equity. I am the team leader of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, a civic engagement organization that engages young people in the democratic process. I am also the founder of Students of Color Against Gender Violence, an organization that raises awareness about gender violence in communities of color. I have also studied political science and environmental policy in Cape Town, South Africa through the Center for International Educational Exchange. I hope to earn a PhD in comparative education at the University of California in Los Angeles and become a college professor.
Brittany Cummings-Barkley, Delaware State University
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Brittany Cummings-Barkley is a junior at Delaware State University majoring in Middle-Level Education with concentrations in Social Studies and Special Education. Her interest in education led her to serve with AmeriCorps for two years. Brittany aspires to pursue a career in education and write policy for the Department of Education. When she is not busy reading education policy, she enjoys making pottery.
KeAysia Jackson, Howard University
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KeAysia Jackson is a rising senior Psychology major English minor at Howard University. As an advocate for marginalized youth, she has dedicated her advocacy toward assuring that black and latinx children receive a quality education that is free from microaggressions and instituationalized racism. She is working toward getting her doctorate degree, where she hopes to implement restorative justice programs in public schools nationwide.