Kerin Hilker Balkissoon brings over twenty years of experience engaging PK-12, community college, university, non-profit, and workforce sectors to address systemic inequities and barriers to college access, success and career attainment. Kerin’s innovative efforts are grounded in Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), integrating career pathways, high impact educational practices, asset-based approaches and developmental, holistic student supports. A NISTS Transfer Champion-Catalyst award winner, Kerin has a proven track record in designing data-driven interventions that enhance post-secondary inclusive excellence for underserved and minoritized groups. She specializes in supporting community college and transfer students, student-parents, first generation students, immigrant and international students, and post-traditional (adult) populations. At George Mason University, Kerin designs and implements College of Science pathways that enhance STEM access and success, and teaches in the Scientific Leadership and Practice program. She actively engages in university-wide efforts to enhance inclusive excellence, including service as co-chair of the Student-Parent Task Force, tri-chair to Mason’s First Generation Task Force, the Undocumented Student Task Force, and the Transfer Advisory Council. Herself a first-generation Latina college graduate, Kerin actively gives her time to advocacy and support of the Hispanic and Autistic communities, including a leadership role with non-profit Friends in Need Virginia, and as a Board Member for the Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN).