Kerita Kegler works for the US Environmental Protection Agency, in Lakewood, Colorado. She is also working towards her doctorate degree in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University, and preparing her proposal for her dissertation titled “Collaboration as a Tool for Providing Safe Environments for Sexual Minority Youth”. Her Aunt Virginia persuaded Kerita to reach higher than she thought possible, despite a rocky start in life. When a college professor later told Kerita she couldn’t succeed, she took that, too, as motivation, and obtained her MBA. “Now am in the home stretch of my doctorate!”

Kerita’s goal is to teach college, and to work within a nonprofit organization that addresses the issues faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning youth. She believes this is an underserved population, and one that needs attention. “Since I am not fortunate to have any children, I think giving back is a blessing. The need to work with kids started when I lived in East St Louis, and I saw how troubled kids were left out of the system and forgotten.” Kerita has served in the US Marine Corps, and in her free time enjoys golfing, and is an avid furniture refinisher.