Raia Lockerman
Manager Of Post Secondary Support
Suitland,MD
Summary
Dynamic public service professional with experience managing postsecondary support programs, designing operational systems, and improving persistence and degree completion for 150+ students. Skilled in data-driven decision-making, equity-focused program design, and cross-sector stakeholder engagement, with international research experience, seeking an MPA to advance public administration, policy analysis, and social equity.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Manager of Postsecondary Support, KIPP Forward
KIPP DC Public Schools
07.2025 - Current
- Selected for EquityxDesign Fellowship, collaborating with a cross-functional cohort to research, ideate, and design solutions addressing systemic organizational inequities.
- Lead regional postsecondary support for 150 students, managing enrollment, persistence, and degree completion across diverse pathways.
- Architect semi-annual funding waiver protocols, overseeing the full lifecycle from design and compliance screening to troubleshooting access issues.
- Direct regional campus engagement and travel logistics, strengthening institutional partnerships and providing on-site student advocacy.
- Develop and manage a centralized social media and outreach framework, leveraging market research and cross-team collaboration to streamline communication.
- Cultivate partnerships with DC/MD service organizations (e.g., DHS, Sasha Bruce) to provide wraparound resources and holistic student support.
Post-Secondary Support Fellow
KIPP DC Public Schools
07.2023 - 07.2025
- 2025 Amplifying Voices Award for excellence in student advocacy and cultivating strategic community partnerships.
- Equity Fellowship: Completed a selective leadership program on DEI integration and restorative practices, developing strategies for inclusive adult learning and collaborative, harm-reduction problem-solving.
- Guided a 140–150 alumni caseload from two KIPP DC high schools, leveraging Salesforce to track progress and provide data-driven insights for leadership.
- Consistently met seasonal college readiness and enrollment targets through high-volume outreach and targeted persistence interventions.
- Facilitated student access to scholarships, internships, and transfer support, navigating institutional barriers to ensure higher education persistence.
Ubben Fellow, Alumni Engagement & Development
Duke University
05.2022 - 02.2023
- Implemented cross-functional programs bridging the gap between 14,000+ students and 190,000+ global alumni to enhance professional networking opportunities.
- Led educational presentations on alumni resources and funding applications, significantly increasing student awareness of available support networks.
- Coordinated multi-stakeholder logistics for large-scale campus events, managing vendors, alumni guests, and student participants to ensure seamless execution.
- Supervised the Duke Student Alumni Board (DSAB), overseeing 50+ volunteers and strengthening relationships with diverse student groups.
- Optimized data management for campus-wide initiatives, delivering filtered student/alumni lists and engagement reports to academic departments.
Intern, Karsh Alumni & Visitors Center
Duke University
09.2021 - 05.2022
- Served as a primary university ambassador, delivering high-level administrative support and institutional guidance to students, alumni, and distinguished visitors.
- Optimized front-office operations and visitor services, managing complex communications and workflows to ensure a seamless guest experience.
Intern (Remote)
King's College of London
05.2020 - 08.2020
- Standardized and optimized archival metadata for 15% of total site content, improving searchability and site organization.
- Translated 60+ complex Arabic archival descriptions and articles into English, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural nuance.
- Leveraged academic databases to conduct high-level research for historical reports and published site articles.
- Strategized project sustainability by categorizing archival materials and contributing to long-term funding research.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Comparative Studies
Duke University
Durham, NC05.2022
Skills
- Program Design & Implementation
- Data-Driven Decision Making & Evaluation
- Project & Timeline Coordination
- Stakeholder & Community Engagement
- Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Research & Analysis (Qualitative & Quantitative)
Certification
Project Management Certificate, Coursera (Completed July 2025)
Research Experience
Sr. Honors Research Thesis, titled: #WhenISeeThemISeeUs: Conceptualizing Black Power's Palestine| Awarded High Honors | 2021 – 2022
- Investigated transnational solidarity between Black and Palestinian liberation movements using historical and archival research.
- Traced the evolution of Black radical thought and its role in 20th-century internationalism and global systems of oppression.
- Analyzed ideological shifts toward revolutionary engagement and the impact of the Black radical imaginary on modern solidarity frameworks.
Sudan Memory Project | Digital Preservation & Research Intern | 2020
- Executed metadata standardization for 15% of site content, safeguarding archives at risk of destruction due to regional conflict.
- Translated 60+ Arabic archival records into English, ensuring cultural nuance and accuracy for global researchers.
- Partnered with stakeholders in London, Sudan, and the U.S. to produce data digests for academic departments.
- Enhanced metadata structures for searchability and conducted research to identify and secure long-term funding.
Timeline
Manager of Postsecondary Support, KIPP Forward
KIPP DC Public Schools
07.2025 - Current
Post-Secondary Support Fellow
KIPP DC Public Schools
07.2023 - 07.2025
Ubben Fellow, Alumni Engagement & Development
Duke University
05.2022 - 02.2023
Intern, Karsh Alumni & Visitors Center
Duke University
09.2021 - 05.2022
Intern (Remote)
King's College of London
05.2020 - 08.2020
Bachelor of Arts - International Comparative Studies
Duke University