Dernina is a student at Rutgers University with a passion for advancing equity and support for women, children, families, and immigrant communities. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Human Development from Montclair State University and has spent more than a decade working in education and the nonprofit sector. Dernina has experience working in community-centered settings, human service organizations, and urban schools in NJ. Her personal and professional journey displays a deep commitment to empowerment, advocacy, and creating inclusive spaces for others, especially women of color, the immigrant population, and youth.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”― Maya Angelou