Kari Traylor

Kari Traylor was born and raised in Texas and is a proud alumna of Quincy House. She graduated with a concentration in Social Studies and a secondary in Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights. Her academic pursuits have focused on studies of race and environment in the United States, Black and Native American histories, and theories of Black empowerment. Her undergraduate thesis interrogated the role of water in shaping organizing tactics, influencing Black identity formation, and facilitating Black suppression during the U.S. Civil Rights Era. 

During her time at Harvard, Kari prioritized her passions for community, public service, and education through her extracurricular pursuits. She served as the co-chair of the Quincy House Committee, worked as a peer-advising fellow, and acted as the co-executive director of PBHA’s Small Claims Advisory Service to provide free legal information to Massachusetts residents. She also mentored Allston Brighton youth at the Harvard Ed Portal and organized for Harvard’s 2021 divestment from fossil fuels as a member of Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard. In her free time, Kari enjoys ceramics, urban foraging, and vegan cooking. She is a dedicated matcha enthusiast.

At Cambridge, Kari will pursue an MPhil in World History as the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholar at Emmanuel College.