Kymberly Byrd

Kymberly Byrd is a PhD candidate in the Community Research and Action program at Vanderbilt University. Her research examines social enterprise and entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic opportunity. Her research focuses on three areas: 1) social enterprise and entrepreneurship combatting post-incarceration unemployment and underemployment; 2) social enterprises providing wraparound services to their clients; and 3) not-for-profit social enterprises that utilize market-based strategies to support the financial sustainability of their organizations.

Kymberly obtained undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Spanish from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama and graduate degrees in Social Work and Public Health from Boston University. Kymberly has research and evaluation experience in homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, faith-based community organizing, and community engagement.