About Kailyn A. Smith

I am a third-year PhD student in Boston University’s Department of Philosophy. My research is largely grounded in the Science and Values subfield of philosophy of science, with a primary interest in identifying connections between Africana studies and the history and philosophy of science. Previously, I attended Howard University before transferring to Morgan State University, where I received a BA degree in Philosophy with a minor in Political Science, magna cum laude. Before BU, I also worked for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives (2x), and the Women's Congressional Policy Institute. I am an executive board member of the Greater Boston section of the National Council of Negro Women, an organization I have served in since 2021, and I continue to advocate for advancing humanities research at HBCUs.

I was raised in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. I am especially proud to be a CODA (child of a Deaf adult) and am bilingual in English and American Sign Language, having grown up navigating between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In my free time, I love to watch basketball - go Dubs and Valkyries!