Her biological sister is also a Tri Delta, so she was especially drawn to Beta Sigma at the University of Virginia (UVA). There, she says, she found a core group of intelligent women with similar ideals and aspirations."It was a time to learn: about myself, academics, relationships with others, about being on my own and about what I wanted out of life," she says. "Most of all, it prepared me for my future. It wasn't until I attended UVA that I felt the world was opened up before me."
Part of that learning experience, of course, included Tri Delta. Kerrington cites the leadership experience she gained through Tri Delta as a key component to her personal and professional development. "To be successful in the world, you need to know how to be a leader and how to be led," she says. "At the core of leadership is the ability to help others identify and attain their goals. Leadership is essential in fostering a strong and viable sense of community."
Now armed to the teeth with degrees in higher education (B.A. in biology, M.S. in biological and physical sciences and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular genetics), all through the University of Virginia, she is a research associate in the department of surgery at the University of Virginia, performing translational research in melanoma. Her research focuses on the growth and metastasis of melanoma. "I am specifically interested in how cancer evades the immune system and how this process can be altered to develop treatments," she says. "Ultimately, I want to help find better treatments, and hopefully, cures for people afflicted with the disease. The visible impact of my research on the quality of life of cancer patients is a powerful motivator."
Today, Kerrington is a Life Loyal member committed to the ideals and principles of the Fraternity. "I value the bonds that I formed with my Tri Delta friends, as well as the principles Tri Delta instills in young women," she says. "My best friends from Tri Delta are still some of my best friends to this day."
