Kyndall Wright

I attribute my success to the village I’ve been blessed with. As a single mom, first-generation college student, and survivor, I know firsthand that no one achieves success entirely on their own. My family, my friends, and the incredible support I’ve found at CSU have all helped me keep moving forward during some of the hardest seasons of my life. My mom, especially, has been my greatest source of strength and encouragement. There’s a saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but I believe that doesn’t end in adulthood. We all need a community that believes in us, reminds us of our worth, and helps us become the people we’re meant to be. I’m successful because I’ve learned that asking for and accepting support is a strength, not a weakness.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is that your story is your strength, not your weakness. For a long time, I believed I had to separate my past from my professional life. Instead, I’ve learned that when we heal, our experiences become one of our greatest assets. They give us empathy, perspective, and the ability to connect with others in a way that can’t be taught in a classroom. Pairing lived experience with education has become the foundation of the advocate and future professional I strive to be.

Know your worth before you ask the world to recognize it. Your voice has the power to create change, even if it trembles at first. Don’t let anyone convince you that your age, your title, or your past determine your potential. Some of the most influential advocates are the ones who have turned adversity into purpose. Stay curious, lead with empathy, and never stop investing in yourself. 

One of the greatest challenges in victim advocacy is ensuring that trauma-informed care becomes the standard rather than the exception. Survivors deserve systems that see them as people, not just cases. At the same time, I believe this is one of our greatest opportunities. As research continues to grow and conversations around trauma become more common, we have the chance to educate professionals, influence policy, and create environments where prevention, healing, and dignity are prioritized. My hope is to be part of that change by helping bridge the gap between lived experience, research, and practice.

Integrity, compassion, resilience, and faith are the values that guide every decision I make. I believe in treating every person with dignity, leading with empathy, and standing up for those whose voices have been overlooked. Personally, my family keeps me grounded, and my faith reminds me to serve others with humility and purpose. I strive to leave people better than I found them, whether through a simple conversation or by creating lasting change in the systems that impact their lives. I want my life to be defined not by what I achieved, but by the lives I helped empower.