Katelyn Bright Alderfer is a PhD Candidate at Drexel University in the Educational Leadership and Learning Technologies program. Katelyn earned her undergraduate B.S.Ed. in English Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her M.S. Ed. from Pennsylvania State University in Teacher Leadership. She is a certified middle and high school teacher in Mathematics, English, and Social Studies.

Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Katelyn was a department head and taught middle level English and mathematics at a Charter School in North Philadelphia for three years. Being with the school from the start of its expansion, Katelyn experienced different leadership roles, and took part in creating curriculum, creating school policy, and securing grant funding. At the same time, Katelyn spent her summers taking part in various teaching experiences, from teaching elementary students in Italy to teaching at a detention facility for youth outside of Philadelphia.

Katelyn's research interests focus on access and equity, urban schools, parental involvement, teacher activism, and social movement activism all with a focus on educational leadership development.