Kiria-Leah Johnen

Kiria’s journey into motherhood began the summer before college, leaving her feeling uncertain of her future. With her parents' encouragement, she persevered and stayed committed to her education. Throughout her college journey, she encountered dismissive attitudes that reduced her identity to just being a mother - an experience that fueled her passion for advocacy and desire to challenge the stigma surrounding young parents. Now in her final semester of college and student teaching in a kindergarten classroom, she is dedicated to changing the narrative around young parents, ensuring they receive the support they need.

Kiria’s strong organizational and communication skills are evident in her role at her university’s family resource office, where she develops newsletters and engagement materials to connect student parents with resources. Her advocacy work extends beyond campus; she recently served as Wisconsin’s spokesperson at the Urban Institute’s convening, “Student Basic Needs Security in the Great Lakes: Opportunities for Policy Action.” There, she shared her lived experience as a single mother in college and highlighted opportunities for states and institutions to better support student parents' basic needs.

Kiria believes that young parents should be seen as capable students, professionals, and leaders—not just as statistics. Through her work in education and advocacy, she strives to build a world where student parents are empowered to pursue their goals without stigma or unnecessary barriers.