Kerry L. Shipman

Kerry L. Shipman, MPA, J.D., is an Entrepreneur, Empowerment Speaker, and a Change Agent. He currently serves as an appointed Magistrate Judge in North Carolina’s 26 Judicial District. Kerry has experience in education, working in North Carolina’s second-largest school district, Charlotte – Mecklenburg Schools. He also has experience in criminal justice in both the state and federal system, where he served at the United States District Court, the United States Department of Justice at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Charleston Country Solicitor’s Office, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the Bladen County District Attorney Office, and a licensed Bail Agent.

As a high school dropout, education was not of importance to Kerry, until one day his negative choices were catching up with him. He said to himself, was his current lifestyle more important than his life. Was he willing to let go of his morals? His answer was no, and that is when he decided to stand up and make a change. Kerry lives by the motto “Make It Happen” as a motivational speaker and mentor for students, his son, and younger brother.

Kerry now holds three degrees including a B.A. in Sociology, a Masters in Public Administration, a Juris Doctorate in Law, and he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Criminal Justice with a research interest in the disparities and challenges of Black men in the Criminal Justice System as well as Criminal Justice reform. Kerry is the CEO of The Ship Group LLC, and Two Brothers Vending and ATM LLC. He is also the founder of Resolute Charleston, a 501(c)3 organization, dedicated to promoting upward mobility for youth and adults.

Kerry has published in the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice Law Journal and The Bencher Magazine. He has been featured in several publications for his work, including The Rising Innovator as a “Young Entrepreneur,” the Post and Courier, the Charleston Chronicle, and WCBD News 2 T.V., to name a few. Kerry plans to grow his platform as a change agent to address the inequality in education, income, and the professional workforce in underserved communities and a legal advocate for criminal justice reform!

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www.KerryShipman.com