Karanja Norway Matory was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. A proud product of Jackson Public Schools, he attended Clausell Elementary, Power APAC, Peeples Middle, and Provine High School. He went on to attend Jackson State University (2015-2019), where he majored in political science and was deeply involved in campus life. During his time at JSU, he served in Student Government Association, Student Conduct, and was a Fraternity Leader with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Within his fraternity, he held leadership roles and helped develop service initiatives that are still being used today.
After graduating from Jackson State, Karanja pursued his Master of Public Administration at the University of Alabama (2019-2021). Following graduate school, he returned to his native Jackson, where he currently serves as the Policy and Research Analyst for Mississippi Votes. Since moving back, he has remained active in his community, working to advance policy initiatives and civic engagement efforts across the state.
