Passionate, determined, adventurous . . . just a few words to describe Kaity Rodriguez, Miss New Jersey USA 2009. The 24 year-old resident of Clifton graduated from Clifton High School in 2002 and went on to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina. There, she graduated Magna Cum Laude in just three and a half years with a 3.8 GPA. In May of 2008, Kaity graduated from New York University with her Master’s degree in Social Work.

Ms. Rodriguez is passionate about inspiring and equipping young people with the tools they need for success. She has spent several years of her life working with youth and family-related programs. Currently, she is a youth group facilitator for the Passaic County Family Support Organization. She also works with Essex County Educational Services providing home instruction for homebound students.

Kaity is very active in various activities throughout her community. She is a Youth Leader at her local church, Agape Christian Ministry, where she has performed several duties for her community, including summer camp director and Teen Ministry instructor. In 2007, Kaity founded R.O.S.E.S. (Reaching Out Supporting Every Sister), a support group formed to physically, spiritually, and emotionally empower women ages 18 through 25. She is also an Advisory Board member of the Girls 2 Women Program, which strives to provide girls with leadership skills and character development.

In her free time, Kaity enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling. She has traveled to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, as well as Spain, where she worked for 3 months as an au pair. Kaity’s new favorite pastime is boxing which she describes as “extremely challenging, but so much fun!” Being of Puerto Rican and African-American descent, Kaity considers diversity to be one of her favorite things about New Jersey.

Kaity’s professional goals include opening a nonprofit urban youth organization, as well as a group of charter schools in the Northeast. She is confident that serving as Miss New Jersey USA will bring her closer to these goals.

Kaity attributes her success to her faith in God and the support of her family and friends. As Miss New Jersey USA 2009, she hopes to spread a message of inspiration and motivation to those who seek to better themselves. Kaity is excited and extremely honored to be representing her state at the Miss USA pageant and plans to make New Jersey proud!