He won a one-year Rotary Scholarship to study at Georgia Southern College, remaining there by paying his way on a tennis scholarship, and graduating with a bachelor of arts in mathematics.

He continued his studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, earning a master of science degree in oceanography.

[6][7] He had previously served as a tenured professor of oceanography and dean of the College of Geosciences (2004–2009) at Texas A&M University.

As dean, he oversaw four academic departments, the Texas Sea Grant Program, and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), which operates the D/V Joides Resolution, the 475-foot IODP ocean sciences drilling vessel.

[citation needed] Kjerfve was the director of the Marine Science Program (2000–2004) at the University of South Carolina, where he had earlier served as a professor of marine and geological sciences,[8] following the successful defense of his Ph.D. Kjerfve holds dual citizenship (US and Sweden) and is a permanent resident of Brazil, with a current UAE residence/work visa.