Aya M. Waller-Bey is a sociologist, educator,  speaker, and advocate committed to higher education equity. She is the founder of Aya Futures, a consulting agency that helps organizations in the higher education ecosystem reimagine how to support diverse students in postsecondary endeavors. Aya, an Adinkra symbol that means endurance and resilience, reflects Dr. Aya's committment to ensure that organizations have strategies and approaches that endure shifting political landscapes. ​ Her work draws on her decade-long career in higher education, including her tenure as an admissions officer and multicultural recruitment coordinator at Georgetown University. Her scholarship and writing have appeared in publications such as The Atlantic, Forbes, The Detroit Free Press, and NPR Code Switch, and have been cited in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Slate. She has also delivered dozens of invited talks and keynotes. ​ Dr. Aya holds a  Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Michigan, an MPhil in Education from the University of Cambridge, where she received the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and a B.A. in Sociology from Georgetown University. ​ She is a proud Detroiter and first generation college student.