Aya M. Waller-Bey is a sociologist, educator, and advocate working to create a more equitable and inclusive higher education system. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Michigan, where her research examines how race, identity, and trauma narratives in the college admissions process inform meaning-making and definitions of worth. Aya is a Gates Cambridge Scholar alumna and earned an M.Phil. in Education from the University of Cambridge. She also holds a B.A. in Sociology from Georgetown University, where she worked as an admissions officer.

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Aya’s work combines research and storytelling to explore the intersections of race, education, and equity. She has written for publications such as The Atlantic, Forbes, and The Detroit Free Press and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Slate. Aya is a sought-after speaker and has given dozens of invited talks, keynotes, and presentations, including TEDxDetroit, SXSW EDU, the National Association for Fellowship Advisors, Detroit College Access Network, Claremont McKenna College’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, and the Aspen Center for Physics.

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A former admissions officer at Georgetown University and advocate for first-generation college and underrepresented students, Aya combines research with lived experience to inform her approach to systemic change. She is passionate about reimagining equitable pathways to higher education, amplifying minoritized voices, and fostering inclusive practices that honor the complexity of student narratives. She is deeply committed to mentorship, diversity, and fostering environments where all students can thrive. Her work has been supported by prestigious fellowships from the Ford Foundation and the American Sociological Association, and she is a member of the Bouchet Honor Society.

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Aya’s commitment to equity extends beyond academia. She actively engages in community service in her hometown of Detroit and mentors students navigating higher education. Aya is a proud first-generation college graduate. Above all: Aya is in love with the power of education to transform lives.