Aaliyyah Dyani (AD) founded her business under her birth name, Aaliyah J. Deggs. AD is a well-rounded scholar-practitioner from Kansas City, Missouri. She identifies as a first generation college student from a low-socioeconomic background. Although she has many non-dominant identities, she uses her unique experiences and lens to highlight perspectives and lived experiences that are often overlooked.

 

AD received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She also earned her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and a certification in American Indian Higher Education from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Currently, she is a doctoral student in Organizational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University. Additionally, AD has numerous certifications that focus on assessment and evaluation, leadership, identity in the workplace, professional life coaching, and wellness.

 

In 2014, her interest in Higher Education and Student Affairs officially started. AD has served as a Resident Assistant, Study Abroad Office Assistant, Graduate Community Director, Conferences and Operations Coordinator, and a Residence Life Coordinator at different institutional types: a private Historically Black College, liberal women's college; a public land-grant Hispanic-Serving Institution; and public Predominantly White Institutions. She learned how to navigate these different professional spaces, which furthered her interest in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and developing a professional identity.

 

She has lead and volunteered to support multiple projects inside and outside of Housing. She has lead college access projects in local communities and worked for two different study abroad offices. Within Housing, some key experiences include: Academic Initiatives (faculty engagement and Living Learning Communities), assessment and evaluation, curriculum development and implementation, leading departmental and regional committees, and supervision development.

 

Using her dynamic lived and professional experiences, she aims to share her expertise by supporting professionals to accomplish their goals.