Before coming to Achieve Twin Cities, Kia (she/her) worked at a special education center as an education assistant, supporting teachers in classroom management, student behavior, social emotional learning and academic growth. She also used her curriculum-building background to create lessons and teach literacy to students. In addition to paid work, Kia has dedicated many volunteer hours to youth-centered nonprofits and schools, including a summer with AmeriCorps. 

Kia is a first-generation college student who majored in youth studies and minored in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at the University of Minnesota. She credits her teachers and mentors for guiding her towards a career working with young people.

In her free time, Kia likes to paint her nails while watching crime documentaries. You can also find her playing games like Stardew Valley, which is an adventurous farm game.