Aja Simpson Zulfiqar is a Director of Programs at NCTR. She joined the staff in 2021 as associate director and advanced into her current role in 2022. In her role, she supports residencies in NCTR’s Network. She most recently advised, taught, facilitated dialogues, created training and programming, and revamped curriculum with American University’s First Year Advising rebels. Prior to that, Aja directed and managed college access programs for first-generation, low-income BIPOC and other students marginalized by the U.S. education system. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Spanish from Emory University, a Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University, and Master of Art in Sociology – Race and Urban Relations and Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies from Georgia State University.