Our Team

Niajah joined the Rennie Center this past winter with a high interest in education justice and policy. Her passion for education justice began from her experience through the METCO program, a school bussing program in Massachusetts. Prior to the Rennie Center, she has worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC as a legislative intern for Congressman Tony Cárdenas and as an education policy intern for the US Senate HELP Committee. In addition to her federal policy experience, Niajah has interned locally as a political analyst at the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus. Throughout her academic career, Niajah has been heavily involved on campus serving as an academic peer advisor, SBS in DC Fellow, and a volunteer tutor for Upward Bound. In each of these experiences, she has worked to create an equitable space for underrepresented students of color not only in education, but also professional development. During her senior year, Niajah completed a capstone project through the Honors College that focused on increasing student’s sense of belongingness on predominantly white college campuses. She received a B.A. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College in May of 2023 in Sociology, minor in Political Science, and a certificate in Civic Engagement and Public Service. At the Rennie Center, Niajah hopes to push for education equity throughout Massachusetts. Furthermore, she wants to be a part of a space where education is constantly being researched, discussed, and improved.