Aja Bullock was born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Driven by a commitment to social justice and equity, Aja is pursuing an MPP to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to effect meaningful change in public policy. They aspire to work in a role that prioritizes policy solutions that are both evidence-based and grounded in the lived experiences of the communities they serve. Aja is transitioning from a full-time role at the NC Counts Coalition to part-time in order to focus on their graduate studies. They have served as the Regional Operations Manager for Southeastern North Carolina and will now be transitioning to a role focused on supporting the organization’s policy and equity work. As a Regional Operations Manager, Aja played a pivotal role in closing the vaccine equity gap for historically marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aja also has experience working on digital equity campaigns, LGBTQ+ equity programming, and various civic engagement projects. These experiences have sparked her interest in pursuing an MPP with a concentration in either health or social policy. Aja volunteers their time with several grassroots social justice-oriented collectives throughout North Carolina. In their free time they enjoy crocheting, spending time outside, trying new recipes, going to the library, playing video games, and so much more.