Ayanna received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her Juris Doctorate degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. She has worked for state government for ten years, beginning her state service with the Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support. In 2017, she joined Results Washington and transitioned into the role of Senior Performance Advisor, working closely with the Governor’s Office and his policy advisors on issues affecting Washingtonians. In June 2019, she moved over to the Office of Financial Management, State Human Resources, to become the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Innovations Manager.

In that role, she partnered with enterprise-wide work on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including the Statewide Office of Equity. As of October 2020, Ayanna has become the first Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Employment Security Department, focusing on equitable service to our most vulnerable residents, as well as vitalizing a workplace that empowers and celebrates employees from all walks of life.In her free time, Ayanna enjoys engaging in community service throughout the Puget Sound. An avid fan of pop culture, Ayanna enjoys listening to a slew of podcasts and checking out hit shows and documentaries. She lives in Puyallup with her husband, two children, and eight-year old Great Pyrenees.