Commencement Speaker

Aliyah Johnson 

Aliyah Johnson was born and raised in Riviera Beach, Florida and is a proud alumna of the Unsinkable Albany State University. 

Aliyah’s passion for public service spans back to her tenure as Student Government Association President for her beloved alma mater during the wake of COVID-19 and social injustice. During the Johnson Administration, they addressed food insecurity with the on-campus Buck Bank food pantry, implemented five instructional days off to promote mental health and wellness, hosted a Black Lives Matter 5K to honor the lives of those who died to racial injustice, and brought a social justice mural to campus. Aliyah also co-hosted the HBCUs Forward Voter Education Pep Rally with NBA Star Matt Barnes and comedian Jess Hilarious during the 2020 election season.

As a proud HBCU alumna, preceding her work at the White House, Aliyah had the privilege of working with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation where she served as a communications intern for Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) on Capitol Hill.

Beginning her tenure in the Biden-Harris Administration, Aliyah served as a Staff Assistant for White House Personnel assisting President Biden’s vision on creating an administration that represented America. Demonstrating extraordinary leadership and dedication, Aliyah quickly advanced from Staff Assistant to Associate Director of Employee Engagement and Leadership Development in under a year, a rare accomplishment in the fast-paced environment of the White House.

Aliyah was featured in The Root’s “Young and Talented 40 & under Black White House Staffers” list and soon became an Advisor for Public Engagement. Aliyah champions her career success to the quote “God places the best things in life on the other side of fear” as it led her to serve as the youngest Senior Advisor for Public Engagement at the White House with a portfolio primarily focusing on the events and programming for the President of the United States. Her efforts within this role have led to many successes, including the President’s engagement strategy for the White House’s Juneteenth Concert, advancing President Biden’s historical commencement speech at Morehouse College, and managing the first-ever Black Excellence Brunch on the White House South Lawn. She was also nominated to receive the 2025 National Black Women’s Roundtable Sistars "Public Service" Leadership Award as her presence also opened doors and broke glass ceilings, letting young Black women know that their existence can impact lives in the executive branch of the federal government.

Although her time at the White House has concluded, Aliyah is honored to share her learnings with Albany State’s Class of 2025, showing them what they’re capable of achieving if they never settle for “safe” and remain powered by their dreams.