Contact
| Dept: | ENGL |
| Email: | ajalyve@iastate.edu |
| Office: | Ross 527 Farm House Ln Ames IA 50011-1054 |
Bio
A'Ja Lyons was born and raised in Sunnyside, the oldest African-American community in southern Houston, Texas. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies. A'Ja was a book reviewer and column contributor for Pennsylvania Diversity Network's Valley Gay Press, and an article contributor for Gallaudet University's The Buff and Blue. Her short stories and poems have been in publications such as Sinister Wisdom, South Florida Poetry Journal, Valiant Scribe, and many others. She has an essay upcoming in Triquarterly.
A’Ja is the founder of Griot Gang, a summer writing workshop for Black graduate English students. In addition to writing and performing her essays, poems, and short stories, A'Ja is passionate about reproductive rights and presented on state telemed abortion rights at the inaugural Iowa Undergraduate Human Rights Research conference. A’Ja is an avid supporter of local theater productions. Information on A’Ja’s past, present, and upcoming work can be found at ajalyons.com. A’Ja is immensely grateful to the women in academia who’ve shown relentless support in her achievements, including but not limited to Dr. Beverly McPhail, Liz Bradbury, Dr. Jennifer Nelson, and Dr. Amy Bix.
A'Ja is the proud mother of an athletically gifted and animal-loving child.