Originally from Antelope Valley, California, Kiana began their higher education journey at College of the Canyons before transferring to California State University, Long Beach. There, they earned a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Kinesiology, and later, an M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology. During their time at CSULB, Kiana worked as a mental health peer educator and later served as the CSULB CAPS Peer-to-Peer Coordinator —experiences that solidified their belief in the power of community-based, student-driven support systems. Drawing from their own experiences as a first-generation college student and former competitive athlete, Kiana is deeply passionate about equity, mentorship, and the transformative power of peer-to-peer support. Outside of ScholarMatch, you can find Kiana immersed in sports (both watching and playing), hiking, camping, or exploring the mind-body connection through books. A dedicated lifelong learner, some of their favorite books are "This Is Your Brain on Food" by Dr. Uma Naidoo, "You Gotta Be You" by Brandon Kyle Goodman, and "Talking to Strangers" by Malcolm Gladwell.