College Success Coach, Community Investment
As a College Success Coach at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Laila works closely with Community Scholarship recipients throughout their college journeys.
Specifically, their work supports marginalized students throughout Washtenaw County to be able to attend college and provides resources that help students stay enrolled.
In their role, Laila stays connected with scholars, tracks their academic progress, hosts community-building events, identifies helpful resources, and looks for new ways to support students as they navigate higher education.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Laila holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology with a Social Work concentration, a minor in Community Action and Social Change, and a certificate in Trauma-Informed Practice from the University of Michigan.
Laila brings a background in education, sociology, and social work to their work supporting students across Washtenaw County. Their areas of expertise are creating trauma-informed organizational systems, creating community, and asking questions for growth.
Before joining AAACF, Laila worked as a Peer Advisor at the Center for Global and Intercultural Studies, where they helped students explore academic opportunities, find programs aligned with their interests, and pursue scholarships. Their experience as a preschool teacher also shaped their approach to creating wraparound support, practicing patience, and making complex ideas easier to understand.
Outside of work, Laila enjoys hiking, walking their dog Douglass, swimming in local lakes, and organizing events for Black queer residents through their nonprofit, Black Pride Ypsi. A proud Ypsilanti local, they also have a longtime favorite spot in Washtenaw County: Ice Cream Time.
