Ani-ya Beasley is a two-time grant-winning senior at the University of Arkansas, pursuing degrees in African and African American Studies and History, with minors in Medical Humanities and Global Studies. In Fall 2024, Beasley will begin working toward a master’s degree in history and a certificate in African and African American Studies.

As an undergraduate, Beasley secured two research grants—one from the Black History Commission and another from the Society of the History of Medicine and Health Professions—for her research on the Black community in Hot Springs, Arkansas, during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Beyond her academic work, Beasley has been significantly involved in the university community. She has served as the head ambassador for African and African American Studies, president of Sankofa, the RSO for African and African American Studies, and community chair of the U of A Distinguished Lectures Committee. Notably, she has spearheaded events, organized donation drives, and managed the African and African American Studies program’s social media presence for the past three years.