Top 10 Graduate
Aiyana Ringo, C'2026, Co-valedictorian
Aiyana Ringo, C'2026
Aiyana Ringo is a graduating senior, Sociology Major with a minor in Comparative Women’s Studies, hailing from New Orleans, LA. As a Dovey Johnson Roundtree Presidential Scholar and Spelman College Social Justice Fellow, Aiyana’s academic and professional journey is defined by a steadfast commitment to criminal-legal reform.
A dedicated leader both on and off campus, Aiyana has served as President of the Unlocked Minds Executive Board, Director of Tutoring at the Destined for Greatness Outreach Youth Center, and Outreach Coordinator for the Spelman branch of Lifting Our Voices, Inc. Most notably, through her work with Unlocked Minds, she founded a virtual book club for incarcerated young women in South Carolina, cultivating a community of shared humanity and connection.
Her practical experience is equally robust, having completed impactful multidisciplinary internships that demonstrate her commitment to transforming the state of incarceration in the United States. A frequent presence at the Georgia State Capitol, Aiyana has interned with Representative Ruwa Romman across four legislative sessions, tracking harmful legislation and supervising legislative aides. In her position with the Southern Center for Human Rights, she played a direct role in securing the release of an incarcerated man, successfully reducing his 16-year sentence to eight. She has also completed fellowships with Justice for Black Girls, the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, The Carter Center, and the E Pluribus Unum Fund, each experience deepening her expertise and expanding her impact.
Aiyana’s next chapter begins at the Federal Defenders of the Eastern District of New York, where she will serve as a paralegal on Federal criminal court cases. The completion of her matriculation through Spelman marks her second time as Valedictorian and the end of the first step in a legal career devoted to reimagining justice in America.