Aja Johnson joined UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building in 2021 and leads the Executive Leadership team. In this role, she engages HBCU presidents, board members, and advocates for Black colleges to strengthen leadership stability and effectiveness across Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Through collaborative development, reflective practice, and aligned leadership, the Executive Leadership work supports presidents, cabinets, and boards in advancing sustainable leadership models that enable institutions not only to survive, but to thrive.

Aja holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Howard University, as well as a certificate in nonprofit management from Drexel University’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, pursuing an Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership, with a research focus on executive onboarding and leadership sustainability.