Aliya Chisti was born and raised in San Francisco, she attended Sunnyside Elementary, Aptos Middle, and Lowell High School. She graduated from UC Davis in 2010 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition Science and minor in Political Science. She has experience as a substitute teacher for the San Francisco Unified School District and has also taught at Aim High Summer School Program. Her personal experiences in education fueled her to pursue a Master’s in Education Policy from Teachers College Columbia University. While on the east coast, she interned for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and for Senator Patty Murray. After graduating from Columbia University, she pursued a Fulbright Scholarship in Macedonia where she taught English and also researched Eastern Europe’s higher education system. Most recently, she was a Legislative Aide to Former Board President Malia Cohen. She is currently the Senior Analyst for the Free City program for San Francisco City & County: Department of Children, Youth & Their Families (DCYF).