Aniya Sutton Ward is a higher education compliance leader, accessibility strategist, and equity focused practitioner with extensive experience supporting institutions in creating inclusive, legally compliant, and student-centered environments. She currently serves as a member of the Coordinator and Director Services team within the ADA and Section 504 practice at Grand River Solutions, where she provides strategic consultation, coordination services, and institutional guidance related to disability access, civil rights compliance, and policy development.
With more than a decade of experience across higher education, K through 12 education, and compliance consulting, Aniya specializes in ADA and Section 504 implementation, accessibility planning, and civil rights investigations. In her current role, she partners with institutions nationwide to navigate complex federal disability regulations, develop equitable accommodation processes, and strengthen organizational alignment with accessibility standards. Her work emphasizes practical solutions that advance inclusive practices while supporting institutional accountability and student success.
Prior to her consulting work, Aniya served as Title IX Coordinator and EEO and Title IX Investigator at Winston Salem State University, where she oversaw compliance operations, conducted investigations involving faculty, staff, and students, and led strategic restructuring efforts that transitioned the Title IX function into a standalone institutional equity unit. Earlier in her career, she worked as an ADA Counselor and Title IX Investigator at Lenoir Community College and has also served as an adjunct instructor in liberal arts, bringing a strong educational foundation to her compliance and leadership roles.
Aniya’s professional approach integrates policy expertise with lived experience in student support services, institutional governance, and equity centered leadership. She has contributed to policy development initiatives, facilitated campus-wide training programs, and supported institutional efforts recognized nationally for diversity and inclusion excellence. Her work has included partnerships with community agencies and grant supported programming focused on prevention, education, and access.
Academically, Aniya holds a Master of Counseling from Liberty University and a Master of Adult Education from Walden University, along with graduate certifications in women’s and gender studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from Winston Salem State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Clark Atlanta University, where her scholarly interests focus on institutional culture, compliance leadership, and equitable systems within higher education.
Beyond her professional roles, Aniya is deeply committed to community engagement, youth leadership development, and scholarship initiatives. She actively supports programs centered on educational access, mentorship, and leadership development for young people and families, reflecting her broader commitment to service, advocacy, and transformative educational practice.