Aniya Sutton Ward is a member of the Coordinator & Director Services team at Grand River Solutions. Aniya supports the team by providing strategic guidance and compliance support in ADA/504 services, helping institutions navigate the complexities of accessibility laws and implement inclusive practices. In her current role, she delivers ADA/504 consultation and coordination services across both higher education and K–12 environments, focusing on equitable access, policy development, and the implementation of individualized accommodations. Her work promotes institution-wide alignment with federal disability regulations while centering on the needs of diverse student populations. 

Aniya previously served as the Title IX Coordinator and EEO/Title IX Investigator at Winston-Salem State University, where she oversaw day-to-day operations of the compliance office and conducted investigations involving faculty, staff, and students. She was instrumental in transitioning the Title IX function from Student Affairs and Human Resources to a standalone unit under Institutional Equity, where she led efforts to create a more robust and transparent policy infrastructure. Prior to that, she served as ADA Counselor and Title IX Investigator at Lenoir Community College and as an adjunct instructor in liberal arts. 

Aniya brings over a decade of experience in compliance and student services, with specialized knowledge in ADA/504 policy implementation, accessibility planning, and civil rights investigations. She has served on policy development committees, coordinated campus-wide training programs, and successfully led university initiatives recognized by the National HEED Award for Diversity Excellence. Aniya also partnered with community agencies, such as Forsyth County Family Services, and secured the North Carolina Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) HBCU Grant to enhance campus prevention programming. 

She holds a Master of Counseling from Liberty University, a Master of Adult Education from Walden University, and graduate certifications in women’s and gender studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and English from Winston-Salem State University. Aniya is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in higher education leadership at Clark Atlanta University. 

Outside of her professional life, Aniya is a committed wife, mother and active community volunteer, engaged in scholarship, service, and leadership development programs for youth and families.