Niaya Nelms

A Birmingham native and proud product of Birmingham City Schools, Niaya T. Nelms is deeply passionate about her community and serves as a strong social advocate for change. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Alabama State University, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Fisk University, and a Juris Doctor from the Birmingham School of Law.

With more than 12 years of professional experience in social services, Mrs. Nelms has built a proven track record of leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. She currently serves as the Workforce Training Lead at Lawson State Community College, where she works on the Reinvest Recompete grant. Through this initiative, she supports workforce development efforts across four of Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods, helping provide workforce training and career pathways to underserved communities.

A dedicated supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Mrs. Nelms also serves as Program Director for HBCU Cares. In this role, she develops programming and strategic initiatives that support HBCUs and Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs) throughout Alabama and Louisiana.

Mrs. Nelms remains committed to leveraging her experience, education, and passion to foster a stronger, more nourished, and empowered community. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. A self-proclaimed foodie, history buff, and music lover, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, attending festivals, and learning more about Southern and Birmingham history; recognizing that there is always more to discover about the rich heritage of her community.