Aliya Swan Helps to Amplify Student Voices Through Leadership and Service

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. As we celebrate a century of honoring Black achievement and culture, we also recognize the impact Black students, staff and faculty make every day across SJSU's campus. This series of articles shines a light on their achievements and the ways they help make San José State a more vibrant, welcoming and empowering place to be.

For as far back as she can remember, Aliya Swan, '26 Psychology, has been curious about the brain and human behavior. Understanding the reasons behind why people think, feel and act the way they do is what initially drove Swan to decide upon pursuing a psychology degree at SJSU.

"What really drew me in is how broad and diverse the field of psychology is," says Swan. "There are so many different areas to explore, from mental health and research to community work and human development. I love that my major allows me to continuously learn about people while also giving me flexibility in the career paths I can pursue."

Swan currently works as an events assistant for Associated Students (A.S.). Along with planning and organizing events for students on campus, she also reaches out to vendors, coordinates contracts and assists with renting out equipment to student organizations.

"I absolutely love planning and decorating events. It's something I've enjoyed since I was young," she says.

What Swan loves most about her job is being in a position to uplift student voices and support marginalized communities.

She helped plan the recent Crowned in Confidence event in collaboration with the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center (BLOC), which was centered around the celebration of culture and community.

"I'm passionate about highlighting African American culture and the diaspora outside of just Black History Month because our culture deserves to be celebrated every day," says Swan. "Being in a position to help create spaces for representation and empowerment means everything to me."

Swan is also president of the Black Honors Society, an organization dedicated to celebrating academic excellence, leadership and community among Black students. To Swan, it's more than an academic space; it's a place where Black students can feel supported, affirmed and empowered to thrive.

In her role as president, she helps to guide the vision for the organization, along with creating opportunities for members to grow academically and professionally.

"I work closely with my executive board to foster a supportive environment where everyone feels seen and valued," says Swan.

After graduation, Swan plans to continue her education and deepen her work in mental health and occupational therapy. She has applied to the SJSU Occupational Therapy master's program, which she hopes will be the next phase of her journey. If she is accepted, she plans on remaining in her A.S. position while completing her master's degree. Since Associated Students has been such a meaningful part of her growth, she wants to continue uplifting student voices and creating impactful programming.

"We have real influence, real voices and the ability to enact meaningful change," says Swan. "I want more students to realize that their ideas matter and that they can advocate for the campus experience they want to see. Ultimately, my goal is to leave a lasting impact by amplifying marginalized voices and inspiring other students to step confidently into leadership roles and know they belong in every space they enter."