Currently pursuing her PhD in Policy Analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, Asya (Asia) Spears, MS is a STEM workforce policy researcher with a focus on the development of data cultures. She is the founder of Rose Data Studio, a data career strategy consultancy that teaches STEM and public health professionals of all backgrounds the non-coding skills needed to effectively collaborate and create data-informed solutions through workshops, coaching, and professional speaking.

During her graduate studies, she was part of a team that was recognized with a RAND Silver Medal Award for organizing a hackathon to introduce Atlanta University Center students to policy analysis methods to design solutions for a more equitable COVID-19 recovery in the US. Asya holds an MS in Biostatistics from UCLA and she earned her BS in Mathematics from Spelman College.

As a program manager, she developed and led an internship program for MPH students interested in healthcare quality measurement research, supporting six projects across the organization. Three Black women MPH students were the first participants.