SPP Student with MS Plans to Use her Advanced Education to Advocate for the Disabled

"For the first time in my collegiate career, I am surrounded by administrators and faculty that are supportive and committed to helping me achieve academic excellence. [My scholarship] has assisted in paying most of my tuition, eliminating the stressors of going into debt."

Alaya McKinney has always been dedicated to education, faith, and community. Hailing from Glendale, California, McKinney graduated high school at the age of 15, and went on to attend College of the Canyons before transferring to Cal State University Northridge with dreams of becoming a Prosecuting Attorney.

In 2010, at 18, her life was drastically altered when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Ending up depending on walking aids, she was forced to leave school for three years to focus on healing. "Through the grace of God, intensive medication, and physical therapy, I got my life back to become the woman I am today," McKinney says.

That painful experience completely changed the trajectory of her career. After graduating from CSUN in 2015 with a degree in Communications Studies, she decided to devote her life to advocating for people with disabilities. She chose Pepperdine's School of Public Policy for her graduate work.

"I researched a numerous amount of the schools, but Pepperdine was the only one I applied to," she says. "Being a conservative Christian woman living in today's political climate, I felt Pepperdine would be the perfect fit. Plus, I loved Dean Peterson's stance on diversity of thought and free thinking. It’s just a wonderful, safe community all around.”

McKinney is grateful for her scholarship, which has enabled her to pursue her dreams without worry. "It has assisted in paying most of my tuition, eliminating the stressors of going into debt," she says.

She notes that attending Pepperdine has been a life-changing experience for her. "For the first time in my collegiate career, I am surrounded by administrators and faculty that are supportive and committed to helping me achieve academic excellence," she exclaims.

McKinney plans to use her education to advocate for individuals who have been disenfranchised based on their disability. After completing her master's, McKinney hopes to attend the Caruso School of Law and the Graziadio Business School, where she will acquire both her Juris Doctorate and MBA. From there, she plans to be a Disability Rights Attorney and, one day, a California Senator.

McKinney serves on numerous executive boards at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Junior Board of Trustees (Emerging Leaders Board), Government Relations Advocacy Committee, Services Advisory Committee, District Leader Advocate, Chairwoman of the Public Policy and Advocacy Board, and the Black MS Summit Committee. In these roles, she travels to Washington DC and Sacramento to lobby and testify before Congress and Legislators regarding Bills and Legislation that impact the disabled community.

By sharing her personal battle with the illness, Alaya hopes to change the stigma of what Multiple Sclerosis looks like, what age group is affected by the disease, and let the world know that there is no limit to what an MS patient can achieve.