Zakiya was born and raised in Wichita, Ka. She received her B. S. in chemistry from Savannah State University and a PhD in chemistry from Clark Atlanta University. Zakiya joined the PME in 2023, and she is working towards a faculty or industry position under the supervision of Professor Stuart Rowan.
Sustainable materials, Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs), dynamic chemistry, polymer composites, thermal, rheological, optical, spectroscopical, and mechanical characterization.