Aaliyah Marie Kissick

Financial literacy advocate and founder of Financial Literacy Diaries.

I'm a financial literacy advocate, nonprofit founder, and graduate student at Gies College of Business. I focus on closing the gap between what people are taught about money and what they actually need to know. Through Financial Literacy Diaries, I create tools and peer-led programs that make financial education more relevant, practical, and accessible with a strong focus on working with young adults and working-class communities. My work centers on systems, access, trust, and empowering middle and high school students to lead the path toward better financial education outcomes. I was inspired to begin working in financial literacy after studying financial planning at University of Illinois.