Dr. NiYa Costley holds a PhD in Education with the specialization of Educational Technology from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her disssertation study was on the perceptions of K-8 educators about gamification use in their classrooms. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Administration & Supervision and a Graduate certificate in Integrating Technology into the Classroom from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and a Master of Arts degree in the Philosophy of Education from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology & Education and a concentration in Black Studies.

She currently works as a Hearing Itinerant,a traveling Special Education teacher working with children and their families from Birth-21 who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and mainstreamed into their home schools. She also teaches an elective American Sign Language class to high school students. She holds teaching certifications in Deaf Education, Special Education, and History. She has been a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert since the 2020-2021 academic school year.

NiYa is also Director and Founder of the Hands Anointed, Nurtured and Dedicated to Serve(H.A.N.D.S) Sign Choir at First Baptist Church of Glenarden(FBCG). She serves in the Deaf Ministry as one of the religious interpreters. She is also part of the Compassionate Care Crochet Group at FBCG. NiYa is an avid traveler, reader, crocheter, and quilter. She also enjoys Zentangle inspired art, mixed media art and temari ball creation.