Ayana Haaruun is a media maker and learning specialist. Haaruun is currently pursuing a doctorate in Learning Design and Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her dissertation focuses on learning health behaviors with Facebook.

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Haar​​uun came to learning design after earning an M.F.A. in Media Arts at Southern Illinois University, and graduate certificate in Training and Organizational Development at Roosevelt University. Haaruun has served in academic posts at the University of Hawaii, City Colleges of Chicago, Northern Illinois University and Jackson State University. Currently, she serves as an instructional designer with Quaracore.

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Haaruun's research focuses on online groups and learning has been published in a book, Original Beauty: Black Hair in CyberSpace, and "Catwalk: Journal of Fashion, Beauty and Style". She's lectured at conferences such as Critical Issues: Beauty at Oxford University, Global Communications Association, National Council for Black Studies and the Broadcast Education Association. 

 

During her work in South Africa, Haaruun's writing was featured in a syndicated weekly newspaper column and Heart & Soul magazine. With historian Michael Arbagi, Haaruun published a book From the Southside to South Africa.

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A double-dutch jump rope enthusiast, in 2014 Haaruun founded Black Girls Jump, an Internet media based health and wellness initiative to have fun while staying fit!