ESPN NEXT Leadership

Aniyha Jones is a Coordinator on the NEXT Leadership team, where she co-leads new-hire training and supports NEXT’s ongoing development and expansion efforts. Before joining the NEXT Leadership team in 2025, Aniyha built her career in production, beginning as the 2024 NABJ-ESPN Stuart Scott Production Internship Recipient. She returned to ESPN full-time as a Production Assistant and quickly advanced through the production pipeline, serving as a Content Associate on Daytime Show Groups including First Take, Get Up and SportsCenter.

Having experienced NEXT as an Intern, Production Assistant, Content Associate and mentor, Aniyha brings a rare 360-degree perspective to her role. This experience allows her to authentically connect with our population, guide them through the program with confidence and reinforce the belief that opportunities within NEXT are endless.

A Chicago native, Aniyha earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.