Ayazhan is a recent graduate with a Master’s degree in International Studies from the University of Oklahoma, with a regional focus on Russia and Central Asia. Her areas of interest include nuclear arms control, cybersecurity, and human rights. She received her Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Suleyman Demirel University in her home country of Kazakhstan. Prior to joining CISAC, Ayazhan worked as a research assistant at the Cyber Governance and Policy Center at OU. Her language skills include native proficiency in Kazakh and Russian, advanced English, and basic Turkish.