Jakyra Simpson graduated with her Bachelor of Chemistry/Pre-Pharmacy from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2018. Following graduation, she relocated to Arizona and studied at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine specializing in herbal medicine and cannabinoid research. In 2021, she became an American Chemical Society bridge fellow and chemistry graduate student at Indiana University (IU).

Simpson graduated with her Masters in Chemistry from IU in 2024 and during her time there, trailblazed a new way to teach chemistry using hip-hop and sneaker culture.

Today, Simpson combines elements of her interest, cultural background and passion for learning and education as an approach to teaching chemistry to the public. She designed a hands-on activity workshop series and resource curriculum that will introduce specialized chemistry and its relationship to the materials used in sneakers, hopes to encourage others to customize their futures using aspects of their culture.