She is also the founder and Artistic Director of Flatlands Dance Theatre, a professional dance company in Lubbock. Ali is currently a doctoral candidate (PhD, ABD) at Texas Woman's University and holds an MFA in Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a BA in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Professional Certificate in Online Education from the University of Wisconsin Madison. UNC Charlotte recently awarded her the inaugural College of Arts and Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award. TTU has honored her with a 2016 Service Learning Fellowship, an invitation into the 2016 President's Leadership Institute, the 2016 Apple Polishing award, the 2015 and 2010 Gloria Lyerla Memorial Research Award, two Creative Arts and Humanities grants, the 2012 New Faculty Award, and acceptance into its regarded Teaching Academy.