Nyasha Mugavazi
Nyasha is a Ghostwriter, Editor and Researcher with a special interest in Afrofuturism, fantasy, and children’s fiction. She received her BA in Politics and East European Studies from UCL and her MA in Global Thought from Columbia University. Incorporating her life experiences and societal aspirations, her creative writing is decolonial, queer, and collectivist. Nyasha also has experience in institutional fundraising and nonprofit administration. In addition to her work as a freelancer, she currently serves as the Senior Editor for Kugali, a pan-African comic book company that showcases narratives from the African diaspora.
Natalia Pinpin
Natalia Pinpin is a fourth year undergraduate student at University of California, Irvine pursuing a double major in Dance and Computer Science. As an interdisciplinary student, she is doing research in both areas of study, working with professors in topics including computer science education, artificial intelligence, and dance improvisation. Outside of school, she teaches programming and game development to kids. She aspires to have a career as a software engineer while continuing to participate in outreach for STEAM education.
Kimberly Dennin
Kimberly Dennin is a graduate from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, with her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology. After graduating she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for a year with the non-profit ONE Neighborhood Builders in Providence, Rhode Island working on community engagement and affordable housing. After finishing her VISTA year, Kimberly moved back to Irvine and has been involved in a variety of activities, including work for the Heritage Museum of Orange County. Kimberly aspires to have a career in academia studying representation in video games specifically focusing on gender and sexuality.
Amaria Stern
A native of Dallas, Texas, Amaria Stern is a recent graduate of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. An aspiring educator with an interest in ethnographic research, she aims to create spaces for artists to explore the intersections of art, culture, and spirituality. In addition to performing the work of renowned choreographers like William Forsythe, d. Sabela Grimes, and Dwight Rhoden, she has worked on film projects with both up-and-coming and established artists including Solange Knowles. As her work deals especially with the movement traditions of the African diaspora, she recently developed a virtual discussion series to explore the spectrum of black dance called The Diaspora in Motion. Her leadership experience with numerous arts and religious organizations continues to fuel her ability to facilitate environments that emphasize the importance of community and cultural exchange through interdisciplinary collaboration, conversation, and performance.
Thomas Reeves
Thomas Reeves is a third-year Computer Science major, specializing in AI and algorithms. His interests span the entirety of the software development field including mobile applications, physical computing applications, and Artificial Intelligence. Thomas has developed an IOS Application named “Codebreaker Mastermind,” a replication of a strategy board game, and published it to the Apple App Store. His interest in AI led him to an opportunity to assist Dr. S. Ama Wray and her AI 4 Afrika project as well as several other projects.