MIRANDA FAMILY FELLOW BIOGRAPHIES
Tania – Connectivity Fellow (she/her)
“Born in a great city of Mexico, I was brought to the United States very young. I was raised in Antioch, Tennessee and there I learned quickly that I was meant for the arts. I studied studio art at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. I am a first-generation college graduate and a daughter of immigrant parents. Although my first love was the arts, I understood that I needed to fight for my community and developed a passion for advocacy. Since then, I have been able to combine both design and advocacy in my work. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with organizations that strive to help our communities and see myself continuing the fight while showcasing my artistic abilities.”
Fatima – New Work Fellow (she/her)
Fatima Dyfan graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in Government and African American Studies with a minor in Theater & Performance Studies. A black radical feminist in the making, Fatima explores mixed medium writing that illuminates life. She served as the Executive Producer of GU’s Black Theatre Ensemble for two years. With them, she directed Ntozake Shange’s for coloured girls… and ended her collegiate career with a performance art thesis exploring autobiographical notions of black womanhood. A performer, poet, and creative spirit who believes in healing, community, care, and the immense power of imagination.
Malaya – Development Fellow (they/she)
Malaya Press is excited to join Woolly Mammoth and its Development department as the first Miranda Family Development Fellow. They are a recent alum of Ithaca College, where they graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice with an Outside Field in Theatre Arts Management. Malaya founded the Ithaca College Musicians’ Intersectionality Initiative, a student organization that advocates for representation and support of musicians from marginalized backgrounds in the School of Music curriculum and community. They have also been Subscriptions Coordinator for the Ithaca College Theatre, Development Intern for Opera Mississippi, and Administrative Intern for the International Performing Arts Institute. Malaya’s advocacy for new work is rooted in their musical background, having performed and premiered many new pieces for voice, wind band, and trombone choir. Most recently, they were cast in the world premiere of We Wear the Sea Like a Coat, an opera written by Sally Lamb McCune, Rachel Lampert, and Yvonne Gray. Malaya’s long-term goal is to blend their skillset to organize opportunities and resources for queer artists of color by investing in community-based solutions. They are honored to be able to support and learn from Woolly and its commitment to equity over this year.