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A photo collage with the headshots of the thirteen WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows.

We are thrilled to share our WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows with you!

The fellows all participated in a four-month-long program that introduces them to publishing.

Fellows attended courses with industry professionals and were taught about writing, editing, marketing, and publication. Fellows were paid a stipend and have had or will have their work published.

Let’s meet the fellows!

2021–2022 WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows

A photo collage with the headshots of the seven 2021–2022 WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows.

Our second class of WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows featured seven outstanding writers. Their finished pieces will be published in an upcoming anthology.

Learn more about the 2021–2022 WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows.

Shipra Agarwal is outside with grass and trees as a background. She has shorter dark hair, wears dark rimmed glasses, and is smiling.

Shipra Agarwal

Akanksha Aurora is seated in a chair while leaning forward with her head resting on her left hand, which is propped up on her knee. She has long, straight brown hair, and her left arm features several tattoos.

Akanksha Aurora

Jae Carey is shown in partial profile. She has dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. She has a cloth mask hanging around her neck, and is holding hands with an unseen person who is in repose.

Jae Carey

Jenna Mayzouni is seated at a marble table. She has curly dark medium-length hair and is smiling.

Jenna Mayzouni

Jenise Miller is standing against a wall. She has long braided brown hair, is wearing a black and white patterned dress, and is smiling.

Jenise Miller

Shaina A. Nez is standing outside with the desert and plateaus behind her. She has long brown hair with bangs and is wearing a chunky silver necklace.

Shaina A. Nez

Leah Nicole Whitcomb is standing outside with trees as a background. She has short, dark braided hair, is wearing a gray dress with a deep neckline and ruffled short sleeves, and is smiling.

Leah Nicole Whitcomb

2020–2021 WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows

A photo collage with the headshots of the six 2020–2021 WNBA Authentic Voices Fellows.

Our inaugural class of fellows featured six outstanding writers. Their finished pieces were published in The Roots That Help Us Grow: An Authentic Voices Anthology, Volume 1.

Check out their bios and interviews.

Headshot of Alaa Al Barkawi smiling.

Alaa Al-Barkawi

Arao Ameny

Headshot of Amber Blaeser-Wardzala

Amber Blaeser-Wardzala

Cecilia Caballero

Headshot of Valerie Davis

Valerie Davis

Headshot of L. Iyengar

L. Iyengar

Learn more about WNBA Authentic Voices