Vera Starbard

Vera Starbard serves as Playwright-in-Residence at Perseverance Theatre since July 2016 through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's National Playwright Residency Program. In addition to this role, Vera has been a Writer for WGBH's "Molly of Denali" since December 2017 and has edited First Alaskans Magazine for the First Alaskans Institute since January 2014. As the Owner of Writing Raven Communications, Vera focuses on communication strategy, social media, public relations, and writing and editing since January 2013. Past experiences include self-employment as a writer and editor from 2000 to February 2019, with a notable play, "Our Voices Will Be Heard," premiering in 2016, as well as work in public relations with Southcentral Foundation from 2004 to 2013 and various roles in education and journalism earlier in their career. Vera's educational background includes a Healthy Native Communities Fellowship and a certificate in Indigenous Leadership from Stanford University, as well as degrees in Early Childhood and Literature from the University of Alaska Anchorage.