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Vera Starbard (born 1982) is a Tlingit/Dena'ina television writer, author, playwright, and editor based in Douglas, Alaska, and current Alaska State Writer Laureate.
After premiering her first play, "Our Voices Will Be Heard," at Perseverance Theatre in 2016, she was named Playwright-in-Residence at Perseverance Theatre through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright Residency Program.[1][2]
Vera began editing and writing as a journalist straight out of high school. She was editor of First Alaskans Magazine, a publication highlighting Alaska Native people, culture, and news, for ten years.
As a television writer Vera has written numerous episodes of the Molly of Denali animated children's program airing on PBS KIDS[3] and was nominated for three Emmy Awards for her work on the show.[4][5] Vera was on the writing staff of ABC's show Alaska Daily. Vera was appointed Alaska State Writer Laureate in 2024, a two-year appointment.[6]
- ^ The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (5 April 2016). "The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and HowlRound Announce $5.58 Million in Grants through the National Playwright Residency Program". The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Alaska Native playwright Vera Starbard wins three-year writing residency". Juneau Empire. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Hohenstatt, Ben (9 August 2019). "'Molly of Denali' drums up fun, cultural pride". Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ Larson, Clarise (2022-11-22). "'You can do these things': Emmy-nominated Juneau writers hope 'Molly of Denali' success opens door for more Indigenous voices". Juneau Empire. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ "2nd Children's and Family Emmy Awards", Wikipedia, 2024-10-10, retrieved 2024-10-20
- ^ Baxter, Adelyn; KTOO, Adelyn Baxter (2024-10-19). "Juneau's Vera Starbard named next Alaska State Writer Laureate". KTOO. Retrieved 2024-10-20.