Nancy Bannon, performer/writer/director, has written and directed multiple short films and stage plays including site-specific, interactive and immersive works. She is a recipient of The 2023 Washingt…
Brigid Maher is a tenured full professor in the School of Communication. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Community Voice Lab at American University and Founder and Creative Director of the Anacosti…
Claudia Myers was named one of "10 Filmmakers to Watch" by IndependentMagazine in 2015. She has written and directed four features, won multipleawards, was twice a finalist for the Sundance Screenwrit…
Tanya La Force is a Community Voice Lab Fellow at American University, where she has produced and directed documentary films that elevate underrepresented voices and strengthen connections between storytellers and the community. Grounded in the principles of collaborative filmmaking, her work demonstrates how film can deepen empathy and expand public dialogue through authenticity. Her short film Daron received acclaim as an Official Selection of the Washington West, Alexandria, Social Change, and Washington DC International Cinema film festivals and was broadcast on WETA; it is now available for streaming through the Community Voice Lab and WETA/PBS partnership. In addition to her creative work, Tanya supports the Directing the Documentary course by managing community partner relationships and contributes to the growth of the Community Voice Lab through fundraising and strategic development. She is a Master of Arts candidate in Film and Media Arts at American University.
Tanya is also President & Operations of We’re Good, a mission-driven podcast amplifying the everyday brilliance of people working toward a more positive world. Under her leadership, the show is now in its second season and seen as a platform for nonprofit stories and a resource for our region. A former Certified Public Accountant and Fortune 100 business controller, and with over 20 years in nonprofit leadership experience,Tanya brings strategic rigor to storytelling, philanthropy, and nonprofit growth.
Heather Brumley is an MFA candidate in Film and Media Arts at American University. She has a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts and spent many years working in different facets of the film industry in Los Angeles, CA. She recently moved back to the US from Ireland, where she completed an MPhil in Peace and Conflict Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Heather's work and primary field of research while in Ireland centered around storytelling practices as it relates to peacebuilding and trauma. She worked with WAVE Trauma Centre in Northern Ireland, which serves victims and survivors of the Troubles, and completed an oral history project released in March of 2022. Heather's fellowship includes assistanting with the Community Documentary course and coordinating the outreach campaign for the Community Voice Lab production, Street Reporter.