Karen Wells, Duke University. John E. Lochman, Director, Center for Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Alabama. Lisa Lenhart, Treatment and Learning Center, Rockville MD.
Tanya Wright recurs in the role of "Kenya" on the popular HBO series, True Blood. A native of the Bronx, NY, she attended George School in Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College before working at the New York Times. After participating in the prestigious Williamstown Theatre Festival, she relocated to LA to pursue an acting career, quickly gaining momentum on the small screen with roles on critically acclaimed television shows like 24, NYPD BLUE, and ER. While in front of the camera, Tanya continued to write. She was a semi-finalist in AMPAS' Nicholl Screenwriting Competition and a fellow at the Mark Taper Blacksmyth's Playwriting Lab. Tanya is also the… writer/creator of several screenplays, television shows, and web-based series. Butterfly Rising, the film of her screenplay, marks her directorial debut. She enjoys dance, yoga, mentoring, and playing fetch with her black Labrador, Macarena (like the dance!), who plays "Baby Girl" in the movie.