Niya is an accomplished justice-driven leader in the arts and culture sector, with expertise in developing impactful nonprofits and advancing artistic careers. Her expertise spans fundraising, finance, operational strategy, grantmaking, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), in addition to board and staff development. A Harlem native and former dance student at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Niya earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College in 2014 with concentrations in Psychology, Africana Studies, and Educational Studies, receiving the inaugural ALANA Exemplary Commitment to the Arts Award. As a dedicated advocate and mentor, she actively contributes to the arts community as a strategist, grantmaker, grant writer, speaker, moderator, audition adjudicator, board member, and more.
Niya’s career began in 2015 and rose quickly, securing leadership positions as Director of Development of the avant-garde José Limón Dance Foundation in 2018 and as Development Manager at Gibney Dance in 2017, resulting in a successful $1M+ capital campaign with 6 new high tech studios and a first-time elevator at 280 Broadway as part of a 3-person development team. Prior to the public launch of MOVE|NYC| in 2015, Niya served the organization as its Day 1 sole volunteer administrator, to Managing Director in 2019, to inaugural and founding Executive Director in 2023. Niya is responsible for the nonprofit’s growth, including the acquisition of its nonprofit status in 2020, establishment of a 15 member Board of Directors, and rising from a $25K to $1.5M operating budget with 7 tuition-free programs in NYC and DC, an international partnership in Scotland, and a 100% matriculation rate to top colleges and professional companies across the globe. Niya is thrilled to usher in MOVE|NYC|’s 10th Anniversary in 2025, marking her 10th year with the organization.
Niya is Board Chair of MICHIYAYA Dance, a queer and femme-centric contemporary dance company in NYC and Pittsburgh. In 2024, Niya served as Dance/NYC’s Program Consultant for the 4th iteration of the Dance Advancement Fund, providing grant development counsel, hosting webinars and 1:1 technical sessions, and awarding sizable grants to 40 dance makers and nonprofits. Niya's long standing relationship with Dance/NYC includes being an inaugural member of their Symposium Programming Committee and Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment, a featured symposium speaker, and 2-time symposium SMART Bar Consultant, in addition to being Co-Chair of their 2017-18 Dance/NYC Junior Committee—founding a Mentorship Program & Anti-Racism Trainings. Additional grantmaking experience includes the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs’ FY19 Cultural Development Fund, distributing $1.4M to nonprofit cultural organizations.
Niya's additional leadership honors include being a 2023 New York Foundation for the Arts' Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color member (10% acceptance rate), where she then served as an adjudicator to select the next cohort in 2024, and a 2018-19 Dance/USA Institute for Leadership Training mentee (9% acceptance rate). Niya's speaking and moderator engagements include American Express, Dance/USA, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference, Gibney Dance, Vassar College, and Purchase College Conservatory of Dance.
Outside of the arts & culture sector, Niya's interests include travel, exotic animal care, voiceover work, and screenwriting.
