Ayana O’Brien (she/her) is the former programs and operations coordinator for PEN Los Angeles. She earned her B.A. in International Relations with a minor in English from Loyola Marymount University, focusing her studies on social justice and diversity in the public sector and the literary world. O’Brien is a member of Phi Beta Kappa as well as Sigma Iota Rho, a representation of her lifelong dedication to learning and service. Before joining PEN, she conducted research on the decline of democracy around the world and is currently working on writing which celebrates Black Girl Magic.
Ayana O’Brien
Coordinator, Programs and Operations, Los Angeles
Articles by Ayana O’Brien
Embodying Performance in a New Poetry Collection on the Life of Nina Simone
Shonda Buchanan | The PEN Ten A poignant and intimate reflection on the life of one of the world’s foremost Black artists and activists, Shonda Buchanan’s newest collection The Lost Songs of Nina Simone (Rize, 2025) asks us what we recall of the prolific thinker. With decades of dedicated research, interview, and rumination, Buchanan presents Read more…
Los Angeles, Where Stories Ignite: A Reflection on the PEN World Voices Festival 2025
As our city continues to rebuild, audiences are reminded that fear is not an ending.
Sarah Tomlinson: Ghostwriting, Los Angeles, and the Power of Rock & Roll
I was interested in thinking about the people who haven’t traditionally been given a voice, and the fact that they’ve been there the whole time.