Maya Shimizu Harris is an independent journalist and artist.
Originally from northern California, she is now based in Wyoming. She was formerly the state politics reporter for Wyoming’s legacy newspaper, the Casper Star-Tribune, and has also written long-form pieces for WyoFile, a nonprofit Wyoming news publication.
Her features, profiles, and investigations combine narrative, immersion, and investigative reporting to explore topics such as abortion policy, public health, right-wing politics, geology, nature, rodeo, and religion.
Her multimedia artwork and photography explore nostalgia and memory, living between worlds, alienation, and death.
You can reach Maya by filling out the form on the contact page.
Photo courtesy of photographer Lauren Miller.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2019-2021 B.A., UCLA, History, Asian Languages and Cultures, Los Angeles, CA.
2019 Qasid Institute, Modern Standard Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Amman, Jordan.
2015-2016 Université de Rennes 2, French Language and Literature, Rennes, France.
Experience
2023— Independent journalist
2022-2023 The Casper Star-Tribune, State Politics and Government Reporter, Casper, Wyoming.
2022 The Casper Star-Tribune, Health and Education Reporter, Casper, Wyoming.
2021-2022 The EagleHerald, General Assignment Reporter, Marinette, Wisconsin.
2021 Midstory, Intern, Writer, Graphic Designer, Toledo, Ohio.
2021 The Center for the Study of Political Graphics, Intern, Archivist, Researcher, Los Angeles, CA.
2019-2021 UCLA Asian American Studies Center, Designer, Researcher, Los Angeles, CA.
2020 UCLA Department of History, Writer, Researcher, Los Angeles, CA.
Skills
Languages: Japanese (advanced), French (advanced, DUEF C1, DELF B2), Modern Standard Arabic (intermediate), Levantine Arabic (elementary), Spanish (elementary)
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Canva, Infogram, Miro, Figma, wireframing, basic programming (HTML, CSS, C++), Wordpress, SquareSpace, CMS, DSLR and film photography, Google Suite
Editorial styles: AP Style, Chicago Style, APA Style
Other: FOIA requests, technical writing
Awards, Grants, and Workshops
2023
JUNE - Kenyon Review Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop, OH.
MAY - Wyoming Arts Council Professional Development and Career Advancement Grant, WY.
APR. - Top of the Rockies, First Place, Health Feature Writing, Before the Door Closes, CO.
JAN. - Wyoming Press Association, First Place, News Feature Writing, Before the Door Closes, WY.
JAN. - Wyoming Press Association, First Place, In-Depth Reporting, Lessons from Across the State Line, WY.
2022
JUNE - UCLA Miriam Silverberg Prize, Mr. Rocket from Occupation to IGY, Los Angeles, CA.
Organizations
2022— Society of Professional Journalists, member