Nina Sharma

Nina Sharma is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of English at Barnard College, part of Columbia University, where she teaches and mentors students in creative writing and literature. She holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University’s School of the Arts, an M.A. from Columbia’s School of Arts and Sciences, and a B.A. from Barnard College, reflecting a deep academic engagement with the literary arts.

• M.F.A, Columbia University School of the Arts
• M.A., Columbia University School of Arts and Sciences
• B.A., Barnard College

Her research and creative interests center on personal essays, BIPOC narratives, mental health in Asian American communities, humor writing, and intersectional identity. Her work explores themes of love, race, gender, and cultural belonging through a deeply personal and often satirical lens. She has been a two-time grantee of the Asian Women Giving Circle for her workshop “No Name Mind: Stories of Mental Health from Asian America,” highlighting her commitment to community-based storytelling.

Her publications include essays and interviews in The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, Electric Literature, Women’s Studies Quarterly, and The Margins. Her debut collection, The Way You Make Me Feel: Love in Black and Brown (Penguin Press, 2024), synthesizes personal narrative with cultural critique, examining interracial love and identity. The essays reflect recurring themes: the emotional labor of womanhood, the absurdities of assimilation, and the resilience of marginalized voices.

She has been awarded prestigious residencies from the Vermont Studio Center and St. Nell’s Humor Writing Residency. These fellowships underscore her recognition in the literary community. She is also a proud co-founder of Not Your Biwi Improv and co-created the column Blackshop for Anomaly, fostering allyship between BIPOC communities.

Nina Sharma formerly served as Programs Director at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, where she expanded programming for emerging writers. Her current teaching at Barnard and Columbia continues this mission of mentorship and literary advocacy. She has no formal PhD students listed, but her workshops and public engagements suggest a strong advisory role in creative development.

She is actively involved in literary events, with a book tour spanning New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, engaging audiences through readings and panel discussions. Her work bridges academic, artistic, and public spheres, contributing to contemporary conversations on race, gender, and narrative form.