Tanya Marie Tichenor Starks, known as “The Sankoffer” and “Camera Girl,” is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, and historian passionate about preserving Black and military history through the fine and performing arts. A USAF veteran, she brings energy and expertise to projects that educate and inspire.

Educator & Curator
A lifelong educator, Ms. Starks has taught language arts, technology, science, and history at Como Elementary and in Atlanta, GA. She has also curated juried fine art exhibitions, including her signature project, “12 Freedoms Gained,” highlighting African American and military history.

Theater, Television & Writing
With extensive experience as a theater director and producer, Ms. Starks has helped bring powerful stories to the stage. In television, she worked as a production assistant for Recycling Works before becoming a host and producer at Comcast Studio 25 in DeKalb County. She is also an author, playwright, and musician, playing the piano, saxophone, flute, and bull fiddle bass.

Artistic Achievements & Awards
Her piece, “Sankoffing Oprah,” was juried into a 2010 exhibition curated by Atlanta’s 100 Black Women and featured in A Time, A Season, a multimedia book honoring Oprah Winfrey. Her honors include:

2018: National Veterans Creative Arts Competition Award
2020: Service Award from Stepping Into Destiny Artists Guild
2021: Acknowledgment by Opal Lee in her children’s book on Juneteenth
Legacy & Ongoing Work
A lifetime member of the Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers chapters, she founded 12 Freedoms Gained Inc. in 2025. She is also a photographer-in-training at First Baptist Church of Glenarden under Dr. John K. Jenkins.

Ms. Starks remains a dedicated storyteller, preserving history through art, education, and community engagement.