Anya has been performing on stage since age 4 and could not imagine her life without theatre in it. Anya studied acting at Emerson College and in 2012, earned her MA in Applied Theatre Arts from the University of Southern California, where she was trained in the activism and therapeutic techniques of Theatre of the Oppressed. During her time in Los Angeles, Anya worked as a teaching artist for various youth organizations, schools, and the juvenile justice system teaching theatre and dance. Upon moving to NYC, Anya served as the US Program Director for Move This World, where she developed a digital program for K-12 teachers to integrate a daily practice of Social and Emotional Learning through creative expression into their classrooms. Ever since Anya discovered AfterWork Theater as a participant in Hairspray in 2014, she has remained very involved both as a participant and staff member, serving in roles such as a director, choreographer, and program development consultant. As program development consultant, Anya helped create and launch the pilot program of AWT You(niversity). In addition to AWT, Anya has worked for several arts education organizations in NYC, choreographing musicals for middle and high school aged students.

In 2019, Anya earned her MSEd in Mental Health Counseling from Fordham University. During her clinical internship and for the following 2 years, she worked as a Primary Therapist at The Renfrew Center of New York, one of the nation’s leading Eating Disorder treatment facilities. Currently, Anya works as a therapist for SelfWorks Group Private Practice.