• University of Michigan
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
• CUNY Brooklyn College
• Bachelor of arts in English

Darina Sikmashvili is a writer, educator and holds an MFA in Writing from the University of Michigan and a BA in English Literature from CUNY Brooklyn College. Darina brings extensive experience teaching writing to students across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Her teaching style is both imaginative and student-centered, and her classes are known for being engaging, innovative, and deeply enjoyable for young writers.

Most recently, she was a graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan for academic and creative writing. She designs her curriculum to help students find their voice, build strong storytelling skills, and develop confidence in both personal and academic expression. Many of her students describe her classes as the highlight of their week.

In addition to her teaching, Darina has a background in film, having worked as a writers’ room assistant, lighting designer, and writer/director on independent film projects. Her fiction and essays have been widely published, and she is currently at work on a novel.