About Clarissa 

Clarissa D. Santiago is a Brooklyn-based writer, copy editor, higher education administrator, and yoga instructor. Her written creative expression takes the form of poetry and creative nonfiction. She is a certified 200-hour yoga instructor in the YogaWorks tradition. Precision, sincerity, and a gentle pushing of boundaries to encourage a safe spirit of play inform not only her yoga teaching, but also her writing and editing. 

Resourceful and self-directed, she has 15 years’ experience in higher education administration, and is currently the Stewardship Manager for the Brooklyn College Foundation. Prior to that, she was Program Manager for the Center for Black Visual Culture at the Institute of African American Affairs at New York University, after two years as Assistant Director for the Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement at NYU Law. For over eight years, she worked at Sotheby's Institute of Art New York. Most recently as Senior Program Manager managing their Contemporary Art and Fine and Decorative Art and Design Programs, and, after a well-deserved promotion,  their Summer Institute Program. Her work has taken her to established and emerging global art destinations, such as Venice, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Dubai, Bogota, Beijing, Shanghai and more. In addition, she has traveled independently and extensively across North America, Western and Eastern Europe, Tokyo, and the Caribbean. Her rampant curiosity, love of learning and profound appreciation of beauty and excellence have been nourished by these trips and keenly inform her writing and teaching. 

When not traipsing around the world or finding her OM on a yoga mat, she may be found biking around NYC, cutting up a rug at some concert or party, writing, eating out with friends, or drinking something hot while observing people.

Clarissa graduated Phi Beta Kappa Brooklyn College, and holds a M.A. in Literature from the University of New Hampshire.