Veda E. Renfrow is a musician, songwriter, poet, artist, performer, activist and media creator. Veda is a recent graduate of the University of New Mexico, receiving a BA in Media Arts, honors of summa cum laude and a Michael Costello Award in Media Arts. Veda’s video work has been screened at numerous events including: TromaDance NM, 2004 Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, IDKE6 in Chicago, and the Southwest Center Student Film Festival (winning 2004 Best of Show).

While living in New Mexico, Veda was the office coordinator for New Mexico Media Literacy Project (NMMLP) from 2002-2004, contributing to the organization’s Catalyst Institutes by organizing and facilitating discussions about televised professional wrestling and popular culture. Veda is co-producer of a video at NMMLP about the impact predatory lending, including payday and title loans, has on NM communities. In Veda’s senior year at UNM, she was teaching assistant in a class that focused on gender variant representation in cinema.

Known in drag as Sterling Maxwell, the PPD, Veda founded gender performance groups in NC and NM. Veda has been performing various forms of drag in gay clubs since 1987. As activist, Veda participates in community, social awareness and pride events. Veda continues to work with LGBTQi youth and others in understanding gender expression and identity by facilitating empowering workshops. Recently returning to North Carolina, Veda is still submitting work to various film festivals around the world, performing drag and facilitating media literacy and education discussions.