Tamaya Dennard is the Programs and Partnerships Manager at RepresentWomen and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Inspired by Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan and an abiding belief that everyone deserves a non-tokenized voice in what’s happening in their community, in 2017, Tamaya became the first openly gay woman elected to public office in the City of Cincinnati and served as President Pro Tem for Cincinnati City Council.
In addition to being the Chair of the first City Council committee focused on issues of equity, inclusion and young people, among her proudest legislative moments is the creation of Cincinnati’s Salary History Ordinance and the Girls in Government program.
After studying abroad in France, Spain and Guatemala, Tamaya earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from the University of Cincinnati. In 2017, Tamaya was given the Affirmed Award by the Urban League Young Professionals of Southwest Ohio. In 2018, she was presented with the Theodore R. Berry Award by the Cincinnati NAACP and in 2019, she was voted Best Elected Official in Cincinnati by CityBeat Magazine.
In her spare time, you can find Tamaya sitting courtside rooting for the University of Cincinnati Women’s Basketball team, getting frustrated on a golf course, playing pickleball or listening to 90’s RnB and hip-hop (the golden era).