Trenton Arts at Princeton is excited to welcome Faith Iloka as the new director of Trenton Youth Theater (TYT), succeeding Jamie Goodwin.

Iloka is a playwright, mental health counselor, and all-around arts enthusiast. She is a proud Trenton Central High School alumna (Class of 2017) and Princeton University alumna (Class of 2021). At Princeton, she majored in African American studies and received certificates in theater and music theater. She also wrote and performed in her senior thesis play Sweet Mother, served as artistic director, president, and company member of DoroBucci Dance Group, modeled in Princeton’s annual fashion shows, and performed in various theatrical productions. Iloka's passion for service and advocacy within the intersections of Blackness, arts, and mental health led most of her work on and off campus. She recently graduated with her master's degree in mental health counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and hopes to continue integrating the arts into her work as a therapist. 

Iloka is no stranger to TYT. With the support of the Trenton Arts fellowship, she served as one of two inaugural student leaders during her senior year at Princeton. Alongside then-director Victoria Davidjohn and co-student leader Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara '24, she designed an instructional model for TYT that allowed a variety of theatrical skills—acting, lighting design, playwriting, and more—to be taught over Zoom. 

"It feels very full circle to be returning as the new TYT director," said Iloka. "I look forward to collaborating with and supporting the students, volunteers, and fellows. I am a firm believer that art and art-making are healing, so I am excited to experience that once more with the TYT community."