Ariel Henley

Ariel Henley is a writer from Northern California with a B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of Vermont and Master’s in Education from University of the Pacific. Passionate about writing as a form of activism, much of her work explores her experiences growing up with a facial disfigurement, as a result of Crouzon syndrome — a rare craniofacial disorder where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. Her writing explores issues related to beauty, equality, human connection, and trauma, and she shares her story in an effort to help eliminate stigma, educate others about the importance of facial equality, and promote mainstream inclusion for individuals with physical differences. Most recently, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, CNN, and Narratively. Her forthcoming memoir, A FACE FOR PiCASSO, will be published by FSG/Macmillan in Winter 2021.