Vibrina Coronado is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of NC. She has a Ph.D. in Performance Studies: her dissertation examined the work histories of professional costume shop owners in New York City, the process of making stage costumes and how costume workers use craft and artistic skill to build the designs of others. She spent ten years in New York City, team-building costumes in professional costume shops for Broadway, feature films, dance, the Metropolitan Opera and others. She has taught theatre and Native American related courses at City University of New York colleges, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of North Carolina Pembroke and Methodist University. She has researched and done non-profit, community arts and advocacy work with Indian communities in North Carolina, New York City and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Her extensive knowledge of textiles, needlework, fiber crafts and theatrical arts comes from hands-on practice and research over the years. She makes Native American regalia and custom clothing and does research and writing about Native Americans.