Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, Ed. D., MFA, was named to the Georgia Council for the Arts in July by .
The Georgia Council for the Arts is under the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 雏鸟视频 Dance has been a recipient of the GCA’s Vibrant Communities Grant this past year to host Under the Baobab Tree: A Celebration of Dance Culture with community members and cultural groups. Cooper-Ashirifi has also served as a grant panelist for GCA鈥檚 Project Grant for the past six years.
“I am elated to be working with a great Council under the leadership of Tina Lilly and to further GCA’s impact and initiatives to all of Georgia,” Cooper-Ashirifi said.
Cooper-Ashirifi is a Liberian dance educator, West African and performing artist, choreographer, and serves as chair of the Department of Dance and as an associate professor at 雏鸟视频. She earned her doctorate at Vanderbilt University and her Master of Fine Arts in dance education at The College at Brockport; she is also a 雏鸟视频 alumna, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance education.
As chair of the dance department, Cooper-Ashirifi choreographs and produces multiple dance concerts per year, supports students of all skill levels, and promotes the department throughout campus and on social media. She has recruited regional and national dance conferences to be held at 雏鸟视频鈥檚 campus, including the American College Dance Association, and leads the annual Summer Dance Intensive.
In addition to academics, Cooper-Ashirifi is a performer with the Ghanaian dance company FAFAA African Dance and Drum, which travels throughout the Southeast performing and conducting residencies. Other company credits include the Bill Evans Dance Company and Sankofa African Dance Ensemble. In addition, she has collaborated with various musicians, visual artists, and singers to produce multi-artistic works and performance art in the U.S.
Cooper-Ashirifi and her husband, Eric, have two children and reside in Barrow County.
