Producer, director Debbie Allen named first ‘Maya Angelou Artist-in-Residence’

Emmy award-winning director and producer Debbie Allen has been named the inaugural recipient of Wake Forest University’s Maya Angelou Artist-in-Residence Award.

The Award honors world-renowned artists who reflect Maya Angelou’s passions for creating, performing and teaching and celebrates exceptional artists for combining achievement in the arts and a commitment to improving the human condition.

Ms. Allen will visit Wake Forest to educate and engage both the University and Winston-Salem communities on November 13-14, 2023. 

“On behalf of an elated and grateful Wake Forest community, we celebrate the opportunity to welcome Ms. Allen to Wake Forest. Her monumental contributions as a visionary artist and educator are an inspiration for our faculty, staff and students,” said Christina Soriano, vice provost for the arts and interdisciplinary initiatives at Wake Forest.

In September 2021, the University extended an invitation for nominations for the Maya Angelou Artist in Residence Award – seeking suggestions for artists whose careers embrace Angelou’s messages of hope, joy, tolerance, courage and inclusion. A University committee, comprised of trustees, students, alumni, staff, faculty, and representatives from the Maya Angelou Foundation reviewed the nominations that were submitted and together selected Allen to be the inaugural recipient from the submissions.

Read more on theWake Forest News website.