ABOUT

Davida Persaud received her Ph.D. in Culture and Performance from the World Arts and Cultures/Dance Department at UCLA and her B.A. in English and Comparative Literary Studies with a minor in Critical Theory and Social Justice from Occidental College. Her professional and academic careers have focused on community-based methodologies in the arts, with particular attention to public art and K-12 arts education in Los Angeles. Davida previously held positions at the Skirball Cultural Center and the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC). She most recently served as Programs Manager at SPARC where she managed school district contracts for K-12 arts education programs and worked across multiple sectors including public art and gallery exhibitions. Her doctoral dissertation examines the impact of COVID-19 on K-12 arts education programs in Los Angeles public schools, and provides insight on how school districts can strengthen their infrastructures for arts education. Davida is the Co-Founder of MuralColors, a Los Angeles based firm that provides products and services for mural production and conservation to clients nationally.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Arts Education, Arts Activism, Public Art, Methods for Community Engagement, Critical Theory

EDUCATION

BA: English and Comparative Literary Studies, Occidental College (2012)
MA: World Arts and Cultures/Dance, UCLA (2019)

PhD: World Arts and Cultures/Dance, UCLA (2022)