Donald Harrell, M.A.

• Adjunct
• Donald.Harrell@ucf.edu
• 407-697-1336
• Office Hours: 3-5pm Wednesday
• View personal website

I'm a life long learner who has a professional career that includes significant experience as an administrator, educator, arts organization executive board member producer, director, performing artist, and arts activist. My work is and has been aimed at using education as a primary tool in the effort to eradicate racism and other types of oppression. I am co-founder of Orisirisi African Folklore- an awe inspiring African adventure rooted in the history, culture, and traditions of Africa, inclusive of folktales, legends, and myths, spirited drumming, dance and song, children’s games, lectures on special topics, and a healthy dose of the obligatory African tradition of audience participation. The nationally and internationally acclaimed performing arts and educational initiative was founded in 1986, with the expressed purpose of sharing the beauty and poignancy of African and African American life and culture.  Current projects includes serving as Director of Arts Education and Integration at Bronze Kingdom Museum in Orlando, Fl, where I am charged with developing an arts education and inclusion program in connection with an extremely consequential collection of African Art.

Education

• M.A. in African Studies from University of California, Los Angeles (1983)

Research Interests

African Diasporic Studies, African Ethnomusicology, African Studies, African Visual and Performing Arts

Recent Research Activities

African musicology, African history, the history of African music in the diaspora, African American history and culture

Awards

 Awards and Affiliations Florida Alliance for Arts Education, 2003- Present National Association of Black Storytellers, 2001- Present Alternate Roots, Executive Committee, 1997- Present Union College U.N.I.T.A.S. Diversity and Community Award, 2012 Walt Disney Company Diversity Award, 2006 UCLA African-American Student Association Distinguished Graduate Fellow Award

Activities

Research, African Drumming, Arts Education and Integration, Storytelling, African Dance, Activism

Courses

• Spring 2023
• Fall 2022
• Summer 2022
• Spring 2022
• Fall 2021
• Summer 2021