Taneshia Nash Laird Image

Taneshia Nash Laird

Associate Professor
Affiliated Departments
Africana Studies Department
Personal Websites
Taneshia Nash Laird's Website

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Taneshia Nash Laird is a strategic leader at the intersection of arts and community development. As the creator of the CultureCore Blueprint, she has applied this framework as the inaugural president and CEO of the Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center (GRACC) in Boston, envisioned as a vibrant hub showcasing Afrodiasporic arts and emphasizing social justice.

Laird began her career as the director of media relations at Planet Rock Music, founded by hip-hop legend Afrika Bambaataa. She revitalized Newark Symphony Hall in Newark, as its CEO, raising $15 million for its preservation and introducing programs that benefited Newark’s predominantly Black and Hispanic communities.

In 2012, Laird cofounded MIST Harlem, an entertainment center designed to preserve African American and Latino culture amid rapid gentrification. Her leadership roles have also included executive director at the Arts Council of Princeton and director of economic development for Trenton, New Jersey.

Laird serves as board treasurer of the National Medal of Arts-winning Billie Holiday Theatre and is a National Independent Venue Foundation board member. She co-authored Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans and co-produced the film Battle Sounds: A Hip-Hop DJ Documentary. She has served on the advisory board for the Grammy Museum’s Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit, which celebrates the genre's 50th anniversary.

Career Highlights
  • Inaugural President & CEO, Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center (Boston, MA)
  • President & CEO, Newark Symphony Hall (Newark, NJ)
  • Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, MIST Harlem (New York City)
  • Executive Director, Paul Robeson Center for the Arts (Princeton, NJ)
  • Advisor, Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit, Grammy Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
Education
  • University of Miami
    Florida
    Master of Arts (MA)
  • CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
    New York
    Bachelor of Business Administration
In Their Own Words
My teaching empowers students to navigate the diverse landscapes within arts and entertainment, whether creating or working within nonprofit arts organizations or commercial businesses. I encourage them to apply these insights across various cultural expressions, fostering innovation and artistic appreciation in all their endeavors.

My journey in the arts and entertainment sector has been hands-on and diverse, filled with both successes and valuable lessons from challenges. As a former leader of cultural institutions like Newark Symphony Hall and the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, and as cofounder of MIST Harlem—a multimillion-dollar commercial venture that, despite its initial promise, did not succeed—I've navigated the intricate balance between artistic vision and operational realities. These experiences have afforded me a unique perspective on the ebbs and flows of the performing arts industry. From managing creative teams to confronting the realities of business sustainability, I've been at the forefront of transforming artistic concepts into viable enterprises and learning from the outcomes. This practical knowledge deeply informs my teaching, enabling me to offer real-world examples and critical reflections on both successes and setbacks. My goal is to prepare students with a realistic understanding of the dynamic landscape where creativity meets entrepreneurship in the arts world, emphasizing that each failure is a stepping stone to future success.