Our Staff

Deborah A. Bailey, Folk Arts Specialist, coordinates our Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, working with artists in every stage of the project. She assists them with their applications and work samples for panel review; visits teams to assess and document their lessons; organizes outside evaluations; and collaborates with our partners to present TAAP teams for the public. Additionally, Debbie provides technical assistance for artists, festivals and organizations. A Chicago native, she, too, has called Missouri home for decades.
email: BaileyDA@missouri.edu

Lisa L. Higgins, Missouri Folk Arts Program’s Director, most often works at grant writing and reporting; developing and supporting projects; fundraising; and teaching student workers. She serves as the Program Specialist for the Missouri Arts Council’s Folk Arts grants, assisting applicants and grantees. She spent the first part of her life in the “Mid-South” and has called Columbia, Missouri home for well over twenty years.
email: HigginsLL@missouri.edu