Tia M. Shaffer, EdD

Tia M. Shaffer, Ed.D. is an Artistic Associate with the Black Acting Methods Studio. She is also former Theatre Director and Fine Arts Chair at South Atlanta High School in Atlanta Public Schools, and former Director for Youth and Children’s Ministries at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. Shaffer’s educational background includes a B.A. in Journalism from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA), Theatre Educator Certification from Columbus State University (Columbus, GA), Master of Arts in Christian Education from The Interdenominational Theological Center Morehouse School of Religion (Atlanta, GA) and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA). Shaffer’s educational and literary work focuses on the transformative power of theatre arts in the lives of participants and viewers. As a Christian leader, Shaffer implements theatre arts to foster spiritual formation and a strong sense of cultural identity. In 2012, Shaffer was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study the music, culture and people of the Mississippi Delta. As a playwright and director, she takes pride in creating plays that cater to the diverse identities and talents of the actors she serves in public schools and the church. Some of her plays include Family, Faith and Love; Second Chance; We Still Together; The Minstrel Show: Then and Now; Unfrozen: Keeping Christ in Christmas and a host of others. Shaffer specializes in training first-time actors and providing authentic performance experiences for thespians and audiences.