Edima Essien is a proud first-generation Nigerian performer, arts administrator, teaching artist, and advocate. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, and a minor in Arts Leadership. As a performer, she has been able to work with DC area theatres such as Imagination Stage, ArtsCentric, Infinity Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, and Round House Theatre, and performed in several productions throughout college. She is a member of the Equity Membership Candidate Program.
While in college, she served as the Director of Communications for the Undergraduate Theatre Artists Society where she helped lead department town halls, develop online initiatives to create community for her peers in the pandemic, and create multiple social media campaigns to raise money for different affiliated Black Lives Matter organizations. In collaboration with her peers, they were able to implement an upper level Black Theatre History course into their degree curriculum. Through her experiences in college, arts administration and production, she has been able to work with the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Infinity Theatre Company, Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive and Anacostia Playhouse. More recently, she joined Young Artists of America at Strathmore as their Alumni Coordinator. In her two years working with the organization, Edima led to the implementation of their inaugural Alumni Advisory Board and now serves on their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Her goal is to make the arts more equitable, accessible and inclusive for all.
