Folk Arts Specialist since February 2000, Deborah A. Bailey annually coordinates most activities from start to finish for the Traditional Arts apprenticeship Program (TAAP). She conducts fieldwork throughout the year and provides extensive support to artistic teams as they draft applications. Bailey organizes panel meetings, conducts site visits, documents artists, arranges TAAP outside evaluations, and coordinates public events with partner organizations. Beyond TAAP, Bailey offers technical assistance to organizations, artists, and community scholars, as needed, and maintains MFAP's fieldwork equipment and database. She holds a BA in Anthropology from University of Illinois, an MA in Folklore and Folklife at University of Pennsylvania and is ABD at University of Pennsylvania in Folklore and Folklife.