Biography of Dr. Nicole Anderson Cobb: 

 

A Life Anchored in Scholarship, Creativity, Faith & Community Service 

Overview

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Nicole Anderson Cobb, PhD, is an experienced educator, writer-researcher, playwright and workshop creator/ facilitator and emerging painter.

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She has successfully taught innovative courses and designed workshops and trainings to promote personal growth, cross-cultural collaboration, and community transformation. 

 

Dr. Anderon Cobb has also been a devoted community servant involved in promoting community collaboration and advancement locally, regionally and nationally via varied endeavors.

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A.) Dr. Anderson Cobb’s Early Years

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Nicole Anderson-Cobb, Ph.D., is a Chicago native who grew up on Chicago’s Southeast Side in the Calumet Heights community.

 

Dr. Anderson-Cobb earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science​ from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1995), a ​Master’s Degree in History​ (1998) and ​Doctorate of Philosophy in History​ (Concentrations on Africa, Comparative Islam, Gender, & Media) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2007) and a second Master’s Degree in Journalism in 2016.

 

B.) Dr. Anderson Cobb's Academic Career: Weaving History & Theater, 2000-Present 

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Dr. Anderson Cobb has taught courses in History, Africana Studies, and Media Studies at colleges and universities in California (Occidental College), Florida (Jacksonville University), and Illinois ( UIUC, Augustana College & Roosevelt University) from 2008 to 2015.

Dr. Anderson Cobb’s plays —​“Black Reign”​ (2010), ​“Still Waters” (​ 2011), “Tangled:  A Dramedy About Gun Violence In The Age of Obama”​ (2012), ​“Campus Jihad”​( 2015), ​GunPlay(s) Theatre Competition (2013-2016) and “Homegrown: An Insurrection Play” (2022)--- ​have garnered attention from local, regional and national media outlets including​: ​The Story with Dick Gordon (APM), American Radio Works, WGLT (Bloomington IL), WBEZ (Chicago), The Chicago Defender, The Reader (Chicago), The Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Illini, The News Gazette (Central Illinois) The Lutheran Magazine, For Harriet: Celebrating The Fullness of Black Womanhood, The Salt Collective (National Blog), NPR-Illinois among other publications.

 

More recently, Dr. Anderson Cobb has been a 2022 Artist-in-Residence for Allerton Park & Retreat Center’s  “Rooting A Deeper Experience,” where she and collaborator Latrelle Bright explored Allerton’s Park's Indigenous History in several performance projects entitled “Beyond Land Acknowledgement”  and “Unsettled:  An African American Reflection On The Potawatomi Trail of Death” created over a year-long period: https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/28/1822558428.html

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During Summer 2022, Dr. Anderson Cobb was selected as an Auburn Seminary Colloquium Coolidge Fellow and spent her research period reflecting on the “Beyond Land Acknowledgement” Allerton Park Residency, conducting additional research in NYC archives and presenting to colleagues during the Oppression & Repair Colloquium Series: https://www.aprilonline.org/colloquium-2022-2/”

Her scholarly writing on the Allerton “Beyond Land Acknowledgement” residency, entitled “Beyond Land Acknowledgement”: Rendering Central Illinois  History Along The Potawatomi The Trail of Death” will also be included in the edited volume “Dramaturgy and History” for Routledge Press (2023).

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C.) Dr. Anderson Cobb Decades-Long Anti-Gun Violence Reduction Efforts 

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Because of Dr. Anderson-Cobb’s ongoing commitment to gun violence prevention, she was recruited by the ​Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence​ (ICHV) and served as the ​Outreach Coordinator​ for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) for the 2012-2013 year.

 

Dr. Anderson Cobb also served as a ​City of Urbana IDOT Traffic Stop Data Task Force Member​ for the 2014-2015 examining racial disparities in local traffic stops. For more information:http://urbanaillinois.us/boards/idot-traffic-stop-data-task-force

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D.) Dr. Anderson Cobb Community Based Research & Journalism Pursuits

 

During the 2015-2016 academic year, Dr. Anderson Cobb was a ​UIUC Specialized Journalism Fellow ​in the UIUC Department of Journalism where she earned a second Master’s degree in Journalism while working on specialized journalism projects.

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E.) Dr. Anderson Cobb's Service To State Government & Community Education Regarding The Impacts Of Gun Violence  

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During the 2016-2017, Dr. Anderson Cobb worked as ​a media researcher​ in the Department of Journalism.

In 2017, Dr. Anderson-Cobb then decided to wed her interest in public service and investigative journalism training by accepting a position as the ​Constituent Services Staffer for State Representative Carol Ammons​ providing assistance and advocacy for constituents and organizations across the 103rd District.

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During the 2016-2017 season, Dr. Anderson Cobb also served as the ​Convener & Assistant Manager for the Gunplay(s) Theatre Series at The Station Theatre (Urbana, IL)​ for a year-long exploration of 10 plays examining gun violence in American communities.

 

​During this same year, Dr. Anderson Cobb also served as President of the Canaan Academy Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)​ ​in Urbana, Illinois​.

 

Additionally, Dr. Anderson Cobb served as a Staff Writer and Investigative Reporter for the regional magazine, Smile Politely from 2017 to 2021.

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F.) Dr. Anderson Heeding The Call To Ministry, Consulting & Course Design For Individuals & Institutions  

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Increasingly called to integrate her academic training, social justice interests, and ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anderson Cobb began a column, “When Faith Speaks” (2021) in the local Central Illinois Magazine Smile Politely. In this column, a diverse group of clergy was interviewed to explore matters of pandemic and protest and their impacts on their congregations and themselves in ministry.

https://www.smilepolitely.com/?s=Nicole+Anderson+Cobb+When+Faith+Speaks) 

Sparked by her column and her year of reflection during a year-long Newbigin House Faith & Justice  Fellow 2020-2021 (now the Faith & Justice Fellowship:https://faithjustice.net/about/#history), Anderson Cobb sought additional training to lead small groups in prayer and contemplation.
 

Dr. Anderson Cobb was certified (June 2022) in Group Spiritual Direction after a 9-month Heart Longings Program at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, D.C. ( https://shalem.org/programs/heart-longings-an-invitation-to-the-contemplative-path/).

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Additionally, Anderson Cobb  completed a 1 ½ year certificate in the Transforming Communities Program:  Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups & Retreats Program Associate (February 2022- June 2023) at Shalem Institute: https://shalem.org/programs/transforming-community-leading-contemplative-prayer-groups-and-retreats/

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During this Transforming Communities Program, Dr. Anderson Cobb attended two eight-day intensives at Bon Secour Retreat Center in Marriottsville, Maryland, where she presented workshops on various contemplative practices as part of her certification requirements.

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Since completing her Shalem training, Dr. Anderson Cobb has continued to expand her offerings. 

 

She has worked as a Group Spiritual Direction leader for Shalem and independently since 2022.

 

Also, as an independent consultant employing contemplative principles in varied contexts,  Dr. Anderson-Cobb has developed her own Dissertation Writing Mentorship program to assist graduate students in completing their doctoral degree requirements.

 

Additionally, Dr. Anderson Cobb has served as a consultant for the Champaign County Probation & Records, developing customized courses for Hate Crime offenders to complete the terms of their probation.  

 

Yet, in the area of ministry, Dr. Anderson Cobb continues to work with Group Spiritual Direction clients quarterly.  Furthermore, she has developed "Coffee & Contemplation”, a monthly online group spiritual direction small group; and she created "Painting Through the Scriptures," a course utilizing painting as a tool for Biblical exploration.

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G. Dr. Anderson Cobb's Painting Journey

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I began painting after a fellow historian and dear friend (Dr. Earline) Rae Ferguson invited me to grab some watercolor supplies and paint with her on Zoom in July 2023. Finally, I relented and began showing up and painting…and the watercolor painting bug hit me hard.

 

For the first few months of my painting life, I was just putting paint on paper …experimenting with color and shape… trying to see what I could capture on paper as a new painter.

 

Furthermore, since July 2023, I have been exploring watercolor, collage, dried plants, and found objects to deepen my comfort and creativity as a painter. 

 

Thus, I have continued using my painting practice to explore various themes (individually and in groups):

 

contemplation, meditation, prayer, and scripture; depictions of African Americans outdoors; still-life & nature-inspired paintings; voting & elections; social issues, global politics, abstract paintings, and so much more.

 

Featured Works By Nicole Anderson Cobb:

 

--- "Somewhere In Gaza, #1", 2024 Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security Art Forum in Atlanta, Georgia (October 2024):  

 

---"Pentecost Tree”, New York City’s Church of Heavenly Rest Undercroft Gallery:  “Let There Be Light” Exhibition, February 4-March 16, 2025.

 

 ---"Allerton 2022:  LB At The Sangamon," Around The Block V: Artist Artists From Our Neighborhood, Parkland College Giertz Gallery, Champaign, IL, June-July 2025

 

---“Indigenous Imaginings” series, Espresso Royalle Village Green Art Show, Champaign, IL, Feb 2026-Present

 

--- "Somewhere In Gaza" series,  Gallery 874, St. Louis, MO: "Palestinian Holocaust: Arts Against Erasure" March 13-May 12, 2026.

 

    —Invited Lamenter & Featured Painting, First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana, Palm Sunday Service 2026:

 “Holding It Together: Home & Lament”, March 29, 2026

 

Featured Painter, Boneyard Creek Arts Festival 2026, Champaign, IL

Theme: “Renewal: Telling OUR Story at 250”,

First Mennonite Church of Champaign Urbana

April 10-12, 2026 

https://boneyardartsfestival.org/tribe_speaker/nicole-anderson-cobb/

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Dr. Anderson Cobb’s Excurricular Passions & Additional Pursuits

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Dr. Anderson Cobb enjoys her life with her wonderful husband, Domonic, and their lovely 14-year-old daughter, Tyler. 

 

In her free time, Dr. Anderson Cobb enjoys reading, traveling, dancing, gardening, visiting museums and cultural attractions, and spending time with family and extended family.

 

Dr. Anderson Cobb is also a ​member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of Champaign, Illinois (2014-Present).

 

In Closing: Dr.Anderson Cobb’s Closing Invitation TO YOU

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I hope this biography gives you a sense of the concerns and values that have shaped my life and informed my work in the world.

 

I hope my joy for life, commitment to life-long learning, and the diversity of my training and experience will provide us with an opportunity to collaborate. 

 

 I am confident that I can aid you (or your organization) in assessment, exploration, growth, development, and reaching your goals.

 

Looking forward to connecting with you soon!

 

—Dr. Nicole Anderson Cobb