Nisa Miranda is the Director of The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED), a position she has held since 1995. Prior to this appointment, she served for ten years as the Director of the William R. Bennett Alabama International Trade Center, a premier research and trade development program in the State. Her responsibilities for UACED include planning and implementing economic development strategies that help diversify and strengthen Alabama’s local and regional economies. UACED provides technical assistance in community and economic development; develops programs that build capacity, increase the elected and civic leadership base, increase tourism and outdoor recreation programming and destinations, and builds economic opportunities. Miranda’s work addresses all aspects of community preparedness to allow communities, organizations, and private firms to succeed in today’s competitive economy. The Center is a gateway to University of Alabama resources and a means to build partnerships around creative approaches to community and economic development.
Ms. Miranda has successfully developed nationally recognized demonstration projects at the Center for such agencies as the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Tennessee Valley Authority and several foreign organizations. She is a founding member of three non-profits that support economic development in small towns and rural areas: Alabama Communities of Excellence, Your Town Alabama and Blackbelt Treasures (an arts collaborative representing over 500 artisans). Miranda serves on the boards of several organizations: the Southern Growth Policies Board -Southern Global Strategy Council; Alabama Communities of Excellence, Alabama Export Council; Alabama Agribusiness Council Education Foundation; the Alabama Trails Commission Advisory Board, the Blackbelt Community Foundation; Black Belt Treasures; and the Japan America Society of Alabama (JASA).
A native of Brazil, Ms. Miranda holds a B.S. and M.B.A. from The University of Alabama.
