The Folger Shakespeare Library has appointed illustrious Pakistani American scholar Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper as the new director of the 92-year-old institution following a 10-month international search.
Born in Karachi, Karim-Cooper grew up in Houston, Texas, and would be the first person of color to hold the position she will begin on October 7, 2024.
Currently, Karim-cooper is serving on the executive leadership team at Shakespeare’s Globe as the Director of Education. She is Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Kings College London and the author of popular commercial, trade and scholarly publications.
She has been selected as the director of the institution following a 10-month international search. The Folger’s Director Search Committee was unanimous in its decision to recommend Karim-Cooper to the Board of Governors.
“I am thrilled to take up the role of Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library. After twenty years at Shakespeare’s Globe developing a scholarly profile while leading research, education, collections and public programming, this role is the natural next step on my lifelong journey with Shakespeare,” she said.
The Folger, she noted, is a world-renowned and beloved institution, a significant beacon of knowledge that daily demonstrates the importance of the humanities. Karim-Cooper added. “I am truly honored to uphold its founding mission while forging new ways to demonstrate how Shakespeare’s work speaks to our moment. Above all, I look forward to working with the Folger’s passionate staff and its remarkable Board of Governors to lead this miraculous institution into its second century.”
The Folger, she noted, is a world-renowned and beloved institution, a significant beacon of knowledge that daily demonstrates the importance of the humanities.
Karim-Cooper added. “I am truly honored to uphold its founding mission while forging new ways to demonstrate how Shakespeare’s work speaks to our moment. Above all, I look forward to working with the Folger’s passionate staff and its remarkable Board of Governors to lead this miraculous institution into its second century.”
Karim-Cooper holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from Royal Holloway, University of London and received a B.A. in English Literature from California State University, Fullerton. She has published more than 40 chapters in books, reviews and articles, and is a co-General Editor for Arden’s Shakespeare in the Theatre series and their Critical Intersections Series.
Chaired by board member Rebecca Bushnell and Board Chair D. Jarrett Arp, the group was tasked with identifying a leader who can guide the Folger from a period of great transformation and crystalize the institution’s scope and ambition as it approaches its second century, the Folger, which has the largest collection of written work on William Shakespeare.
“Karim-Cooper’s experience and leadership encompass education, research & collections, performance, public engagement, and capital building projects. Her work has uniquely situated her to consider the role of the humanities in today’s world and the possibilities for an organization like the Folger,” the Library said.
“The Search Committee and the Board of Governors were impressed with Farah’s deep, diversified track record and experiences, which traverse the world of Shakespeare studies, performance, collections, media, and connecting with a variety of audiences,” said Arp.
“She has a well-earned reputation as an inclusive, thoughtful, and engaging leader. Farah is a natural fit to guide the Folger as we welcome the public, increase our visibility, and build for the Folger’s second century.”
Karim-Cooper served as President of the Shakespeare Association of America from 2021-2022 after serving 5 years on their Board of Trustees. Her most recent book, The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race (2023) was voted a top book of 2023 by Time Magazine, NPR, and The New Yorker.
She is a field leader in examining Shakespeare’s plays through the lens of race and social justice. In 2018 she founded and curated the Globe’s Shakespeare and Race Festival and conceived and curated the Antiracist Shakespeare Webinar series from 2021-2024. She is an executive board member for RaceB4Race, a consortium of scholars and institutions working on issues of race in premodern literature, history, and culture. In the UK, she founded the first ever Early Modern Scholars of Color network.
