Naila Ansari Carbonell Catilo is an Associate Professor in Theater and Africana Studies at Buffalo State University. A Cum Laude graduate of Point Park Conservatory of Performing Arts and a graduate of the University at Buffalo with Distinguished Honors, Naila is a multidisciplinary force whose work lives at the intersection of performance, public scholarship, and purpose-driven advocacy. A celebrated choreographer, director, and cultural strategist, she weaves movement, meaning, and message into every space she enters whether on stage, in classrooms, at community tables, or behind the mic.

As an artist and scholar, her work centers Black joy, collective healing, and Afro-diasporic legacies, most notably through her nationally recognized research and performances exploring The Movement of Joy https://www.movementofjoyllc.com. Her choreography has been staged across the U.S., and her writings and fellowships (including with Interfaith America) engage how art and faith intersect to build bridges in divided communities.

As a consultant and thought leader, Naila helps organizations in the arts and education unlock their potential through strategic storytelling, AI integration, and equity-centered design. She is the founder of Catilo Kultura Code, a consulting initiative co-led with her husband that teaches cultural institutions how to leverage creative technology and AI with integrity and impact.

Naila is also an award-winning director, choreographer, host, producer and the co-founder of AnsariSaxon Productions with Karen Saxon. Naila has hosted signature events and broadcast segments including What’s Next on Buffalo Toronto Public Media NPR, bringing both heart and brilliance to conversations about culture, justice, and community transformation.

Whether she’s producing a major performance, mentoring emerging creatives, or building digital tools for the nonprofit sector, Naila moves with one mission: to center beauty, humanity, and truth in everything she does.