ARTS LEADERSHIP
Executive Artistic Leader | Visionary Arts Strategist | Community Connector
I lead artistic and organizational work across nonprofit arts institutions, education initiatives, and cross-sector cultural partnerships. My practice focuses on building and guiding systems where creative vision, institutional strategy, and community engagement can align and be effectively realized.
I have held long-term leadership roles in professional theater and developed programs and initiatives across education and civic contexts. My work bridges artistic direction and organizational execution, ensuring that strong ideas are supported from concept through implementation.
I am most effective in complex environments where creative ambition and operational clarity work in tandem.
Recurring patterns across my work include:
Leadership of artistic and educational programs within nonprofit arts organizations through cycles of growth, transition, and program development
Development of cross-sector collaborations between arts organizations, educational institutions, and civic partners to align goals and resources
Translation of artistic and narrative vision into structured programs, productions, and organizational initiatives
Design and leadership of arts-based education programs for youth and emerging artists, integrating creativity, learning, and civic engagement
Facilitation of strategic alignment among artists, administrators, educators, and funders in complex institutional environments
Mentorship and leadership development for emerging artists, educators, and creative leaders
Engagement in international cultural exchange and artistic development
Career Highlights
Artistic and Education Director | Seattle Public Theater – Seattle, WA (2001 – 2017) Transformed community theater into a nationally recognized nonprofit. Expanded audience twenty-five-fold and quadrupled the budget through bold vision, galvanizing leadership, balanced risk-taking, and deep community development. Produced and directed 17 seasons and over 200 shows, commissioned over 50 new works, nominated for multiple Gregory awards. Established SPT nationally through rigorous commitment to new plays and diverse voices, strong literary management, relationships with playwrights, producers, literary managers, agents, and publishers. Addressed systemic inequities at board and staff levels. Established SPT's pioneering youth program as a powerful space for diverse youth through innovative, robust, challenging programming
Artistic Associate| ACT Contemporary Theatre/Union Arts Center – Seattle, WA (2022 – 2026) Led curation, literary direction, new works production, education initiatives, and strategic community partnerships. Collaborated with Artistic Director on season selection and artistic management. Produced, curated, and directed annual New Works Northwest Festival, refocusing the Festival on inclusive submission practices. Reimagined and launched revenue-generating new education and engagement programs and expanded partnerships, increasing reach and impact and growing departmental budgets. Launched Young Core Company and Rising Leadership Cohort. Directed Gregory-nominated world-premiere commission and was Gregory-nominated for Outstanding Community Engagement.
Producing Artistic & Executive Director| Penguin Productions – Seattle, WA (2017-present) Leadership, management, and creative direction for non-profit community arts organization, co-creating possible futures through theater and youth/emergent leadership. Penguin Productions works to build a healthy and equitable community, with empowered, confident, thoughtful young leaders.. Penguin supports youth development and leadership, professional art and mentorship development, accessible programming, and cross-sector partnerships.
Fulbright Specialist (2021–2025) Developed global arts programs integrating climate justice, theater, and education. Served as Artistic Director, Climate Change Theater Action Festival, University of Graz and was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Vienna and Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg
Arts Program Management and Consulting (1996-present) Clients include: Amazon, Microsoft, University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Central Community College, Bastyr University, Cornish College of the Arts, Centrum Center for the Arts and Creative Education, ArtsCorps, Seattle Repertory Theater, Rainier Valley Youth Theater, Washington State/King County/Seattle Arts Commissions, Seattle Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Court Theater (Chicago), ACT Theater, Seattle Children's Theater, Studio East, Village Theater, Book-It Repertory Theater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, NextBook, PNW Independent Schools.
Some of the community partners I’ve been honored to work with include: Leadership Tomorrow, Arts Corps, Teen Tix, Red Eagle Soaring, Hansberry Project, Khmer Community of South King County, Holocaust Center for Humanity, Seattle Public Library, Pride Foundation, Jewish Federation, University of Washington (various schools and departments), The Shattered Glass Project
THRULINES OF PRACTICE
Cross-sector Leadership and Program Design - I design and lead collaborations between arts organizations, educators, funders, and civic partners to align vision, resources, and execution across complex systems.
Artistic Direction and Creative Leadership - I guide artistic development from concept through production, shaping narrative structure, creative process, and audience experience across theatrical and educational contexts.
Organizational Strategy & Systems Leadership - I support organizations in clarifying goals, strengthening internal systems, and aligning teams around sustainable creative and operational practice.
Program and Education Design - I develop and lead programs that integrate artistic practice with learning, youth development, and civic engagement.
Strategic Facilitation & Communication - I translate complexity into clarity, supporting groups and institutions in decision-making, alignment, and shared direction.
LEADERSHIP OUTCOMES
I build environments where artists, educators, and civic partners can do their most thoughtful and ambitious work together. My leadership practice is grounded in clarity, collaboration, and the belief that strong ideas require strong systems to thrive.
CONNECT
If you have an idea, a question, or a project you'd like to explore together, I'd love to hear from you.