Anne Lefter ‘95, a graduate of PMA with a Ph.D. in Theatre Studies, has been named the inaugural Director of the Center for Performing Arts (CPA) at Western Illinois University. As director, she will provide leadership and oversight for the CPA, including season planning, marketing, audience development, recruiting, budgeting and the day-to-day operations of the CPA. She will also be an Associate Professor, heading the newly formed Arts Leadership program.
“Lefter has worked at the Community College of Baltimore County since 2002. She began as director of performing arts at the Essex campus and became the director of arts for all campuses in 2021. There, she provided broad leadership toward engaging the college and community with the arts. The college produced more than 125 events per year. Previously, she served as artistic managing director of Cockpit in the Court Summer Theatre (2002-07) and marketing and development manager for Everyman Theatre (2001-02).”
"Anne is a perfect fit for our community, our artistic programming and WIU," said College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Dean Billy Clow. "Her experience with fundraising, grant writing, arts leadership and programming will allow us to create an incredibly dynamic and diverse community of artists and advocates as we expand the academic and artistic economy of the University and the region."
"I'm thrilled to be joining WIU at this pivotal moment for the arts, the campus and the community," Lefter said. "I'm looking forward to nurturing a welcoming space for everyone to experience the live arts."
Read the full press release from the Communications team at Western Illinois University.
