Shawna Flanigan

Shawna Flanigan has been a member of the COCA staff since 2001 and Senior Director of Artistic Strategy since August 2024. She enjoys working on innovation initiatives, developing new opportunities for COCA, and has played a key role in the development of the past two strategic plans. Shawna works closely with teaching artists in onboarding, professional development, and coaching to ensure that they are fully prepared to lead COCA classes and she also oversees COCA’s signature performance series, COCApresents. Shawna has presented at four national arts education conferences on behalf of COCA and served on several national and regional adjudication panels. Over the years, she has been engaged in every area of COCA programming and led two major community initiatives, including the initial committee work that resulted in COCAedu’s Arts Integration Programs and the curriculum development for COCAbiz.

Shawna previously served as Artistic Director of Theatre. In that position she rewrote the theatre curriculum, grew participant and audience participation, standardized production practice, set guest artist expectations, and redefined COCA’s evaluation methodology. She also curated COCA’s Millstone Gallery. Prior to that role, she served as COCA’s Director of Arts Education. In this position, she provided oversight of COCA’s multidisciplinary and emerging education programming, and she developed and managed COCA’s Summer Arts Camp programs, Art & Design, Culinary, Circus, and Community programs. Shawna also has been a member of the adjunct faculty at East Central College since 2019.  

Prior to joining COCA in 2001, Shawna served as the Children’s Theatre Director at Theatre of Western Springs and as an adjunct faculty member at both DePaul University and Barat College. She has worked as a director, assistant director, and dramaturg at theatres across the country, including Steppenwolf, Arena Stage, Intiman Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, The Group Theatre, and Goodman Theatre.

Shawna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from Knox College and Master of Fine Arts in Directing from DePaul University. Shawna was the 2024 recipient of the Visionary Award for Outstanding Teaching Artist.