Kory Kelly

Kory P. Kelly became the vice chancellor for strategic communications at UNCSA in February 2024.

Kelly brings experience from a wide-ranging career spanning nearly 25 years as a theater professional and arts administrator, with positions at various regional theaters across the nation, most recently as chief marketing and communications officer at the Tony Award-winning regional theater Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles County. His professional endeavors have centered on strategic brand development, revenue optimization, public relations, content creation, and the art of storytelling. 

At Pasadena Playhouse, Kelly collaborated with Producing Artistic Director Danny Feldman and the leadership team for the past six years. During this period, he played an important role in stabilizing and expanding the theater while securing its long-term viability. Through astute leveraging of the organization's programming and core values, Kelly successfully heightened the national profile of the Playhouse, augmenting earned revenue and fortifying the patron base. Notably, he professionalized the patron services team, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience that paralleled the excellence of the onstage productions. In 2023, marking nearly a century since its establishment, Pasadena Playhouse received the prestigious Regional Theater Tony Award, a testament to the collective efforts of the dedicated staff.

Preceding his tenure at Pasadena Playhouse, Kelly held similar leadership positions at esteemed performing arts organizations including Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles), Actors Theatre of Louisville (Kentucky), Writers Theatre (Chicago), and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Throughout his career, he has consistently served as a catalyst for positive change within organizations, focusing on team building, close collaboration with leadership, mission promotion, brand integration, customer experience enhancement, community building, and the implementation of strategic audience development plans.

Education

B.S. MarketingUniversity of Illinois Chicago

B.S. Business Administration & ManagementUniversity of Illinois Chicago