WIT names Stephanie Rae as its new Education Director
WIT is delighted to announce that, starting today, Stephanie Rae is our new Education Director. She replaces Kacie Peterson, who left the position in late July.
Stephanie, who credits a Level 1 WIT class for “changing the course of her life,” brings more than 15 years of experience to the role as an educational leader, curriculum designer, applied improv facilitator, and community builder. She has a deep passion for “developing instructors, building inclusive learning communities, and creating transformational experiences through improv.”
A graduate of Howard University, where she got a BS in Psychology, and Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned her JD degree, Stephanie has an extensive background in designing and leading programs across higher education organizations, small and large businesses, and the international improv community.
WIT’s Artistic and Executive Director Mark Chalfant says Stephanie’s “know-how, breadth of experience, and passion make her the ideal person for the job,” adding that her addition to the team comes at an auspicious time ahead of WIT’s big move to NoMa next year.
“Stephanie’s robust experience designing and building educational programs, as well as her vision for enabling WIT to share the joy and transformative benefits of improv with an even greater number of people in the DC area, are going to be real assets at this crucial and exciting time,” he adds.
Among her many accolades, Stephanie is Founder of the Black Improv Alliance – an international organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and representation within improvisational theater – and has served as Director of the Ocean State Black & Funny Improv Festival, which just wrapped up its sixth edition in September.
As part of her work with Black Improv Alliance, Stephanie designed and facilitated over 100 classes and workshops for theaters, universities, conferences, organizations, and corporate clients. She also developed a facilitator training program that prepares experienced improvisers to become instructors, created an international scholarship program involving 60 theaters worldwide, and recruited, mentored, and supported teachers, guest artists, and facilitators, while also overseeing strategic partnerships.
In addition to her professional bona fides, Stephanie is an avid improviser, who has performed “from Louisiana to Liverpool,” and beyond, including on the WIT stage, where she was part of the first-ever musical improv team and only the second-ever all-Black team to win the Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament in 2026: You Better Call Tyrone. In addition, she recently joined the cast of iMusical – WIT’s longest-running ensemble.
WIT: Welcome aboard! What excites you most about this role?
Stephanie Rae: Thank you! I’m excited to work with such a diverse, supportive community in a thriving improv space. I love that WIT prioritizes identity-focused shows like The Cookout: A Celebration of Black Improv in the DMV, Shoes Off! (the District’s first all-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander indie improv troupe), and Sábado Picante (DC’s only improvised telenovela en español), as well as initiatives like this weekend’s LGBTQ+ Play/Date. Improv is better when different perspectives and experiences are invited, valued, and reflected onstage. I’m excited to help more people find their place here.
WIT: What impact has improv had on your life?
SR: Improv has made me better at everything I’ve ever done, from teaching college students to coaching CEOs on their speaking skills. It’s given me a giant toolbox of exercises, but also a way of approaching people and challenges with curiosity, flexibility, and confidence. Personally, it’s taught me to try things before I feel completely ready. And that’s fortunate, because “completely ready” almost never arrives!
What do you hope to achieve in this role?
SR: My first priority is listening and learning from the students, teachers, and staff who know WIT’s education program best. As we grow into our new home in NoMa, I’m excited to explore new classes and more opportunities for students to connect outside the classroom.
WIT already has a thriving education program, so as I continue to build on what currently exists, I’m especially interested in welcoming people who want the benefits of improv without necessarily wanting to perform: improv for lawyers, health professionals, introverts, and more. I firmly believe improv can help people become better at whatever they want to do, whether or not they ever step onstage.
I also want to keep amplifying WIT’s reputation as an international leader in the improv space. I’ve studied and performed in New York, LA, and internationally, and the training and performance programs at WIT are some of the best I’ve seen. More people need to know about the magic we’re making here!
What resonates with you about WIT’s approach to teaching and creating welcoming spaces for self-discovery?
SR: What resonates with me is creating a classroom where people can bring their authentic selves and discover something new about what they’re capable of. A welcoming learning environment gives students room to experiment, make mistakes, and surprise themselves without feeling that they have to prove they’re funny… or that they already know what they’re doing.
As a teacher, I love helping people recognize that their own voices, instincts, and experiences are valuable. That’s part of the beauty of improv: you’re learning to create with other people while also learning to trust yourself.
What is the power of play for adults, especially in a place like DC?
SR: I started taking improv classes in law school, and they were an incredible way to bring creativity and joy into my life after reading hundreds of pages of contract law. Improv gave me a place to get out of my head, connect with other people, and do something without needing to have the right answer.
Especially in a place like DC, where so much of life can revolve around work and achievement, there’s something powerful about making time to play. Grown-ups need recess, too! Improv gives us a chance to laugh, be surprised, and reconnect with parts of ourselves that don’t always get much room in the day-to-day grind.
Photo: Stephanie Rae