Folger Shakespeare Library Names David Kilpatrick as Director of Learning and Education Programs

Kilpatrick will work to expand the Folger’s educational offerings while working with senior leadership on developing new public programming

The Folger Shakespeare Library today announced the appointment of David Kilpatrick as the Director of Learning and Education Programs. Kilpatrick will oversee the Folger’s many educational resources and lead new efforts to enable teachers, young people, and the broader public to put Shakespeare and the humanities to use in addressing contemporary challenges. Kilpatrick will also guide the strategic development and implementation of educational programming to support local, national, and virtual audiences and partner with senior directors at the Folger on expanding public programming offerings.

“We want to teach young people about the tools within Shakespeare’s works that can be vital to them in their lives today,” said Folger Director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper. “David brings a wealth of expertise in implementing and scaling educational and public programs from his time at the Kennedy Center that will be essential as we chart the Folger’s new creative and programmatic course for the next five to seven years. With David, we can build on the foundation of our existing educational and family programming and create greater opportunities for teachers, students, and general audiences. I am so excited to welcome him to our leadership team.”

Kilpatrick was recruited through a search process led by Arts Consulting Group. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Education Programs and Productions at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, where he oversees the Education Division’s Music, Theater, and Dance Education portfolios, including school and family programming with the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera. He joined the Kennedy Center in 2007 as the Manager of Theatre for Young Audiences, and during his tenure, his accomplishments have included launching the Education Artist-in-Residence initiative with authors Mo Willems and Jacqueline Woodson, leading the team that curates and produces each season of Performances for Young Audiences, and designing family programming for the two-week festival celebrating the opening of the REACH expansion. Prior to his time at the Kennedy Center, Kilpatrick worked in the education departments of the New Victory Theater in New York and Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

“I have been a longtime fan of the Folger, and to join their team at this moment in its esteemed history is quite an honor,” Kilpatrick said. “I am eager to expand access to the Folger’s educational resources, activate its newly renovated spaces and incredible exhibits, and ensure that Shakespeare and the humanities remain inspiring and essential for learners of all ages. What excites me the most is the Folger’s vision to be a welcoming cultural space for Capitol Hill and DC while engaging audiences and learners across the country and around the world. I can’t wait to collaborate with the team and help bring this vision to life.”

The Folger’s education work includes a variety of programs for K-12 students, including student experiences that combine a tour of the Folger with the opportunity to engage with objects in the Folger’s collection; the annual Secondary School Festival, which sees students take over the stage in the Folger’s Elizabethan-style theatre; and a series of books published with Simon & Schuster between 2024-2025 called The Folger Guide to Teaching Shakespeare. The Folger also offers extensive training for teachers and a series of digital lesson materials online at folger.edu. Education at the Folger was led by founding Director of Education Peggy O’Brien until her retirement in 2024. The department has been led in the interim by Katherine Dvorak. Kilpatrick will start at the Folger on October 14, 2025.

About Folger Shakespeare Library

The Folger Shakespeare Library makes Shakespeare’s stories and the world in which he lived accessible. Anchored by the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the Folger is a cultural organization where curiosity and creativity are embraced, and conversation is always encouraged. Visitors to the Folger can choose how they want to experience the arts and humanities, from interactive exhibitions to captivating performances, and from path-breaking research to transformative educational programming. The Folger welcomes everyone to connect in their own way—from communities throughout Washington, DC, to communities across the globe. Learn more at www.folger.edu.