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Northwestern School of Communication

David Chavannes

(he/him)
Assistant Professor of Instruction; Director of Undergraduate Studies
David specializes in curriculum governance and operational systems for undergraduate theatre education.

Department

Radio/Television/Film
Theatre

Area(s) of Expertise

Caribbean Studies, Collaborative Piano, Instructional Design, Oral and Archival History, Project Management
David Chavannes

David Chavannes is Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Theatre department and Assistant Professor of Instruction in Theatre and Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University. He leads curriculum governance and operational systems design to support the department’s nearly 400 undergraduate students.

In his teaching, Chavannes emphasizes foundational competencies needed for professional excellence in the performing and sound arts: theoretical and aural skills for learning music independently (THEATRE 256: Musicianship for Actors); historical and analytical inquiry (THEATRE 253: Music Theatre History); and project management for complex creative works (SAI 511: Seminar in Sound Production).

Chavannes integrates training in ethnomusicology (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) and professional experience as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach to address practical challenges in theatre program administration. His work focuses on making complex academic processes navigable for students and faculty and building systems that improve coordination among administrators, faculty, and staff in program governance.

As Director of Undergraduate Studies, his recent initiatives include: establishing learning outcomes for Theatre and Dance majors through a multi-stakeholder process resulting in a shared assessment framework across department areas; reducing time-to-degree barriers for double majors by managing a first-year curriculum redesign; and improving transparency for Music Theatre Certificate applicants and faculty by coordinating a restructuring of the audition process.

From 2022 to 2024, Chavannes served on the Evanston Arts Council, evaluating grant proposals and participating in allocation decisions that provided over $150,000 to local artists and arts organizations.


Education

  • PhD, University of Pennsylvania (2021)
  • MM, University of Maryland (2016)
  • MM, University of Kansas (2012)
  • BM: Atlantic Union College (2010)

Selected Courses Taught

  • THEATRE 253: Music Theatre History
  • THEATRE 256: Musicianship for Actors
  • THEATRE 350: Collaborative Voice and Piano
  • SAI 400: Oral History for Sound Artists
  • SAI 511: Seminar in Sound Production