Profiles
Elizabeth Coffman, PhD
Interim Dean;
Program Director Film and Digital Media Program
Education
PhD in English (Cinema Studies), University of Florida, 1995
MA in English, University of Florida, 1990
BA in English and Political Science, Duke University, 1987
Elizabeth Coffman serves as the Interim Dean for Loyola Chicago's School of Communication. She is an active documentary filmmaker and film scholar. Her NEH-sponsored film Flannery on Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor was the first winner for the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns prize for film, broadcast on American Masters in 2021. Elizabeth has worked at Loyola University Chicago since 2004, serving as department chair for Communication and director of the Film and Digital Media Program. She supports Chicago film and video history, serving on the board of the Media Burn Archive for independent video.
Program Areas
2004-2008 Department chair for Communication
2004 Helped found Center for Global Media and Documentary Studies
2008-2012 Program Director of the International Film and Media Studies Program
Courses Taught
Intro to Cinema, Film Genre
Research Interests
Elizabeth has produced feature films and installations with partner Ted Hardin and their company Long Distance Productions on writers, environmental crises and nation-building. She has published on documentary history, from early avant-garde shorts to contemporary video and film collectives.
Professional & Community Affiliations
Outside of Loyola, Dr. Coffman serves as a trustee for the University Film and Video Foundation and on numerous advisory boards for cinema and documentary groups.