Ayanna Coleman, M.A., is a performing artist, producer, educator, and nonprofit executive with over seven years of experience advancing artistic excellence, organizational growth, and equity in the performing arts. She brings a multidisciplinary background spanning executive leadership, artistic programming, interdisciplinary production, stage management, fundraising strategy, and nonprofit operations.

Ayanna currently serves as Interim Executive Director of the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA), where she provides strategic and operational leadership during a period of organizational transition and growth.

Previously, Ayanna served as Director of Advancement for CAAPA, leading institutional fundraising, donor cultivation, and development systems that supported the expansion of CAAPA’s performance and education initiatives. Beyond the stage, her broader career includes leadership roles with DC Strings Workshop, St. Francis Neighborhood Center, and the Baltimore School for the Arts, as well as consulting work with We Rise and The Write Group. Across these roles, she has built sustainable operational infrastructure, managed complex budgets, and produced interdisciplinary performances and education programs in collaboration with partners such as The Embassy of Spain, DC Public Schools, Morgan State University, and more.

A dedicated advocate for equity, inclusion, and accessibility, Ayanna integrates culturally responsive practices into governance, program design, artist development, and community engagement. Her leadership centers artists and communities while strengthening the systems that sustain nonprofit arts organizations.

Ayanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Texas Southern University and a Master of Arts in Music from Morgan State University.