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Profiles

Elizabeth Coffman, PhD

Professor; Film and Digital Media Program

Contact
  • 312.915.6716
  • School of Communication 219
  • http://longdistanceproductions.com/
    • 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 a Professor in the Film and Digital Media Program 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

    2010 to 2012 Environmental Curriculum Developer, Provost’s office

    2019-2022 Program Director for ​Film and Digital Media

    2022-2024 Interim Dean, School of Communication

    Courses Taught

    Intro to Cinema, Film Genre; Documentary Production; Producing for Film and Digital Media; Cinema History; Comedy in Film & TV; Women in Film & TV; Documentary Studies, Science Fiction and Environment; Environmental Advocacy; Video Production

    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. Most recently, her documentary on writer Flannery O'Connor broadcast on PBS's American Masters series (2021). She served as a co-executive producer for Ethan Hawke's biopic on O'Connor, Wildcat (2024).

    Professional & Community Affiliations

    Outside of Loyola, Dr. Coffman has served as a trustee for the University Film and Video Foundation and on numerous advisory boards for schools, film, video and documentary groups.