Kim Stauffer
Founding Director, Center for Listening and Presence
Kim’s path has always been one of presence—on stage, in the classroom, and in the quiet moments of connection between people. As a professional actor, director, educator, and social worker, Kim brings over 25 years of experience to her work at the intersection of theatre, communication, and healing.
As a connector and community builder, Kim’s greatest joy is holding space for others and bringing people together.
Her professional journey began in the vibrant pulse of New York City, where she honed her craft as a performer and learned the art of listening in the spaces between lines. But it was a move to a small cottage on the side of a mountain in upstate New York that deepened her practice. There she began to grow not only her own food but a new way of being—rooted, intentional, and fiercely present.
A specialist in the Meisner Acting Technique, she began to explore its use for the development of listening skills after seeing marked progress in her students’ abilities to read social and emotional cues, and connect on deeper listening levels. This was the beginning of what is now the foundation of CLP’s curriculum. She continues to develop experiential curriculum through the use of Applied Theatre to bring these unique offerings to those outside the theatre realm.
Kim brings decades of expertise using theatre techniques to build connection, deepen communication, and strengthen communities.
At the Center for Listening and Presence, Kim leads workshops and trainings that use applied theatre techniques to cultivate embodied communication, emotional intelligence, and deep listening for social workers, corporations, faculty, artists, non-profits, and individuals. No matter who she is working with, Kim creates spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to connect with clarity and compassion.
Education
Kim holds degrees in Social Work and Theatre from Eastern Mennonite University and an MFA in Acting from UNC Greensboro. She has taught at institutions including Smith College, Williams College, and SUNY Albany, where she served as Head of Acting. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and a lifelong learner who finds joy in lake swimming, hiking, exploring sustainable living, and upcycling forgotten things. Her cat Jake is her most devoted audience.
