ASHLAND, OR (March 3, 2025) – The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Ryen as its new director of development. A seasoned fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit development, Ryen returns to OSF after previously serving in key fundraising roles from 2015 to 2020. Her appointment marks a significant addition to OSF’s leadership team and the organization’s commitment to donor stewardship and financial sustainability.
As director of development, Ryen will lead OSF’s fundraising strategy, working closely with the Board of Directors and donors to secure essential resources for the Festival’s artistic and community programs. She will lead all areas of contributed revenue, including individual philanthropy, institutional giving, and board engagement, ensuring that OSF continues to thrive as a premier destination for theatre lovers across the country.
Ryen’s career has spanned both the theatre and healthcare sectors, with leadership positions at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, Ojai Playwrights’ Conference, and HEAR Center in Pasadena. Most recently, she served as a director of development at the Asante Foundation, where she played a key role in the AsanteForward campaign, which raised over $50 million for transformational projects, including the Olsrud Family Women’s and Children’s Hospital at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
For Ryen, returning to OSF is both a personal and professional milestone. After visiting Ashland in 2010, she and her family made the life-changing decision to relocate to the Rogue Valley in 2015. She joined OSF as director of individual giving, where she played a key role in growing the Festival’s major gifts program, and later served as director of principal gifts. Now, she brings her expanded expertise back to OSF at a critical moment in the Festival’s fundraising efforts.
“There is something truly special about OSF,” Ryen said. “It’s not just the extraordinary work on stage—it’s the artists, the audiences, the donors, and the entire community that make this place feel like home. OSF changed my life when I first experienced it fifteen years ago, and I want to ensure that countless others have the same opportunity to be inspired, moved, and transformed by this Festival for years to come. I am incredibly honored to step into this role and to work alongside our supporters to sustain and grow the OSF we all love.”
Gabriella Calicchio, OSF’s executive director, emphasized the importance of Ryen’s return, noting her deep ties to the organization and the crucial role of philanthropy in OSF’s long-term success. “Jennifer’s passion for OSF is undeniable, and we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome her back,” Calicchio said. “She understands what this Festival means to our artists, audiences, and supporters, and she brings a wealth of experience in building strong, lasting donor relationships. Fundraising is essential to OSF’s sustainability, and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Jennifer in ensuring that our development efforts are as bold and forward-thinking as the work we produce on stage.”
Ryen’s connection to theatre runs deep—her father was a high school theatre teacher for 38 years, instilling in her a lifelong appreciation for the power of storytelling. She earned a BFA in theatre with an emphasis in dramaturgy from the University of Oklahoma, where she met her husband, OSF actor James Ryen. Always passionate about making the world a better place, she knew early on that she wanted to chart a career in nonprofit development and administration, serving missions that celebrate, heal, and nurture humanity.
An active member of the Ashland and broader Rogue Valley community, Ryen looks forward to reconnecting with OSF’s dedicated supporters and forging new relationships to help sustain the Festival’s future. She begins her appointment in late March.
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