Photo of Warner, Kimmie

Kimmie Warner

Lecturer

iLEAD Professional Development Program

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Contact

Building & Room:

UH 2524

Address:

601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607

CV Link:

Kimmie Warner

About

BS Exercise Science - Specialization in Kinesiology and Cardiac Rehab, Indiana State University/MBA University of Illinois at Chicago

Kimmie is a Lecturer for the Student Professional Development Program & Institute for Leadership Excellence and Development (iLEAD) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She teaches within and helped to develop the current curriculums used in the Beginning Improv A-E program and The Film School (formerly The Harold Ramis Film School) at The Second City Chicago. She also teaches Improv for Anxiety within their Wellness program. Kimmie also taught improv to Tom Yorton, one of the guys who wrote the bestselling book Yes, And - Lessons from The Second City as well as motivational speaker Judi Holler, who also wrote a bestselling book Fear is my Homeboy: How to Slay Doubt, Boss Up, and Succeed on Your Own Terms. Additionally, she was voted Second City’s 2018 Teacher of the Year and received a YES, AND... AWARD in 2021 for authenticity. She helped to start the first Improv Club at UIC. Other places she has taught improv, improv therapy, medical improv, improv for actors, dramatic improv and acting are: Act One Studios, Emerald City Theatre, The Chicago Public School System (where she also served as a mentor) and Linden Oaks Hospital at Edward-Arabella House where she trained staff and worked with patients. Kimmie also was Public Speaking Club Coach for The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She owns her own corporate improv training business called WorkPlayImprov. Her clients include: Northwestern University, Starcom, Catepillar, Basecamp, Ingredion, CDW, PwC, EMC, and Taste of Chicago/City of Chicago, UIC Medical Executive Board, and countless others. She also is a graduate of The Second City Conservatory, iO, and The Annoyance Theatres. Additionally, she has 16 years of sales and management experience in the beverage industry.

Professional Leadership

Vice President of Chicago AICE/IFT, Local #6612 Association of International Comedy Educators. We are the first international teaching artists union in the world.

Notable Honors

2021, Yes, And...Award Winner for Authenticity, Second City

2018, Teacher of the Year, Second City

Education

BS Exercise Science - Specialization in Kinesiology and Cardiac Rehab, Indiana State University, 1994
MBA University of Illinois at Chicago, 2019