Sunshine Deffner

Sunshine Deffner is currently the Associate Managing Director at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Prior to this, they held the position of Senior Director of Operations & Education at California Symphony from September 2015 to July 2021. In this role, Sunshine led in areas of general and production operations (artist management, budgeting, contracting) for orchestral concerts, community events, audience development events, and managed programs of arts education; including a successful el Sistema modeled program of music for social impact and educational advancement.

From November 2012 to December 2014, Sunshine was the Development Associate, Major Giving at Asian Art Museum where they developed and managed a program of education and connoisseurship opportunities for major donor collector’s forum. Sunshine also supported solicitors to cultivate and steward major donors for new and renewed gifts of $25K and up.

Sunshine has also held the positions of Arts Management Fellow at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from September 2010 to May 2011, as well as Director of Production at OPERA SAN JOSE from July 1999 to April 2006.

Since August 2008, Sunshine has been working as an independent arts administrator.

Sunshine Deffner has a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton.

Sunshine Deffner reports to Tom Parrish, Incoming Managing Director.