Lauren Benetua

Lauren Benetua has a diverse work experience in various roles within the arts and nonprofit sectors. Lauren most recently served as the Associate Director of Data & Memberships at OF/BY/FOR ALL, where they focused on managing data, tracking progress, and measuring impact of the organization's programs. Prior to that, they worked as a Community Datalyst and Community Catalyst at the same organization, where they coached civic and cultural nonprofits and improved program curriculum and membership experience.

Benetua also worked as a Dialogue Catalyst at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, where they led events and programming and facilitated community building and bridging between the museum and foster youth agencies. Lauren was also a Jolly Good Fellow at Emerging Arts Professionals/SFBA, aiding in curriculum development and workgroup facilitation, engaging new participants, managing communications, and planning network socials.

Furthermore, Benetua served as a Gallery Coordinator at Betti Ono, overseeing gallery events and exhibit-related programs, maintaining art inventories, supporting sales, and building relationships with gallery members, clients, donors, and community partners. Lauren also worked as an American Arts Incubator Program Coordinator at ZERO1: The Art & Technology Network, facilitating online interactions and partnering with artists and communities to use art for social change.

Additionally, Benetua was an Administrative Coordinator at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, organizing social justice workshops and managing calendar and facilities. Lauren gained internship experience at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, and The Lough Road, Inc. as well, where they contributed to various projects and programs. Lauren also has experience in music events booking, management, and promotions through their role at PinUp Productions.

Overall, Benetua's work experience showcases their passion for the arts, community-building, data management, and social change.

Lauren Benetua has a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Museum Studies from Marist College, which they obtained from 2012 to 2013. Prior to that, they attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where they earned a Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in History of Art and Visual Culture, along with a specialization in Classical Studies, from 2006 to 2010.

In addition to their formal education, Lauren Benetua has obtained several certifications from Coursera. These certifications include "Data Analysis With R Programming" obtained in January 2023, "Share Data Through the Art of Visualization" obtained in November 2022, "Analyze Data To Answer Questions" obtained in October 2022, "Process Data from Dirty to Clean" obtained in August 2022, "Prepare Data for Exploration" obtained in July 2022, "Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions" obtained in June 2022, and "Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere" obtained in June 2022.