Lisa Van Dusen — Curriculum Vitae
Palo Alto, CA • lisa@lisavandusen.com • lisavandusen.com
Education
University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe — M.F.A.-Interdisciplinary Arts, 2025
Brown University — A.B., Semiotics, 1977
Completed extensive studio art and art history coursework at Brown and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Post-Baccalaureate Study
Bay Area TheaterSports (BATS), Foundation Series Program (Improvisation), 2020–2022
Co-Active Training Institute (CTI), Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), 2020
California College of the Arts, Certificate in Innovation Leadership, 2011
Stanford University, Stanford Continuing Studies — selected coursework
Solo Exhibitions
Public Benefit — Avenidas, Palo Alto, CA, 2025
COVID Diary (Pop-up Solo Exhibition) — Plein Aire Gallery on Greenwood, Palo Alto, CA, August 2020
Group Exhibitions & Performances
Word: Where Art & Text Intersect
Ron & Maureen Ashley Community Gallery, Holman Arts & Media Center, University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, January 2025
Trixie, Carnival of Chaos (guest performer; improvised character role)
Garage Gallery, Holman Arts & Media Center, University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, January 2025
Art in the Garden (creative process sharing and live drawing)
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden — Palo Alto, CA, August 2024
Eclipse (Midway MFA exhibition)
Tahoe Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, August 2024
Artful Narratives: A Symphony of Sight and Story
Ron & Maureen Ashley Community Gallery, UNR at Lake Tahoe, 2024
Chromascapes: UNR MFA Exchange Show
Donna Beam Gallery of Fine Art, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2024
Pop-up Art Show with Live Drawing (two-person exhibition with Melissa Mahoney)
Open Air Gallery, Palo Alto, CA, 2022
Love is in the Air (long-form improvised romantic comedy; final BATS performance)
Bay Area TheaterSports (BATS), Virtual, 2022
Power Play (improvisation workshop on power & status; co-created with Peter Chapman), Redwood City, CA, 2019
Public Alchemy
ArtLab, Cubberley Community Center, Palo Alto, CA, 2016
Cuban at Heart
Krause Center for Innovation, Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA, 2012
Speaking, Interviews & Writing
Public Benefit: In Conversation with Karen Kienzle (Director, Palo Alto Art Center) — Avenidas, Palo Alto, CA, October 2025
Public Benefit: Virtual Gallery Tour & Artist Talk — UNR Lake Tahoe Campus, Incline Village, Nevada, August 2025
Presentation to Palo Alto City Council on Public Benefit — Palo Alto City Council Chambers, Palo Alto, CA, October 2025
Palo Alto POPOS Walking Tour (guided social-practice activation of all 12 POPOS) — Palo Alto, CA, October 2025
Podcast Guest, “Our Mothers, Ourselves”, 2022
“The Joys of Otherhood” — TEDx Talk featuring original illustrations, 2017
Creator & Host, First Person (video interview series), 2011–2017
Contributor, Poynter Institute Online Publishing Course, 2009
“Reflections on the Inauguration” — Palo Alto Weekly (cover story), 2009
Additional talks at lisavandusen.com
Commissions, Publications & Projects
Illustrator, Lost Women of Science – Shorts (Scientific American podcast under development), 2022
Illustrator, Call of the Valley: The Enduring Lure of Sonoma (Sonoma International Film Festival winner), 2019
Illustrator, The Joys of Otherhood — TEDx Talk, 2017
Artist, “We Shall Overcomb” — national greeting card distribution, 2016
Illustrator, Objects & Oddities (with Laurie Hunter), 2014
Illustrator, A Lantern of Fireflies — 826michigan.org, 2015
Illustrations, Palo Alto Weekly, 1996–2008
Awards & Scholarships
William Randolph Hearst Endowment Scholarship — UNR MFA-Interdisciplinary Arts, 2025
Athena Award — Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, 2024
100 Women of Influence — Silicon Valley Business Journal, 2015
Multiple awards, California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA), 1999–2008
Multiple awards, Peninsula Press Club, 1999–2008
Residencies & Fellowships
Emerging Artist Studio Program, Cubberley Artist Studios — Palo Alto, CA (selected participant) (2015)
Leading by Design Fellow, California College of the Arts — San Francisco, CA (2011)
Senior Fellow, Leadership Midpeninsula — Palo Alto, CA (2000–2001)
Arts Leadership
Emeritus Council Member, Palo Alto Art Center — Palo Alto, CA (2014–present)
Board Member, Palo Alto Art Center — Palo Alto, CA (Two terms, 1990–2014)
Art Teacher, Women’s Correctional Facility — Cranston, RI (1972–73)
Civic & Community Leadership (selected)
President’s Advisory Council, Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice — Brown University (2024–present)
Board Member, WINGS Guatemala — Reproductive Rights NGO (2019–2025)
Executive Director, Palo Alto Community Fund — Palo Alto, CA (2020–2024; Strategic Advisor through August 2024)
Chief Relationship Officer, Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) — Redwood City, CA (2015–2021)
Director of Partner Engagement & External Relations — SV2 (2013–2015)
Co-Director, Leadership Palo Alto — Palo Alto, CA (2012–2013)
Board Member, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate — San Francisco, CA (2009–2010)
Climate & Environmental Leadership (selected)
Palo Alto Sustainability / Climate Action Plan Advisory Council — Palo Alto, CA (2013–2017)
Special Projects, Precourt Institute for Energy — Stanford University (2011)
Other Sustainability & Climate Leadership — includes participation in the Palo Alto Green Energy Steering Committee (2010–2013), advocacy contributing to major municipal clean-energy shifts, and early environmental initiatives in Palo Alto schools