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).
Training
Bay Area TheaterSports (BATS), Foundation Series Program, 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 — August 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) Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) — 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 — 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) — 2019
Illustrator, The Joys of Otherhood — TEDx, 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) — Menlo Park, 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