About Lisa Van Dusen

I was born and raised in Michigan near Detroit, attended high school in Washington, D.C., and college at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Each place offered much to learn. Then I headed west, believing that if I didn’t go then, I might never do it.

Ever since then, I have been exploring and building community, primarily in Silicon Valley and Palo Alto. Having tried my hand at a variety of tools, including media, civic leadership, and philanthropy, I am now digging into how interdisciplinary art can serve as a spotlight, a bridge, and a catalyst in the same realms as an MFA candidate at the University of Nevada, Reno’s low-residency program in Interdisciplinary Arts. I am finding it endlessly fun and fascinating.

My current project, Public Benefit, explores when, how, and whether the Public exercises its power in the context of the 12 POPOS (Privately Owned Public Open Spaces) located in Palo Alto. You can explore more at paloaltopopos.org

You can also find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and occasionally on Facebook.