About

The Basics

My name is Colleen Dilenschneider. I am a Generation Y museum lover, nonprofit marketer and program producer, and graduate student in Public Administration- Nonprofit Management (MPA) within the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development.

I write about the evolution of social change in museums and other nonprofit organizations. I often focus on the growing importance of community engagement, new media, and the emergence of Generation Y in the workplace.

First time visiting K.Y.O.B? This is a good place to start.

Bio

While working toward a double major in English Language and Literature and Visual Arts at The University of Chicago, I worked and volunteered in several aspects of community engagement at The Art Institute of Chicago and the Smart Museum of Art. As a Jeff Metcalf Fellow, I was able to serve as the Programming/Events Intern at After School Matters, a nonprofit providing art apprenticeship opportunities to urban youth, in the Summer of 2006. I also held several leadership positions in organizations pertaining to community involvement on campus, including The University of Chicago’s Dance Marathon and Alpha Omicron Pi Women’s Fraternity.

After graduating from college, I moved to Seattle where I produced over 45 public events as the Special Events Coordinator at Pacific Science Center and received professional certification in Public Relations from the University of Washington.

Here’s a goofy glimpse into the cool and quirky side of the work that I was able to do within Pacific Science Center’s Marketing Division when I was not busy coordinating large-scale events. This is a television commercial that I narrated for Animal Grossology, a fantastic exhibit that was featured at Pacific Science Center from May 23rd to September 7th, 2009.

Projects

When I am not busy being a full-time graduate student, I’m an independent contractor heading up marketing and communication efforts for The Serpentine Project, a young nonprofit that empowers youth transitioning out of foster care to reach for their dreams. I’m constantly thinking up ways to engage my community as a Nonprofit Co-Chair of the University of Southern California’s Graduate Policy and Administration Community. I also keep up with my passion for the art world by assisting in administrative duties within the MFA Program at USC’s Roski School of Fine Arts.

On a personal note…

I take any chance I can get to visit my family in my beloved City of the Big Shoulders, but I am grateful that my career path has offered me the opportunity for growth and adventure on the West Coast. I am very passionate about informal learning environments and their potential to ignite initial sparks of interest in science, art, or history within individuals. I visit museums whenever I am able, often with a notepad in hand. A few of my personal interests include art theory, goofy organized games with good friends, the poetry of ee cummings, and exploring cities on foot.

Thanks again for visiting!

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