Amy Thomas

Amy Thomas is Chief Operating Officer of Penumbra. A nonprofit leader working at the intersection of arts and social justice, Thomas’ work includes leading organizations in inspired storytelling processes to growing organizational capacity and sustainability. She has over 20 years of nonprofit management and administrative experience with organizations ranging from major public universities to exhibition management services. As part of the executive leadership team at Penumbra, she is responsible for the business, administrative, and operational management. Prior to her work at Penumbra, she led the marketing, communications, and audience engagement initiatives for ArtPower! at the University of California, San Diego and The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. She was part of the creative and management team behind The Loft, a 250-capacity performance lounge and restaurant voted “Best Venue in San Diego.” She co-led the Place Matters Project, an interdisciplinary year-long residency exploring the nature of community with the Urban Bush Women, students, faculty and administrators. Thomas has a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego; she was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. She is Master of Public Affairs graduate at the University of Minnesota, a Global Arts Management Fellow at the University of Maryland, and serves as a board member for Urban Roots.