Jen Hitchings (she/her/hers) is an artist and curator with 10 years of professional experience working as a creative entrepreneur, administrator, and manager of artist studios and contemporary, artist-run galleries in New York City. Hitchings holds a BFA in Painting & Drawing from SUNY Purchase and a Certificate in Small Business and Entrepreneurship from Hunter College. In 2019, she founded Studio Associate, a unique and multifaceted art consulting agency and resource platform that forges connections between artists, workers, and supporters of the arts through professional development, job placement, private sales, and resource-sharing. She relocated to Southern California in 2021 to begin working at CalArts and is thrilled to provide insights from her experience in the field and passion for cultivating professional connections to CalArtians. 

 With the Center for Life & Work, Jen oversees the department's internship program, professional development workshops and resources, Incubator Program, creative educational partnerships, and collaborates with Student Experience and Academic Affairs to implement and facilitate initiatives stewarding CalArtians' success in life & work after graduation.