Laura Benitez is the State Policy Manager for PEN America’s U.S. Free Expression Programs. She tracks state-level legislation and policy trends threatening free expression, with a particular emphasis on education issues, and advises various program teams as they fight government censorship.
Previously, Laura worked with the Arizona State Senate Research Staff, facilitating the legislative process and providing nonpartisan policy analysis, research, and drafting services. In her role as the Senate Education Committee Research Analyst, she held primary responsibility for K-12 and higher education policy analysis and, as the Research Staff Editor, she assisted with quality control for department publications across issue areas. Prior to that, she held various roles staffing commerce, workforce development and education issues. Laura holds a BA in Political Science and a minor in Spanish from the University of Arizona.
