Bethany Naranjo is the Administrative Assistant to the CEO at the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN), where she supports executive operations, manages the CEO’s calendar, and serves as the liaison between the Board of Directors and internal staff. She also coordinates logistics for CEN’s cohort programs, including the Leaders Institute and Building Representative Boards.

Born and raised in East Palo Alto, Bethany brings a deep understanding of community resilience to her work. Her diverse background includes administrative leadership across the nonprofit, higher education, tech start-up, and philanthropic sectors. This experience helps her understands the nuance and care required to help mission-driven leaders thrive. She holds a college education in Communication and Social Justice Studies and is a graduate of both the Latino Board Leadership Academy (Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley) and the ELLA Program (Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley). Bethany deepened her commitment to nonprofit service through these transformative leadership spaces.

As a teen mom who once faced homelessness and relied on public assistance, Bethany credits the nonprofit sector with helping her rise during the most challenging chapters of her life. Her lived experience fuels her passion for helping others reach their fullest potential—while always honoring their agency in defining their own outcomes.