Lisa Benavides-Nelson served as a full time faculty member at NYU Graduate Acting, Tisch School of the Arts from 2010-2021. She has also served as a teacher and director at The Juilliard School, The Public Theatre Shakespeare Lab, The Actor’s Center, SUNY Purchase College, Lehman College, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Red Bull Theatre and The Stella Adler Conservatory. After graduating from Juilliard in 1991she studied in The Teacher Development Program at The Actor’s Center under the guidance of Michael Miller, Earle Gister, Lloyd Richards, Slava Dolgachev, and Ron Van Lieu. Ms. Benavides-Nelson has continued her professional development with work at The Black Arts Institute, The Funny School of Good Acting and classes and workshops at The Actors Center. Her acting credits include appearances on stage at Lincoln Center Theater, The Acting Company, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Portland Stage, The Huntington and Alliance Theatres. Her film credits include: Leaves of Grass, The Grey Zone, O, Eye of God, An Upheaval, and Anesthesia. She is married to writer/director and actor Tim Blake Nelson. They have three sons. She serves on the boards of The 52nd Street Project and The Actor’s Center.






Adjunct Assistant Professor, Theatre