Lauren Shelton is the founding Executive Director of the Indianapolis Center for Arts Education and Innovation at Butler University, where she leads initiatives focused on expanding access to high-quality arts education, including the Butler Community Arts School. With a background in classroom teaching, music direction, and large-scale program development, she successfully reinstated arts education across 47 schools in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. Currently the Chair of the Board of Directors for El Sistema USA, she advocates for equitable music education nationwide. Her work has been recognized with awards like the Yale School of Music Distinguished Educator of the Year and Outstanding Administrator from the California Music Educator Association.