Fotini Kaufman Marut is a current law student at the University of Iowa. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy and Art History from Northwestern University. While living in Ashland, Oregon, she worked as a city planner overseeing the relationship between the city government and the Public Arts and Historic Commissions. Both groups focused on preserving and furthering the artistic culture of Ashland, with the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival as its cultural centerpiece. Originally from the Chicago area, she frequented the Art Institute as a child and fell in love with art from all over the world.