Earthquake Country Alliance
Jun 02, 2021 12:30 PM
Mark Benthien
Earthquake Country Alliance

Mark Benthien is Director of Communication, Education and Outreach at the Southern California Earthquake Center headquartered at the University of Southern California. He is also the Global Coordinator of the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, and Executive Director of the Earthquake Country Alliance. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics from UCLA in 1995 and a Master of Public Policy degree from USC in 2003. Well “grounded” in the science of earthquakes, he is a passionate and visionary leader and was recognized in 2012 by the White House as a “Champion of Change” for advancing the causes of earthquake and tsunami education and safety. The annual ShakeOut earthquake drill that began in Southern California in 2008 now has participants across the United States and has become a global movement. He coordinates interactions between SCEC scientists and partners in engineering, government, business, and education; manages programs that provide earthquake information and experiential learning at all educational levels; and promotes earthquake preparedness, mitigation, and planning.