Foundation Staff

Meet the innovative team leading the Stena Foundation.

Sarah Senft

Managing Director

Sarah Senft

Managing Director

Leentje Klingensmith

Marketing Director

Sabrina Bengtzen

Communications and Program Specialist

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Sarah Senft

Managing Director

Sarah Senft, MPA serves as the Managing Director of the Stena Foundation. She is responsible for identifying thought leaders, developing new partnerships, directing strategic projects, and amplifying the Stena Foundation’s impact.

With 10+ years in the non-profit sector, Sarah brings to the Foundation a strong background in higher education, development, strategic engagement, and community partnerships. She joined the Stena Foundation from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business where for the last five years she worked as a Development Director.

Sarah grew up in a small town in the Nevada desert, the daughter of a naval officer and schoolteacher. Her father was a first-generation student who went on to become a university president, and her mother to obtain an Ed.D. Sarah has seen firsthand the impact an education can have on someone’s future and economic status. She believes deeply in the Stena Foundation’s mission of empowering individuals from rural and underserved communities to see their potential and harness available resources in order to uplift not only themselves but also their communities to greater economic prosperity.

Sarah earned a Bachelor in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah.

Sarah Senft

Managing Director

Sarah Senft, MPA serves as the Managing Director of the Stena Foundation. She is responsible for identifying thought leaders, developing new partnerships, directing strategic projects, and amplifying the Stena Foundation’s impact.

With 10+ years in the non-profit sector, Sarah brings to the Foundation a strong background in higher education, development, strategic engagement, and community partnerships. She joined the Stena Foundation from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business where for the last five years she worked as a Development Director.

Sarah grew up in a small town in the Nevada desert, the daughter of a naval officer and schoolteacher. Her father was a first-generation student who went on to become a university president, and her mother to obtain an Ed.D. Sarah has seen firsthand the impact an education can have on someone’s future and economic status. She believes deeply in the Stena Foundation’s mission of empowering individuals from rural and underserved communities to see their potential and harness available resources in order to uplift not only themselves but also their communities to greater economic prosperity.

Sarah earned a Bachelor in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah.

Leentje Klingensmith

Marketing Director

Leentje Klingensmith serves as the Marketing Director of the Stena Group. She is responsible for the furtherance of the Stena Foundation’s brand, mission, and interests through the development of a web, social, and community presence. 

With 5+ years in the non-profit sector and 2 years in the start-up sphere, Leentje joins the Foundation with a background in higher education, branding, storytelling, and community partnerships. She came to the Stena Foundation from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business where, for the last four and a half years, she worked as part of the Alumni Relations and Development team. 

Leentje grew up in a small town outside of Boise, Idaho before moving with her family first to Prattville, Alabama, and then to Layton, Utah in support of her father’s career with the United States Air Force. Leentje is a first-generation college student and recognizes the impact that an education can have on a person’s future at so many levels. Both of her parents were raised in rural communities and as such is thrilled to be part of the Stena Foundation’s mission of empowering individuals with similar backgrounds to uplift themselves and their communities. 

Leentje Klingensmith

Marketing Director

Leentje Klingensmith serves as the Marketing Director of the Stena Group. She is responsible for the furtherance of the Stena Foundation’s brand, mission, and interests through the development of a web, social, and community presence. 

With 5+ years in the non-profit sector and 2 years in the start-up sphere, Leentje joins the Foundation with a background in higher education, branding, storytelling, and community partnerships. She came to the Stena Foundation from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business where, for the last four and a half years, she worked as part of the Alumni Relations and Development team. 

Leentje grew up in a small town outside of Boise, Idaho before moving with her family first to Prattville, Alabama, and then to Layton, Utah in support of her father’s career with the United States Air Force. Leentje is a first-generation college student and recognizes the impact that an education can have on a person’s future at so many levels. Both of her parents were raised in rural communities and as such is thrilled to be part of the Stena Foundation’s mission of empowering individuals with similar backgrounds to uplift themselves and their communities. 

Sabrina Bengtzen

Communications and Program Specialist

Sabrina Bengtzen serves as the Communications and Program Specialist for the Stena Foundation. She works diligently to curate data-driven and impact-focused storytelling, highlighting the people and communities Stena strives to uplift. She also provides concise and efficient lines of communication for the internal Stena team, assists in developing media strategy, and collaborates in content creation. 

Having just graduated with a degree in Public Relations, Sabrina brings a sense of energy and exuberance to the Stena team. Prior to her work with Stena, she served as a Marketing and Public Relations Director at the BYU Ballard Center for Social Impact, the largest collegiate center for social impact in the world. There she developed a passion for social innovation and utilizing data to solve some of the world’s most pressing systemic issues. She has always been eager to do good but is constantly seeking ways to do good, better. 

Sabrina was born and raised in Holladay, UT with her three siblings. Her family has always heavily valued education and she attributes that to her maternal Grandfather. He was born in a rural community, served in the Air Force, and labored tirelessly to attend the University of Utah upon his release. His degree changed the course of her family forever and has created a legacy Sabrina is determined to uphold. She knows her grandpa would be eager to support the Stena mission and she stands to do the same. 

Sabrina earned a Bachelor in Communications, emphasis in Public Relations from Brigham Young University. 

Sabrina Bengtzen

Communications and Program Specialist

Sabrina Bengtzen serves as the Communications and Program Specialist for the Stena Foundation. She works diligently to curate data-driven and impact-focused storytelling, highlighting the people and communities Stena strives to uplift. She also provides concise and efficient lines of communication for the internal Stena team, assists in developing media strategy, and collaborates in content creation. 

Having just graduated with a degree in Public Relations, Sabrina brings a sense of energy and exuberance to the Stena team. Prior to her work with Stena, she served as a Marketing and Public Relations Director at the BYU Ballard Center for Social Impact, the largest collegiate center for social impact in the world. There she developed a passion for social innovation and utilizing data to solve some of the world’s most pressing systemic issues. She has always been eager to do good but is constantly seeking ways to do good, better. 

Sabrina was born and raised in Holladay, UT with her three siblings. Her family has always heavily valued education and she attributes that to her maternal Grandfather. He was born in a rural community, served in the Air Force, and labored tirelessly to attend the University of Utah upon his release. His degree changed the course of her family forever and has created a legacy Sabrina is determined to uphold. She knows her grandpa would be eager to support the Stena mission and she stands to do the same. 

Sabrina earned a Bachelor in Communications, emphasis in Public Relations from Brigham Young University. 

Teamwork

We are all team members and each one of us is equally important to attaining our goals. Words matter. How we treat each other matters. You can’t expect to make a positive impact on the world without first attending to your stakeholders, partners, and mission-focused communities.

Focus

The ability to hone in on a task, and to make every minute matter is what turns insight into action. When we choose to focus, we make the best use of our time and resources.

Insight

We practice constant curiosity and have a passion for research and data-driven solutions. It is imperative that we take the time to analyze each step we take and look for learning opportunities. This approach will ultimately drive the greatest degree of mission focused impact.

Leverage

We recognize that we can’t succeed alone. Leverage is about finding the most efficient way to partner with our networks and to use our resources to achieve our goals.

Purpose

We must understand the why and strive to do the right thing every time. Our mission is firmly front and center. Always.

Urgency

We believe in acting and investing now to help create the inclusive economic prosperity for all we want to see tomorrow. “Progress before perfection.”

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