Lauren has over 13+ years of higher education experience at the University of Michigan. She has worked collaboratively alongside students, staff, and faculty to advance the School’s DEI and anti-racism goals. She is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the School's DEI strategic plan, executing annual DEI assessments, supervising student staff, and creating DEI initiatives.

Prior to this role, she worked in the U-M School of Social Work’s Office of Student Services, where she was involved with admissions, recruitment, advising, academic support, and helping students navigate wellness concerns. The inclusive work of this office was recognized by the University, where her team was honored with a Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award. As a first-generation college graduate, she enjoys helping students to navigate educational spaces, connecting them to resources, providing mentorship, and increasing access for historically underrepresented communities.

Lauren has taught courses on Diversity and Social Justice, Racial Equity, and generalist social work practice. She became a field instructor, teaching students, focusing on macro-level skills, including community engagement, evaluation, advancing DEI and anti-racist approaches in a higher education setting, and learning to practically apply theories and competencies.

Lauren is a proud Michigan Wolverine, receiving her BA in Psychology and Sociology and her MSW from the University of Michigan. She has been a member of teams that work for strong inclusion and equity, including the U-M Voices of the Staff Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, and was the School of Social Work’s Undoing Racism Group, and co-leading a workgroup through the Council on Social Work Education’s Anti-Racism Task Force.

She is passionate about creating inclusive and transparent environments where everyone can thrive and be successful. She is inspired by the contributions and activism of students who have called for change and for the University to live up to its social justice values. She believes that DEI is central to the mission of every organization and is an essential part of everyone’s role.