Lauren is the President of the Upstate Education + Opportunity Foundation and the Director of Community Engagement for the School District of Pickens County. She collaborates with leaders throughout the Upstate to drive transformational educational growth, research, and community engagement.
Before transitioning into to K-12 education, Lauren worked for Clemson University to support the implementation of its strategic plan, Clemson Elevate. Prior to relocating to the Upstate, she spent 13 years at the University of Notre Dame in a variety of roles that helped further its mission to “Be a Force for Good in the World.”
Lauren’s educational journey has been enriched by diverse experiences across multiple institutions. She studied at Franciscan University of Steubenville, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and internationally in Gaming, Austria before earning her degree from Indiana University.
She serves on the boards of the Easley Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Pickens Cohort XXXIII.
Lauren and her husband, Joel, are high school sweethearts and have four young children – Charlotte, Finn, Stella, and Henry. Their family enjoys spending time outdoors and embracing the incredible natural beauty of South Carolina