Bio:

Lauren was recently hired by the Pride Center to serve as the Mental Health Specialist. From May 2010 through May 2011, Lauren interned with the Pride Center through the University at Albany’s MSW program.  She is thrilled to return to the Capital Region as well as the Pride Center.  As the Mental Health Specialist, Lauren will work under the Program Director and manage the Center Support program – including short term case management, overseeing our MSW interns, the Rainbow Café drop-in center, and delivering professional development trainings for area mental health professionals.  Lauren has been involved with LGBTQ advocacy in a variety of capacities since attending her first Gay/Straight Alliance meeting at age 14.  She has worked with multiple organizations within the LGBTQ movement such as the University at Albany’s Pride Alliance Club and LGBTQ Advisory Board, the Syracuse “Q” Youth Center, the Empire State Pride Agenda, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Human Rights Campaign.  Lauren is always eager and grateful to be involved in any way she can work to promote equity and social justice and is excited to mesh her advocacy and social work skills together for this new position at the Pride Center.

Lauren is a Licensed Master of Social Work and also possesses a Bachelors degree in Social Welfare with minors in Women’s Studies and Sociology.  Outside of her work, Lauren is an avid fan of the television show Glee, a frequent volunteer for voter-registration drives, and loves exploring new cities.   She is a new resident of Troy.