BIO
Lauren Larsen joined the NFF in December of 2023 as the Great Lakes Program Coordinator. In this role, she works collaboratively to develop and implement projects that support strategic conservation initiatives across six National Forests in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. She is excited to find forest-specific projects to meet individual forest needs, as well as engage in cross-forest projects to foster large scale conservation in the beautiful upper Midwest.
Prior to joining the NFF, Lauren spent 13 years managing research and outreach projects at the crossroads of forestry and human behavior. Some of her past projects include: family forest owner decision making and forest sustainability; carbon payments to project land-use change in urbanizing forested areas; economic and social feasibility of local forest biomass markets; and geospatial wildfire risk and risk perceptions to facilitate community wildfire preparedness efforts. Lauren is excited to bring these experiences to support conservation impacts in the place that she calls home. Lauren lives in Eau Claire, WI with her husband, son, daughter (ETA: 1/2024), and O.G. adventure partner, Cheyenne. When she’s not at work, Lauren enjoys trail running, hiking, archery, and baking (eating) artisan breads.
Lauren has a Ph.D. in Environment and Society from Utah State University, a M.S. in Forestry from North Carolina State University, and a B.S. in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Michigan Technological University.