As a Director of Leadership Development, Lauren McElrath guides project management and program alignment for The Leadership Academy’s school and system clients. Her work ensures that professional learning and coaching helps education leaders build their skills, strengthen their effectiveness, and make meaningful progress towards their goals. She also assesses client needs, supports in the design of engagements, and assists with creating tools, resources, and curriculum that foster development and growth. She’s worked with school and system leaders in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Michigan.
Lauren first joined The Leadership Academy in 2018 as a program manager for a regional effort that provided professional learning and coaching to education leaders in West Michigan. She helped to implement programming and managed logistics for the multi-year program, which ultimately strengthened nearly 150 education leaders across five school systems.
Her career experience in education began in West Michigan at her alma mater, Grand Valley State University, where she spent nearly a decade in a variety of roles. She ultimately advanced to become Associate Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships, managing more than 400 scholarships and scholarship programs, collaborating with faculty and staff to ensure student success, and developing and implementing programming designed to increase student involvement. She was honored by Athena Grand Rapids with the 2018 Young Professional Award, recognizing her leadership in empowering, connecting, and equipping women in West Michigan for success.
Lauren is a two-time graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she earned both a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting. She is based in Michigan.
