Lauren Hansen

With over two decades of experience impacting public perception, Lauren leads the Department of Energy’s communications efforts for Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in Newport News, Virginia.

Accumulating over 50 national and international peer awards, she has demonstrated her extensive expertise in public relations, marketing, event planning, community outreach and crisis communications.

Before joining Jefferson Lab in 2017, Lauren was the group account director for the communications firm PRR, based in Seattle, from 2013 to 2016, leading national infrastructure project public relations efforts for public-sector clients in Washington, D.C., Georgia and Virginia.

Prior to venturing into private industry, Lauren served as the public affairs and communications manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), overseeing public involvement and outreach efforts for almost a decade. In this role, Lauren was designated lead for the Commonwealth’s regional public and media outreach program during natural disasters, including Hurricane Irene and Sandy.

While living in Boston, in the early 2000s, Lauren held the position of advertising and marketing manager for Wilson Farms, Incorporated, a multi-million dollar wholesale and retail farming and import business based out of Lexington, Massachusetts. She holds a bachelor of science in journalism from Northeastern University and lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.