Lauren earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and her Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Southern California. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of The Pines Institute, a nonprofit treatment center offering residential and outpatient services for individuals recovering from substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. In this role, she oversees clinical programming, strategic growth, and operational integrity in alignment with the organization’s mission to promote sustainable recovery.

 

Lauren is also the Executive Director of the New Mexico Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), where she is leading efforts to rebuild and re-engage the professional social work community statewide. As a certified CEU provider in New Mexico, she regularly develops and facilitates continuing education courses for mental health professionals, with a focus on culturally competent care, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and healing from relationship trauma.

 

She is deeply committed to expanding access to behavioral healthcare, particularly for underserved populations, and leads several philanthropic and educational initiatives, including a nonprofit scholarship program that supports individuals in long-term recovery in pursuing graduate education in behavioral health fields.

 

Lauren’s unique combination of clinical expertise, business leadership, and policy advocacy makes her a trusted voice in transforming mental health care across New Mexico.