Lauren Houston

Lauren Houston is a seasoned professional with a robust background in communications and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Currently serving as a Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager at Merck since April 2022, Lauren also holds the position of Senior Communications Analyst for the City of Raleigh Municipal Government since June 2019. Prior experience includes roles at APCO Worldwide as a Digital Marketing Graduate Intern and several positions at NASCAR, where Lauren progressed from Social Media Marketing Intern to Manager of Multicultural Development. Lauren's early career involved a position as Student Projects Intern- Press Room Manager for the National Association of Black Journalists' National Convention. Educational qualifications include a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and a degree in Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.