Laura Henderson

Laura joined the Hunger Center in 2022 as the Director of the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship Program. Laura focuses on recruiting and advising fellows and host organizations as well as implementing and providing strategic guidance for the Leland Program. She has served in a number of director and senior advisor roles with CARE, Women Thrive Worldwide, World Wildlife Fund and ChildFund International. As the Director of ChildFund’s D.C. office, Laura was fortunate enough to work with and supervise a Leland Fellow. She has also worked for the International Food Policy Research Institute, USAID, and the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, Laura helped coffee and cocoa farmers form cooperatives. She currently serves on the board of directors of Shepherd's Table, a Silver Spring, Maryland, non-profit that addresses the needs of those who are food insecure and/or homeless.

Laura holds a master's degree in international relations and economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor's degree in public affairs, political science, and economics from Bennington College.