Lauren Hayes Knutson

Lauren Hayes Knutson serves as the Director of the Environmental Planning Division at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, leading efforts in environmental regulation and policy while advising on compliance and permitting matters. Knutson has extensive experience in environmental policy through previous roles as the CPD Program Environmental Clearance Officer and Environmental Protection Specialist at HUD, where technical assistance was provided to ensure compliance with federal environmental laws. A former Presidential Management Fellow, Knutson also contributed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on economic analyses of Superfund sites and climate change impacts on vulnerable communities. Educational credentials include a Master of Public Administration specializing in Environmental Policy from Indiana University Bloomington and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Relations and Sociology from Michigan State University.