Lauren Winther-Hansen

Lauren Winther-Hansen has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. Lauren began their career in 1994 as a Lighting Design Intern at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre. From 1994 to 1996, they worked at Starbucks Coffee Company in various roles, including Store Manager, Assistant Store Manager, and Shift Supervisor. In 1999, they became a Subscriptions Representative at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. From 2000 to 2009, they worked at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in various roles, including Associate Director of Planned Giving, Associate Director of Planned Giving & Annual Fund, Manager of Annual & Planned Giving Programs, and Member Relations Manager. From 2010 to 2021, they held a Communications Director (Board Position) role at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre. Since 2021, they have been a Nonprofit Training Lead and Senior Partner Success Strategist at FreeWill.

Lauren Winther-Hansen's education history includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre major and English minor (magna cum laude) from Wake Forest University, which they earned between 1992 and 1996. Lauren also took non-credit continuing education classes in Creative Writing at Anne Arundel Community College in 2011. In 1997, they audited an Introduction to Public Relations course at The George Washington University. Prior to that, they attended Arundel High School between 1989 and 1992, where they earned a diploma in General Studies, including A.P. classes. Additionally, they have attended other classes, conferences, and workshops, though they have not earned any certifications.