Lauren Hershey has worked in development, both domestically and internationally for nonprofits and in consulting – with private and public sector clients for almost ten years.
As Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) Director of Strategic Partnerships, Hershey serves as the partnerships lead for the Cultivating Thriving Production Systems team.
Hershey served in Mali in the United States Peace Corps from 2011-2012 following the completion of her bachelor’s degrees from The University of Georgia. While in Mali, she worked with rural communities in health education, specifically pertaining to improved nutrition, family planning, reproductive health and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene). It was there that she also developed a passion for the promotion and adoption of food, water and agricultural sustainability and its education both domestically and abroad. Since then, she has worked for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, World Vision International’s Food Assistance team, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division and CARE USA’s Competitive Bids Unit.
She holds a master’s degree from University College London in development administration and planning with an emphasis on water and sanitation and sustainable infrastructure in the Global South and bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and journalism. Hershey speaks Spanish and Bambara and some French. She’s currently taking online courses with Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition for the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Certificate Program.