Lauren Elfant
Deputy Director
Lauren Elfant joined the Center in 2019 as the Deputy Director of U.S. Programs where she plays a critical leadership role in the management of the Center’s U.S. Programs (“USP”). As Deputy Director, Lauren facilitates, in collaboration with the USP team leads and the Program Manager of USP, the annual and strategic planning for the department and helps drive program implementation, to maximize impact across teams, promote sustainability, and strengthen reproductive rights nationally.
Prior to joining the Center, Lauren was Chief of Staff to Commissioner Carmelyn P. Malalis at the New York City Commission on Human Rights. In her position, Lauren served as advisor to the Commissioner and as a member of the executive team responsible for setting and implementing the Commission’s policy and legislative agenda. She also had a leadership role in building and supporting city-wide initiatives, proposing new initiatives and campaigns, and establishing relationships with community partners, elected officials, local businesses, and other stakeholders, as well as supporting general operations and management of the Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, Lauren worked as a staff attorney in the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center where she provided technical and legal support on consumer justice issues through affirmative and defensive litigation and policy advocacy. Lauren also worked as a Supervising Attorney and Team Leader at the Bronx Defenders in the Family Defense Practice where she engaged in extensive litigation on behalf of parents involved in the child welfare system.
Lauren received her BA in Women’s Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and her JD from Temple Beasley School of Law, where she was the Symposium Editor of the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review.