Lauren Ropp enters the GHD program after working for nine years in the international development and humanitarian sectors across West and East Africa. Most recently, Lauren served as Deputy Country Director of One Acre Fund in Ethiopia, working with tree nursery entrepreneurs and farmer cooperatives to increase the availability of economically valuable trees and improve seed quality for smallholder farmers. Prior to this, she helped design and lead a randomized controlled trial studying an innovative asset transfer program with farming families in rural Tanzania. From 2014-2017, Lauren managed various Ebola response and recovery efforts in Sierra Leone with Partners In Health, GOAL Global, and the United Nations Development Program. Lauren also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone where she taught English, science, and health.

Lauren graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology in 2010. She speaks Krio, Swahili, and French. Lauren is completing the Social Innovation & Global Development certificate at Georgetown and intends to pursue roles in social impact consulting after graduation.