Lauren oversees operations and partnerships to support the Institute’s long-term sustainability and impact. She previously served NIFPlay as a Strategic Advisor and Board Member, helping to shape partnerships, secure grant-based funding, and guide institutional growth. She is the author of several publications and has contributed to public conversations on play, purpose, and human development through podcast appearances — often alongside NIFPlay founder Dr. Stuart Brown (her father) and CEO Mia Sundstrom (her daughter).  Lauren’s professional background spans public policy, law, and negotiation. She studied at Colorado College and St. Peter’s College, Oxford University, and spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., serving as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Ted Stevens and later as a lobbyist with Holland & Hart. She was also a partner at Western Land Group in Denver, specializing in public-private transactions. Lauren and her husband, Steve, raised their two children in Boulder, Colorado, where both attended play-based, self-directed schools. A social kinesthete, Lauren loves the outdoors, loves to dance, and is deeply committed to stewarding the Institute’s legacy while helping guide its next chapter.