Lauren Asher is managing director for postsecondary strategy and innovation at the Carnegie Foundation. As managing director, Lauren drives the development and implementation of Carnegie’s postsecondary strategy to make American higher education a more vital engine of opportunity. 

Lauren joins the Foundation as an expert on postsecondary policy and practice, bringing deep experience in advancing both access and value for low-income and other underserved students. As president of The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), Lauren led successful initiatives to simplify the financial aid application process, increase need-based grant aid, make student loan payments more manageable, and strengthen consumer protections. She then led a strategy consulting practice for foundations, nonprofits, and colleges committed to expanding educational opportunities. In a career spanning the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors, she also served in senior positions at the National Partnership for Women & Families, Kaiser Family Foundation, and U.S. Department of Labor.  

Lauren’s passion for strengthening educational pathways to prosperity is evident in her current volunteer roles as a public member of the WASC Senior College and University Commission, a college access coach with ScholarMatch, and an advisor to Kids Impact Initiative. She received her bachelor’s degree in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University and a master’s degree focused on U.S. public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.