Lauren Mendoza is the Policy Manager for the First Five Years Fund, where she supports FFYF’s policy and advocacy efforts at the federal level. Lauren joined the team after almost a decade with the Kansas Legislative Research Department, a nonpartisan research staff for the Kansas Legislature. In her role as a principal research analyst, Lauren served as committee staff for the House and Senate Judiciary and Education Committees. With a longstanding commitment to advancing opportunities for children and families, Lauren is passionate about ensuring all kids have the resources they need to be successful in school and life.
A native Kansan, Lauren earned her J.D. from Washburn University School of Law, where she graduated with a certificate in Family Law, and her Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Political Science from MidAmerica Nazarene University.