Lauren Bowen

With more than 15 years experience in human resources management at higher education institutions and nonprofits, Lauren Bowen leads Human Resources at RISD by implementing strategic, people driven initiatives support our mission and embody our stated values. She brings to her work a deep understanding of the unique relationships between faculty, staff and administration, as well as the challenges and opportunities specific to higher education environments.

Prior to arriving at RISD in fall 2024, Bowen served as senior business partner in Suffolk University’s Human Resources department, in addition to directing the university’s Total Reward Program. At Suffolk she partnered with senior leaders on a strategic, multiyear benefits plan that appealed to new hires while accounting for institutional budgets and costs. She also completed Suffolk’s Ambassador for Inclusion program to help university leaders embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into annual plans at the departmental and individual levels.

Previous to Suffolk, Bowen was benefits manager at software company PrismHR and associate director of human resource operations at the nonprofit Council on International Exchange, where she worked with the talent acquisitions team to identify managers who needed additional support in the area of DEI. She has also served as director of human resources at Eastern Nazarene College, where she was on the Social Justice Committee and helped to organize an all-campus Social Justice Day.

Bowen earned a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Eastern Nazarene College.