Lauren B. Jenks, MPH, CHES
Lauren (she/her) is a public health leader, educator, and writer working at the intersection of climate change and human health. As Assistant Secretary for Environmental Public Health at the Washington State Department of Health, she leads statewide efforts to address environmental threats to health. She started the department’s first climate and health program, bringing public health into the state climate response discussions.
She continues this work through writing and teaching. As Clinical Faculty at the University of Washington, she teaches Leadership & Systems Thinking and Public Health Practice. On her Substack, Seekers, she addresses climate hopelessness with scientific credibility and deep human connection.
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a public information officer for Washington State’s response, writing more than 120 daily public blog posts to help people understand the evolving situation and response, make informed decisions, and remain calm in an unprecedented time. Her writing was widely trusted for its clarity and compassion.
Lauren has a Master of Public Health from Temple University and a graduate certificate in science writing from Johns Hopkins University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She is a woman of color living in Washington State with her spouse and two teenagers.
