Congratulations to Lauren Brenneman for being selected as May MPA Student of the Month!
Lauren Brenneman is a committed public servant and lifelong learner who brings both passion and purpose to her work. She currently serves as a contract administrator for the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW), where she manages the state’s loan repayment programs (LRPs) for healthcare professionals which are programs that are directly funded through the Governor’s budget. In addition to supporting Georgia’s health infrastructure, Lauren helps to oversee Graduate Medical Education (GME) grant applications and contracts that help expand access to care across rural and underserved communities in Georgia. Lately, Lauren has been given the incredible opportunity to help her team oversee a GME Grant funded by the Governor that supports hospitals in expanding GME programs south of Georgia State Route 540. This funding will help to establish new or expand existing GME slots in eligible areas. While this is a huge responsibility and undertaking, Lauren is proud to know that she has an amazing team and is happy to know that she is playing a part in bettering rural areas. Her role requires following and understanding budget allocations, managing program slots/applications, and working alongside the agency’s finance director to ensure funds are distributed fairly and effectively. These are all skills she’s developed and strengthened through her Master of Public Administration (MPA) coursework. Lauren credits Public Finance with Dr. Michelle Lofton for equipping her with the confidence and tools to better understand complex funding structures and navigate the responsibilities of managing state-funded programs. “Playing a part in managing State funds is something I never would’ve felt confident doing before that class,” she says.
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Science in Rural Community Development from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, with a focus on health development. She has nearly three years of experience in state government, including in the Office of Governor Brian Kemp as a Senior Staff Assistant and as a Local Legislation Advisor & Policy Aide, where she supported legislative initiatives and helped shape policies to improve the lives of Georgians. Working in the Governor’s office and now working as staff for his GBHCW board has been the greatest opportunity she could ask for, and she is thankful for both her time in his administration and time in the MPA program.
Outside of work and academics, Lauren is a passionate artist. Many people do not know that she has a bit of a “hidden talent” due to her dedication to both public service and graduate school. However, she is a dedicated pianist and has competed in piano competitions and even written some of her own pieces. She continues to grow creatively through music and is excited to join the University of Georgia Choir in the Fall to further explore her love of singing and the performing arts. She says with a busy lifestyle it is important to have something that can ground you and keep you inspired.
She also serves as Co-President of the UGA Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN), where she helps foster leadership and community among emerging nonprofit professionals. Looking ahead, Lauren plans to apply to an Ed.D. program in Higher Education Administration, with the long-term goal to help young adults overcome the barriers that keep them from succeeding in higher education. She is excited to potentially continue the research she began as an undergraduate and to contribute to making higher education more accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all students, no matter their background or perceived barriers.
At the heart of everything Lauren does is a deep belief in the power of service, education, and opportunity to transform the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Lauren was recently nominated for membership in Pi Alpha Alpha and was also elected by her peers as president for the 2025-2026 Academic year and looks forward to graduating in December 2025.
