Lauren Maddox

Lauren Maddox provides Podesta Group clients with extensive legislative and executive branch contacts, national media experience, in-depth knowledge of how federal policy is shaped at the most senior levels of government, and a global perspective on education policy. Lauren served as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the US Department of Education from September 2006 to November 2008. She was the primary communications advisor to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings on K-12 and higher education matters and the top strategist on outreach to opinion leaders and the stakeholder community. Prior to her work in the Bush administration, Lauren spent nearly seven years at the Podesta Group, securing numerous legislative and public relations victories. Before that, she was a senior communications advisor to the House Majority Leadership, including former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and former Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK). She also served as the senior spokesperson and communications strategist for two national health care trade associations. Maddox serves on the board of the American Action Forum and the William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.