Laurel Henneman

Prospect Researcher

As a member of the SELC Development Operations team, Laurel conducts research, then analyzes and presents information from that research to other members of the Development team. Her work supports SELC’s multi-faceted fundraising and engagement efforts. She also assists with managing data related to these efforts.

An attorney-by-training, Laurel was in law school when she learned about North Carolina’s early environmental justice cases. Later as a staff member with Legal Aid, she continued to learn about social determinants of health “and the wide range of inequities borne by low-wealth communities and communities of color, particularly in the South,” she said. “I’m gratified to work for an organization that is committed to addressing longstanding injustices and to help move our region and country forward.”

Laurel has lived in central Virginia for nearly 20 years, close to her husband’s deep family roots in rural Buckingham County. “Our children—now, young adults—learned to catch fish, fireflies, black snakes, and box turtles here,” she said. “Once they found a flying squirrel who had moved in to a bluebird box; and another evening, chased a bobcat out of the play structure, thinking they were going to find a groundhog up there. The family dog, standing nearby, missed the whole thing! I love this place for these and other special memories, and all of the big and small adventures we’ve had raising our family here.”

These experiences and values align with her work for SELC in prospect research. “I use my skills and talents to help protect and preserve the livability of this region, and the natural resources that sustain all of us,” Laurel said.

Previous experience

• Legal Aid Justice Center, foundation relations manager
• Davis Polk & Wardwell, associate
• J.P. Morgan, operations work and training
• J.D., New York University School of Law, cum laude; New York University Law Review, executive editor
• B.A., Wesleyan University