Lori Hunt has spent her career creating opportunities for students. That work has taken her through senior leadership roles in higher education, where she focused on student success, community partnerships, and equitable access to opportunity. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her bachelor's from Gonzaga and both a master's and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University.

She also grew up in rural Northeast Washington, so she comes to this with a real understanding of the communities and families we serve.

"What drew me to Friends of the Children is its commitment to walking alongside young people for the long term," Lori said. "We know that relationships matter, consistency matters, and having someone in your corner can change the trajectory of a young person's life."

That's the whole idea behind what we do here. Every child deserves someone who will stay.

We're glad to have her leading us into this next stretch. We welcomed the community into our clubhouse this year. Our first summer of camp filled the space with kids. Our mentors are deep into relationships that will carry these kids through high school graduation and beyond. Lori wants to bring more of our community into that work, connecting with the educators, businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors who want to see local kids thrive.

Outside of work, she spends her time with her family and stays active in her community.

Lori comes to this work believing, like we do, that strong relationships and real opportunity change what's possible for a young person.