Population Media Center Welcomes Lauren Montgomery-Rinehart as Program Manager
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT– Population Media Center, a US-based nonprofit that uses entertainment to promote human rights, health, and environmental protection, is pleased to announce the arrival of Lauren Montgomery-Rinehart as a Program Manager. She’ll be joining the headquarters team in the South Burlington, Vermont office.
“Lauren is filling an urgent need for our headquarters staff,” says Kriss Barker, PMC’s Vice President for International Programs. “Given the sheer volume of programs that PMC is currently implementing worldwide, it has become increasingly difficult for our small program staff at PMC to provide our in-country teams with the support they need.”
Montgomery-Rinehart will wear a number of different hats at PMC. Her work will include supervising a portfolio of international programs, providing administrative and technical support, and bolstering knowledge management. With a background in cultural anthropology and extensive experience in academia and international development, Montgomery-Rinehart’s views on behavior change are closely aligned with PMC’s methodology, which shifts societal norms from the bottom-up.
“The best approach to change is driven by local interests and values,” says Montgomery-Rinehart. “I see that Population Media Center gets that.” She adds that she was drawn to PMC because she loves the concept of using entertainment to create social change.Montgomery-Rinehart brings a diverse skillset and a wealth of experience to her role at PMC, starting with a BA in Italian, French, and Education from Southern Connecticut State University. After getting certified to teach, Lauren joined the Peace Corps and served three years in Gabon and São Tomé e Príncipe.
With an MA and doctoral studies (PhD ABD) in Cultural Anthropology from Binghamton University (SUNY), Montgomery-Rinehart served as a research assistant and grants manager at the Institute for Development Anthropology and later carried-out dissertation research there with support from Fulbright and National Science Foundation. She presented her findings at numerous conferences and taught anthropology and leadership courses at various colleges and universities before returning to international development.
Lauren has worked with for-profit companies and NGOs on government contracts and cooperative agreements, as well as private foundations in the international development arena. She has experience in program management, business development, and leading units in capacity development, as well as monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
“Lauren brings a wealth of international program management expertise to our Programs team at PMC,” says Barker.
When Montgomery-Rinehart isn’t traveling to oversee PMC programs in Africa, she does carve out time for other interests, such as spending time with her family, yoga, gardening, and cooking.
ABOUT POPULATION MEDIA CENTER (PMC):
Population Media Center is a nonprofit leader in entertainment-education dedicated to global health, women’s empowerment, and the environment. PMC has helped approximately 500 million people live healthier lives in 54 countries since 1998. We are experts in using pop culture for social good—producing drama series for radio, TV, and social media to role model healthy behavior through relatable characters. Local partners, local creative teams, and authentic stories create culturally appropriate national impact. Our integrated approach makes us one of the most cost-effective promoters of the rights of women and girls, human health, and the environment.