Dec. 15, 2021
Contact: Judith Cebula
317.916.7327 | cebulaj@lei.org
Lilly Endowment Names New Program Director in Education
Indianapolis – Lauren Rush is joining Lilly Endowment’s staff as a program director for education. She plans to begin work at the Endowment in February 2022.
Rush comes to the Endowment from an extensive career in K-12 education during which she has helped lead multiple efforts to improve educational opportunities for Indianapolis students. Most recently Rush served The Mind Trust as senior vice president of administration and alignment, facilitating organizational development, strategic planning, fundraising and other efforts led by the Indianapolis-based education nonprofit.
Before joining The Mind Trust, Rush served as chief operations officer of Community Charter Network, also based in Indianapolis, and she served Teach For America Indianapolis as managing director of teacher leadership development. Prior to that, Rush taught sixth-grade mathematics at KIPP Delta College Preparatory School and seventh-grade mathematics as a Teach For America corps member at Anna Strong Middle School, both in rural Arkansas.
“We are so pleased to have Lauren join our team,” said Ted Maple, the Endowment’s vice president for education. “Her commitment to our community and improving educational outcomes for children is extraordinary. She brings broad, deep and diverse experience in education to the Endowment that will significantly enhance our ability to help educational organizations serve their students better.”
Born and raised in Indiana, Rush is a graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth, Adult and Family Services. Rush also holds an MBA in Education Leadership from the University of Indianapolis.
About Lilly Endowment Inc. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion, and it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.