PORTLAND — The Mitchell Institute announced that Lauren Benton will join the organization as its new director of brand and communications. Benton brings her passion for supporting first-generation college students to the Institute’s mission, where she will lead communications and storytelling efforts to amplify the voices of Mitchell Scholars and expand awareness of the life-changing work happening across Maine’s communities.
Benton comes to the Mitchell Institute with a background in both higher education and media. She most recently served as assistant director of graduate enrollment marketing at Mississippi State University, where she honed her skills in brand awareness and compelling communications.
“Lauren is a perfect fit for us,” said Jared Cash, CEO of the Mitchell Institute. “Her experience working with executive leadership and being a standout member on a creative and collaborative marketing team prepares her well for the strategic and action-driven culture we have been cultivating. Her passion for supporting first-generation college students, combined with her abilities to build brand awareness and create compelling communications, makes her an ideal addition.”
In this role, Benton will serve as the Institute’s chief content and communications officer. She will be responsible for multimedia and traditional communications that increase the organization’s reputational strength and appeal to a growing network of supporters and constituents.
“The Mitchell Institute has built an extraordinary reputation for not only supporting students financially but also equipping them with the networks and skills to thrive,” Benton said. “I look forward to strengthening the Institute’s brand, amplifying the voices of Scholars, and expanding awareness of the life-changing work happening across Maine’s communities.”
Benton holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and a master’s degree in communication and media studies from Mississippi State University.
The Mitchell Institute, created in 1995 by Senator George J. Mitchell, recognizes and supports young people from every corner of Maine who aspire to achieve a college education and navigate challenges along the way. The Mitchell Institute unlocks the potential of Maine college students so that they can find success in college and contribute to the vitality of their communities. The organization awards $2 million in college scholarship funds every year to students from public high schools in every community in Maine. What separates the Mitchell Institute from traditional scholarship organizations is the broader array of support programs that it provides to students. This combination of personal, professional and financial support makes college degrees more attainable for Mitchell Scholars, who graduate at a rate 30% higher than the national average. Mitchell Scholars are also more likely than their peers to stay in Maine or return to the state after college. The Mitchell Institute’s core mission is to improve the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue, and achieve a college education. The Mitchell Institute strengthens Maine communities by providing a path to success in college and beyond.
For more information about the Mitchell Institute, please visit www.mitchellinstitute.org.
