Auburn Harrison serves as a nonprofit Executive Director for a local dropout prevention program for at-risk youth called Communities In Schools of Western Nevada. Her organization provides basic needs to at-risk students, followed by wraparound student support services including mentoring, tutoring and resources to help students stay in school, graduate and achieve life success. Auburn has been involved in the Northern Nevada non-profit and philanthropic community in a variety of roles, including as the Assistant Vice President of Community Relations for the Northern Nevada branches of One Nevada Credit Union and Director of Marketing & Public Relations for Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada & The St. Vincent’s Programs. She started her career as an on-air television reporter at at KOLO 8 News Now where she spent five years. She holds a master’s degree in Writing from University of Nevada, Reno and a bachelor’s in Mass Communication & Journalism from City University in Bellevue Washington. Prior to college, she spent five years as an enlisted journalist for the United States Navy. Auburn serves as Secretary on the Human Services Network board of directors and is a member at-large on the board of directors for the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. She is also a member of the Sierra Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Auburn graduated from the Leadership Reno Sparks class of 2018 through the Chamber of Commerce, and is currently attending the Nonprofit Academy through Community Foundation of Western Nevada. Auburn lives in Reno with her husband and three little boys, Wilder, Quill, and Canyon. Auburn is excited to be preparing for the biggest talk of her life. She’ll be speaking at the University of Nevada, Reno TEDx Conference in February 2020.