Laura Carlson is director of the Kettering Democracy Prize, which honors extraordinary courage and commitment in the fight for inclusive democracy. She is also leading projects that connect the history of the foundation, established in 1927, with its mission today.

Prior to joining the foundation, Carlson worked for the American Library Association, West Publishing, and Springer-Verlag New York. She was the director of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop from 2004 to 2009 and project coordinator for the Yellow Springs Center for the Arts from 2009 to 2011. She is the co-editor of two books: Literary Laurels: A Reader’s Guide to Award-Winning Fiction and Literary Laurels: A Reader’s Guide to Award-Winning Children’s Books.

Carlson holds a BA in English from Carleton College and studied publishing and publication design at the Denver Publishing Institute and the New School in New York City.