The Lundquist College of Business is pleased to welcome two outstanding professionals to lead two of our signature centers.
Lauren Anderson, a global marketing leader with significant industry experience and an extensive network, is the new director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.
Anderson earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in geography from Michigan State University. She is also a double Duck, celebrating a special anniversary with us this fall as she first came to the University of Oregon as a graduate student 25 years ago, earning an MBA in sports business through the Warsaw Center.
After launching her career at General Motors R*Works, Anderson spent 12 years with adidas America followed by nearly a decade with Nike, most recently serving as a global partner in digital consumer experience.
She also served as the head coach of the Lake Oswego High School girls lacrosse program for 17 years (winning seven state titles!) and has held several leadership roles with the USA Lacrosse and the Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association.
Anderson was a celebrated DI lacrosse collegiate athlete and has been recognized with several awards for her excellence in coaching.
“Lauren brings not only passion and enthusiasm about sport but also intense dedication to building the next generation of leaders in the sport industry,” said Bruce Blonigen, Edward Maletis Dean of the Lundquist College. “Her personal ties to the program ensure the legacy of its founders will continue.”
Jeff Sorensen, a proven education innovator and campus leader, is the new director of the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship.
Sorensen earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 2012, during which time he cofounded optiMize, a student social innovation community and cohort-based incubator designed to help students start projects that make a positive impact in the world. Following the initial success of optiMize, the university created a Social Innovation unit in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and Sorensen became the youngest director-level administrator at the University of Michigan.
The department flourished under Sorensen’s eight years of leadership, contributing to the launch of a fast-growing campuswide entrepreneurship minor, growing optiMize to become the largest university-based social innovation program in the country, and building a robust community college outreach and transfer support program.
Sorensen has also completed graduate coursework in entrepreneurship at the Ross School of Business. In 2017 he was honored on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list.
“Jeff’s track record of high-level success is this space is truly second-to-none,”said Dean Blonigen. “His stamina and efficiency are emblematic of the Oregon entrepreneurial spirit and will serve our students in new and exciting ways.”
Anderson joined the Lundquist College September 12, and Sorensen joined us September 6.
The Warsaw Sports Marketing Center was the first sports business program in the United States to be housed at a business school. It is recognized as the industry-leading proving and training ground for future leaders in the sports industry, boasting alumni at Nike, the NBA, ESPN, and more.
The Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship center serves as a central node of the University of Oregon's innovation network through connections across campus and into the local community. In 2022, The Princeton Review ranked the college #35 in the United States for its graduate entrepreneurship program.
—Lundquist College Communications