Laura Schroeder

Laura Schroeder was Deputy Director, Policy and Advocacy focusing on countering transnational repression. In this role, she engaged with democratic governments around the world to bolster their protections for individuals residing within their borders from the threat of transnational repression.

In her prior role at PEN America, she developed and led the organization’s strategy for advancing its legislative priorities in the human rights and free expression space. Working closely with writers, human rights defenders, and family members of those unjustly imprisoned, Laura advocated before the United States government securing legislative wins and urging needed action to free those detained around the world while also addressing the broader human rights conditions that led to their imprisonment.

Laura previously served as a program analyst at the United States Department of State where she supported critical technology security projects across the world.

She has also held policy and advocacy roles at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education in DC and Teach For America. Her career began as a high school social studies teacher in North Carolina and after her time in the classroom, she worked as a researcher and translator documenting disappearances in two Mexican states.
Laura is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in Spanish and global studies with a thematic focus on human rights and justice and a minor in political science. She was a 2023 – 2024 McCain Global Leader at the McCain Institute and is a member of the Foreign Policy for America NextGen Initiative.