The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation is pleased to announce that Laura Washington has joined its board of directors. Laura brings more than two decades of experience as a nonprofit professional and multimedia journalist. Currently, she is a contributing columnist for the Chicago Tribune and political analyst at ABC-7 television.
She previously served as a long-time contributing columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and from 1990 to 2002 was editor and publisher of The Chicago Reporter. Laura also was a producer for the investigative unit at CBS 2 Chicago and a correspondent for Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV. She has been a commentator on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio and in 1985 was appointed deputy press secretary to Mayor Harold Washington.
Laura’s broad contributions to journalism include serving as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics in 2015 and 2019, and the Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor at DePaul University and fellow at the DePaul Humanities Center from 2003 to 2009. She has taught and lectured at The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In addition to receiving dozens of local and national awards, Laura is a founding inductee to the Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement.
Executive Director Anne Lazar noted, “Throughout her distinguished career, Laura’s influential voice has demonstrated investigative rigor and lasting impact. She remains committed to mentoring the next generation of journalists and shares Richard’s passion for the importance of philanthropy. I am pleased to welcome Laura to the board and look forward to her contributions in support of the Foundation’s mission.”
