Anna Laven, <b>Ed.D.</b>

Senior Advisor

Dr. Anna Laven is the Senior Advisor for the National Healthcare and Housing Advisors where she supports communities in transformative system change work.  She is the former Executive Director of the Bakersfield Kern Continuum of Care.  Dr. Laven is regularly invited to provide insight regarding addressing homelessness at the national, state and local level and the Bakersfield/Kern CoC was recognized by Community Solutions for housing those with a disability who were experiencing homelessness.  She co-chaired the Healthcare and Homelessness Initiative to improve healthcare outcomes of those experiencing homelessness and continues as a Director on the Dignity Health Community Benefits Board and on the California State University, Bakersfield President’s Community Ambassadors.  

Raised in Bakersfield, Dr. Laven's talents lie in the startup and scale up of programming with a focus in homelessness, education and public policy.  Before pivoting to the homeless services delivery system, she managed the largest dual enrollment program in the state, providing regional access to college courses for high school students. She also served as staff to the first Latina elected to a Board of Supervisors in the central valley.  Her work has been recognized locally by the Chamber of Commerce and across California.  

A proud mother of two and happily married to her college sweetheart (who she met on the college debate squad), Dr. Laven serves her community through her church and various social justice organizations.  She holds a B.A. in Women's Studies from Scripps College and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCLA.