Lauren Rousseau is an emeritus professor of law at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where she taught for nearly 20 years before retiring in December 2022. From 2010 to 2012, Lauren served as legal guardian to a young man whose personal challenges with substance use had a lasting impact on her life and direction. His story led Lauren to focus much of her time on public education and outreach related to these issues.

She has organized and presented at numerous symposia and conferences focused on the growing impact of substance-related challenges, including co-presenting a webinar for the State Bar of Michigan. Lauren is a founding member of Unite to Face Addiction–Michigan, which organizes statewide events to foster understanding and connection among individuals, families, and professionals.

Before joining FAN, Lauren served on the boards of Home of New Vision (an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit focused on behavioral health) and the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (a coordinating organization for public wellness initiatives in Oakland County). In 2016, she was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Women in the Law” Class of 2016 for her public education efforts.

Prior to her academic career, Lauren held leadership roles in corporate law and litigation, including positions as vice president and general counsel for an automotive supplier, senior litigation attorney at Ford Motor Company, and associate at the law firm Dykema Gossett.