Laurel Lucia Promoted to be the Labor Center’s First Deputy Executive Director of Programs

We are thrilled to announce that starting July 1, 2025, Laurel Lucia transitions from her position as the director of the Labor Center’s Health Care Program to the new role of deputy executive director of programs. As the Labor Center has grown, so has the need for coordination and collaboration between our program areas. As deputy executive director of programs, Laurel will oversee all programmatic work, including research, frontline labor leadership development, and student programs. After 15 years at the Labor Center, she’s up to the challenge.

“I am looking forward to working closely with Laurel in her new role. The depth of her experience at the Labor Center and her relationship with our partners, combined with her insight, discipline, people skills, and unwavering commitment to our work, means that she is the right person to help take the Labor Center to the next level,” said Executive Director Brenda Muñoz.

As director of the Health Care Program, Laurel has focused on health coverage and cost trends in California, as well as policies to improve access to and affordability of health care for California workers and their families.

She has served on consulting teams to Covered California, the California Department of Health Care Services, the California Department of Social Services, and the Healthy California for All Commission. In 2021, she was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve on the California Long Term Care Insurance Task Force.

Previously, Laurel worked on issues affecting long-term care workers as a researcher and policy analyst for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

“This is a challenging moment for workers and their families,” Laurel said. “I look forward to strengthening the connections between all of the Labor Center’s research and education programs to sharpen the impact we have in support of a sustainable and equitable economy for all Californians.”

Laurel received a Master of Public Policy degree from UC Berkeley. During her time in graduate school, Laurel first collaborated with the Labor Center as a Labor Summer intern and as a graduate student researcher.

Senior Policy Researcher Miranda Dietz will take on the role of interim Health Care Program director while the Labor Center conducts a search for the director position.