Laura Lamb Named University of Cincinnati Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient

Laura Lamb, president and CEO of Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS), has been named a recipient of the University of Cincinnati’s Outstanding Alumni Award, one of the university’s highest honors recognizing graduates whose professional achievements, leadership, and service reflect UC’s mission and values.

A proud Bearcat, Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Cincinnati in 1991. Over the past three decades, she has become a nationally recognized leader in aging services, known for her visionary work advancing affordable senior housing, dementia-inclusive communities, and efforts to combat ageism across Greater Cincinnati and beyond.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the University of Cincinnati, a place that shaped not only my education, but my values and approach to leadership,” Laura said. “UC taught me the importance of community– of having people around you who help lift you up during life’s most challenging moments. That lesson has guided my work every day at ERS.”

Laura’s connection to UC runs deep and has remained central throughout her career. Her professional journey began at ERS in 1994 as an intern, and she steadily advanced through operational and leadership roles before being named president and CEO in 2017.

Under Laura’s leadership, ERS has expanded its footprint to include more than 30 rent-subsidized affordable living communities, three continuing care retirement communities, and innovative community-based programs such as the Center for Memory Support and Inclusion, Living Well Senior Solutions, and Deupree Meals on Wheels, which delivers more than 115,000 meals to older adults each year.

Laura has also fostered strong and intentional partnerships with UC, particularly in the areas of geriatric medicine, memory care, and neuroscience. Collaborations with UC faculty physicians—including specialists from the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and the UC College of Medicine—have helped ERS integrate best practices into person-centered care models that improve quality of life for individuals living with cognitive loss. These partnerships have positioned ERS as a leader in dementia-inclusive training and support throughout the region. Laura is a trailblazing voice in the movement to end ageism and foster inclusion across generations, in Greater Cincinnati and beyond.

Laura’s Bearcat pride extends beyond her own achievements. Her family represents a multigenerational UC legacy, reflecting her enduring belief in the university’s ability to prepare graduates for leadership, service, and impact.

Through her work at ERS and her continued engagement with UC, Laura exemplifies the spirit of the Outstanding Alumni Award—translating education into action and strengthening communities through compassion, innovation, and leadership.

As part of the University of Cincinnati’s Outstanding Alumni Award recognition, Laura was featured in a special Alumni Week photoshoot and honored through a public art installation in Cincinnati. A mural celebrating Laura, fellow award-winning alumni, and their collective impact was unveiled during Alumni Week and will remain on display through 2027. The mural is painted on the side of a building along Vine Street in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.