People First Behavioral Health Alliance names Lauren Snyder Executive Director

DENVER, Colo. — The People First Behavioral Health Alliance today announced the appointment of Lauren Snyder as its new Executive Director. Snyder has dedicated her career to improving access to behavioral health care and strengthening the systems that support individuals, families, and communities across Colorado. She is widely recognized for bringing diverse stakeholders together, elevating the voices of people with lived experience, and advancing practical solutions to the state's most pressing behavioral health challenges.

“Lauren brings the rare combination of policy expertise, systems knowledge, and deep commitment to the people these systems are intended to serve. Her leadership reflects the values of our organization: putting people first, building partnerships, and driving meaningful change that improves lives.”

A career built on coalitions

Prior to joining the Alliance, Snyder served as Vice President of Government Affairs and State Policy Director for Mental Health Colorado, where she led statewide legislative and policy initiatives and worked closely with policymakers, behavioral health leaders, advocates, and community members to advance reforms across the behavioral health continuum. During her tenure, she helped establish advisory groups that brought people with lived experience directly into the policymaking process.

More recently, as Deputy County Manager for Lake County, she addressed behavioral health challenges at the local level and saw firsthand how state policy decisions, funding structures, workforce shortages, and service availability affect communities, particularly in rural Colorado.

Snyder holds a master's degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Politics and Public Policy, from the University of Colorado Denver and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.

The work ahead

As Executive Director, Snyder will lead the Alliance's efforts to strengthen collaboration among people with lived experience, providers, payers, community organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders working to improve Colorado's behavioral health system. She joins the organization on September 30.

“The most meaningful policy work happens when we move beyond talking about people and start listening to them,” Snyder said. “When lived experience, provider and payer expertise, local knowledge, and policymaking come together, we have a much better opportunity to build a system that actually works for the people who need it.”

Published September 16, 2026 · About the Alliance