Our Leadership

Laura McHugh is a four-time Emmy-award-winning journalist with a passion for telling the Lehigh Valley’s stories and extensive experience as a communications and nonprofit executive.

Laura serves her community as Chief Engagement Officer for United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, where she has held roles of increasing responsibility since 2017. In her current position, Laura leads communications and marketing strategy, oversees data and evaluation, and directs volunteer and corporate engagement. Her role includes shining a light on the region’s greatest challenges and the solutions-focused work of United Way and its partners to address their root causes with the goal to deepen connection and support across a variety of audiences.

McHugh’s work has earned more than twenty Emmy nominations, two National Educational Telecommunications Association awards and two Truth in Finances Awards from the Pennsylvania Institute for Certified Public Accountants. In 2021, she received the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Women’s Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

McHugh serves as Immediate Past President of the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter and Vice Chair of the Upper Macungie Township Community Fund. She’s also active on the boards of Valley Youth House, the Lehigh Valley Health Network Board of Associates executive committee and the ArtsQuest public relations committee.

McHugh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism. She loves living in the Lehigh Valley and taking advantage of the adventures it offers with her husband and two children.