Ladan Nowrasteh is the senior director of communications at State Policy Network. In this role, she works across the organization on strategic communications initiatives, including our premier event, Annual Meeting, donor communications, multimedia productions, editorial content, and messaging to key audiences.

From 2019-2024, Ladan served as the director of development communications at SPN, building the capability from the ground up. Prior to joining SPN, Ladan served as the director of marketing at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University for seven years, overseeing a team of marketers in charge of Mercatus’ brand and core communications channels. Before Mercatus, she worked at the American Enterprise Institute on their digital team in charge of their website, social media, and live events.

Before venturing into communications, Ladan spent many years working as a reporter at newspapers and broadcast outlets including NBC, the Houston Chronicle, and Radio Free Europe. Ladan has a master’s degree in journalism from American University and a bachelor’s degree in English from DePauw University in her home state of Indiana.