Overview
Lauren Henschel is the Director of Programs at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies (CDS), where she provides strategic leadership for public programs, artist residencies, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community partnerships. She works closely with teams across several of CDS's signature programs, including Continuing Education, Doc+, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, and the exhibitions program. Working across Duke University and with artists, scholars, students, and community organizations, she creates opportunities that advance documentary as a creative practice, mode of inquiry, and catalyst for public engagement.
A documentary artist and educator, Henschel's connection to CDS spans more than a decade. Her creative practice grew from her experiences as both a Duke undergraduate and later a student in the MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts program, where she developed an interdisciplinary approach to documentary storytelling rooted in collaboration, care, and social engagement.
Henschel's award-winning work has been exhibited and screened internationally. Working across 16mm film, installation, and participatory projects, she explores themes of health, identity, memory, and the environment, creating work that invites dialogue around the ways personal experience shapes broader cultural narratives.
Through both her artistic practice and institutional leadership, Henschel is committed to expanding access to documentary education, supporting emerging artists, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that connect creative practice with research, teaching, and public life.
