Influential Woman · Substance Use Prevention Nonprofit
Lauryn Nunley
Executive Director, PACE Coalition
Elko, NV 89801
Her Story
About Lauryn
Lauryn Nunley is the Executive Director of PACE Coalition, a substance use prevention nonprofit based in Elko, Nevada, serving Elko, Eureka, and White Pine counties — regions that together make up 27.4 percent of the state of Nevada. Her commitment to this work is rooted in personal loss: after losing her brother in a drinking-and-driving accident in 2021, followed by both of her parents to substance use-related health issues the next year, she became driven to help young people and families understand the risks of substance use and the value of early prevention. She brings a background in healthcare administration and community health work in Nevada to her leadership, along with certification as a Community Health Worker. Under her direction, PACE delivers evidence-based prevention curricula such as Too Good for Drugs directly in schools, alongside community presentations that address both substance misuse and mental health. She has placed particular emphasis on the dangers young people face in accessing substances through social media, and on the lack of resources available to rural youth, encouraging families and communities to play a more active role in creating positive, engaging environments. Among her proudest achievements is restoring trust and repairing partnerships with schools, families, and local organizations after earlier setbacks — work that has since opened the door to expanded services, including a forthcoming Mental Health First Aid program supported by a community grant. Beyond her role at PACE, Nunley has served on several nonprofit boards, including NAMI, and has been recognized by the State of Nevada for her board service on the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety and Health Technology from Columbia Southern University, building on an associate degree in Health Care Administration from Martinsburg College. Outside of work, she is the mother of four children ranging in age from 12 to 23, and enjoys hiking, fishing, arts and crafts, and spending time outdoors — pursuits that reflect the same connection to community and family that drives her professional mission.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lauryn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the combination of my professional education, hands-on community experience, and personal life experiences, which together have given me a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing rural communities. Establishing trust and strengthening relationships within the communities we serve has also been central to whatever success I've achieved. I love rural Nevada and all of us who call it home. I am passionate about preserving the heart and character of our rural communities, while also expanding the resources and opportunities available to ensure our residents live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Small steps have big outcomes.
In non-profit work, big community change rarely happens through one huge action. It happens because many small actions build on each other. A single conversation, a resource provided, a child reached, a family supported may seem small at the moment, but when those efforts are repeated and multiplied across the community, they can create meaningful and long-lasting change.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride!!
Non-profit work has a way of getting into your heart. Many of us find ourselves in this work due to our personal traumas and wanting to be able to help others. It is incredibly rewarding to see the small wins and watch your communities come together and advocate for something that matters. At the same time, it can be incredibly challenging. There are never enough resources, funding, hours in the day, and often times more needs than you can possibly meet. Some days you feel like you are moving mountains, and other days you wonder if you have made a difference at all. But when you have one small win, see one person who was helped, or one life touched, you immediately remember why you do it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is the lack of recreational activities, resources and opportunities for rural youth to stay positively engaged, compounded by how easily young people can access dangerous substances through social media. Educating our youth, and parents, is one of highest priorities to ensure everyone stays informed. Parents don't know what they don't know, so it is our job to educate them on what we are seeing from our side, as well as helping the youth make educated decisions when they are in different situations throughout life.
At the same time, I see real opportunity in expanding our focus on mental health as we do believe that substance use and mental health are braided. PACE will be implementing Mental Health First Aid this fall and will be offering the classes to the community as well as co-facilitating school presentations with other mental health organizations within our area.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are dedication to the well-being of our youth and communities, along with honesty, organization, adaptability, and kindness. My work is deeply personal, rooted in the loss of my brother and both of my parents to substance use-related causes, and I carry that same commitment into building supportive, healthy environments both professionally and at home. It's imperative that people know, your path is never set in stone. Your path is yours to change. Switch lanes. Take the scenic route. Start over. There is no rule that you have to stay on the road you started on. There is no rule that just because you were brought up a certain way, that will be your life indefinitely. You are allowed to change your mind, chase new dreams, and make yourself a beautiful life!
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