Lahne Mattas-Curry

Lahne Mattas-Curry is a PhD candidate in the Public Relations & Strategic Communication track and also serves as an Instructor of Record teaching undergraduate public relations courses. Her research focuses on organizational relationships during environmental emergencies, with particular emphasis on community building, engagement, trust in institutions, access to accurate information, and organizational and internal crisis communication.

As a strategic communications leader with over two decades of experience across government, corporate, and non-profit organizations, Lahne most recently served as Communication Director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Center for Environmental Solutions & Emergency Response. Her professional experience includes risk and crisis communication for major environmental emergencies such as the Flint Water Crisis, East Palestine train derailment, and PFAS contamination events, where she developed agency-wide expertise serving as a strategic advisor. She also has led organizational and internal communication initiatives. 

Lahne earned a BA from Penn State University and an MS in Marketing from the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, with additional executive education from Harvard University in Applied Risk Communication and Leadership During Crises. She is expected to complete her PhD in Communication in May 2026.

Currently Teaching: COMM351 Public Relations Techniques