by Hanna Singh
Just in time for a downtown revitalization, Ruston Main Street is has a new lady in charge. Newly hired Main Street Director, Lauren Dowden, is pursuing her dreams and bringing something special to her beloved college town.
Originally from Fayetteville, Dowden was born and raised in Arkansas. With an interest in Louisiana, Dowden took the leap of moving to Ruston in 2019 to pursue her undergraduate studies at Louisiana Tech University. There she earned her bachelors degree in supply chain management and eventually completed her masters in business administration in 2024. With 2 degrees under her belt and a world of possibilities ahead, she wasn’t quite ready to leave Ruston.
“I’ve always been passionate about making connections with people,” Dowden said. “I had always kind of wanted to live in Louisiana and it just worked out for me to be at Louisiana Tech.”
The Main Street Director position came as a surprise opportunity for Dowden. For some time, the job had seemed like a dream occupation, but not something available in the near future. After college, Dowden felt a strong pull to stay within Ruston and pour back into the community that have given so much to her. When the former Main Street Director announced the end of her time in the position, Dowden got a tip that her ideal job might be a possibility. Driven by her passion and enthusiasm for the town of Ruston, she was selected as the new director.
“To have the opportunity to help drive continued growth in our downtown and community is a true passion of mine,” Dowden said. “Transitioning into this position gives me the opportunity to invest in the people and places that have become so special to me.”
In her previous position, Dowden served as the Alternate Energy Resource Coordinator at Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). Despite being in a different industry, the role allowed her to grow professionally and gain valuable insight working across different departments and states on clean energy and sustainability initiatives.
Only two weeks into her new role, Dowden is excited to see what the future holds for her and the community. She shared why taking on this new role in the city is a perfect fit for her.
“I love building relationships and creating spaces where people and businesses can grow. Stepping into the role of Ruston Main Street Director is the perfect opportunity to do just that,” Dowden said. “It’s a position I had my eye on for a few years, and when the opportunity came, I applied and got it. Being able to serve the community that has poured so much into me truly is a dream. I’m excited to work alongside the businesses that make up our downtown and help continue to grow and celebrate all that makes Ruston, Ruston.”
Working under Mayor Ronny Walker, Dowden will serve the Ruston community by overseeing downtown Ruston by promoting festivals, events, local businesses and more. She will play a crucial role in the development and historic preservation of the downtown district and the Main Street community. Walker described the drive that he saw in Dowden that led to her hiring.
“We’re very excited about Lauren being with us. She’s been here in Ruston for some time, she is well educated and has a heart for downtown,” Walker said. “People ask me what I look for in people when I hire them, and one of the biggest things is a love for our city. We’re looking forward to having her here and there’s gonna be some great things that happen in our downtown.”
