Stewart McLaurin
Stewart Douglas McLaurin is an American author, podcast host, and non-profit executive who has served as president of the White House Historical Association since 2014. A dedicated scholar and leader, he has held several senior positions within higher education and national non-profit organizations, including roles as chief of staff at the American Red Cross, Georgetown University, and executive director of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration.
Early life and education
Stewart Douglas McLaurin was born on February 19, 1959, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Stewart Parnell McLaurin and Gwendolyn McLaurin. He attended Shades Valley High School before enrolling at the University of Alabama, where he earned bachelor's degrees in American history and political science in 1981. During his time at the university, McLaurin became a member of the Iota Iota chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity.Early career
Early in his professional career, McLaurin was an executive assistant to the secretary at the United States Department of Energy and then served as Manager of Public Affairs at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.Executive and non-profit leadership
In 1996, McLaurin joined the American Red Cross as chief of staff, holding the post through 1999 and developing a close working relationship with then–CEO Elizabeth Dole. Following his tenure at the Red Cross, he contributed to Elizabeth Dole’s 2000 presidential campaign.In 2001, McLaurin was appointed chief of staff to Georgetown University president John J. DeGioia, a role he maintained until 2007. He then served as executive vice president of Education Affairs at the Motion Picture Association of America for two years.
In October 2009, McLaurin became executive director of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation in Washington, D.C. In that capacity, he organized a year-long series of national and international events that honored President Reagan’s legacy. In March 2012, he assumed the role of vice president for the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon, where he contributed to the design of the library’s national archives gallery until July 2013. He later served as executive vice president for The American Village Citizenship Trust from August 2013 until his appointment as president of the White House Historical Association in July 2014.