Research Affiliate & Board Member, Freedom Business Alliance (2020–present)
Co-founder, Kindred Exchange (2020)
Doctoral Research Intern, UN Office on Drugs and Crime — Anti-Trafficking Project, Vientiane, Laos (2015)
Ethical Business Building
Founded three businesses employing survivors of trafficking and political imprisonment in Southeast Asia (2015–2019)
Co-founder, U.S.-based retailer of ethically sourced global goods (2017)
Teaching & Research
Assistant Professor of Business as Mission, Lipscomb University (2020–2023)
Adjunct Professor, Lipscomb University College of Business (2019)
Research Assistant, USC Center for Adolescent Research in Schools (2012–2013)
Published Journals
Dissertation
Pinkston, L. (2019). Lived Experiences of Christian Development Workers in the Thailand Anti-Trafficking Movement: Lessons from the Field. Doctoral dissertation, Clemson University.
Peer-reviewed Journals
Strand, M., Chen, A., & Pinkston, L. (2016). Developing cross-cultural healthcare workers: content, process and mentoring. Christian Journal for Global Health, 3(1), 57–72.
Strand, M., Pinkston, L., Chen, A., & Richardson, J. (2015). Mental health of cross-cultural healthcare missionaries. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 43(4), 283–293.
Non Peer-reviewed Journals
Pinkston, L. (2024). The Perfect Cover: Case Studies of Sexual Abuse in Missions Contexts. Missio Dei: A Journal of Missional Theology and Praxis.
White Papers
Pinkston, L. & Skiera-Vaughn, C. (2024). "Workplace Readiness: Operational and Training Guidelines for Regenerative Employment."
Pinkston, L. (2022). "Sustainable and Scalable Freedom Business Models: Defining Financial, Legal, and Operational Frameworks."
Support Lauren Pinkston for Governor
Lauren Pinkston is running to be Tennessee's next governor, and she needs YOUR help to win!
A 7th-generation Tennessean and the strongest independent candidate in the state's modern political history, Lauren spent 15 years working in anti-trafficking policy around the world before coming home convinced Tennessee was ready for something different.
With no party machinery or built-in donor network behind her, every dollar comes from Tennesseans who chose to show up. 9 in 10 dollars raised has come from right here in Tennessee, from nurses, teachers, farmers, and small business owners done waiting for either party to get it right. Can Lauren count on you to chip in $51 today?
