Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro is an applied researcher, educator, and former nonprofit news executive whose work focuses on journalism sustainability, institutional strategy, and field-level infrastructure. She co-founded the National Trust for Local News and served as its founding CEO from 2021 to 2025, leading efforts to acquire and sustain local newspapers as nonprofit community assets.

She holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior and Sociology from Harvard Business School and has held research fellowships at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School, the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, and the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University. Her research focuses on news sustainability, the future of public media, and public policies to support local news.

Previously, Elizabeth led news sustainability research at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Her work bridges academic research and practical solutions to address the local news crisis facing communities across America.