Lost&Found Welcomes Carrie Jorgensen as New Executive Director

SIOUX FALLS, SD — Lost&Found is proud to announce Carrie Jorgensen, NCC, LPC-MH, as its new Executive Director.

Carrie Jorgensen

Jorgensen has been a vital part of the regional suicide prevention organization since 2018, initially serving as an advisor for Lost&Found’s South Dakota State University chapter. She was hired for a full-time position as Senior Prevention Specialist in 2022 and was promoted to Student Programs Manager in 2023. She launched Peer2Peer Mentorship at SDSU in 2021, a program that has since expanded to multiple campuses in South Dakota and Minnesota. A licensed counselor with a master’s degree in mental health counseling, Jorgensen brings deep experience supporting young adults and a longstanding commitment to suicide prevention.

“I am deeply honored to step into this new role with Lost&Found, an organization committed to building a world where no one feels alone,” Jorgensen said. “Together, we will continue to lead with empathy, foster resilience, break the silence surrounding mental health, and champion a mission where every young person knows their life has meaning and value.”

Jorgensen succeeds Erik Muckey, who co-founded the organization in 2010 and has served as Executive Director since 2018. Under Muckey’s leadership, the organization has grown into a regional leader in student mental health and resilience. “Carrie is an extraordinary leader whose passion and clarity of purpose will serve Lost&Found well in its next chapter,” Muckey said. “It has been a privilege to help guide this organization for all of its 15 years, and I couldn’t be more excited to see Carrie lead a highly innovative and impactful team.”

Jerry Cook, Board Chair of Lost&Found, shared his confidence in the transition: “Carrie brings not only a deep understanding of our mission, but also the energy and insight to lead us into the future. We are thrilled to welcome her as Executive Director and look forward to the continued growth of Lost&Found under her leadership.”

Jorgensen began her new role with Lost&Found on May 5. Muckey has transitioned to a contract role with Lost&Found, advising on its development efforts.

About Lost&Found

Lost&Found is the leading organization working to prevent youth and young adult suicide through policy, research, peer support, and education in South Dakota and the surrounding region. Serving more than 40 communities in South Dakota, Minnesota, and the tribal nations within these states’ borders, Lost&Found’s focus on resilience, community-led prevention, and evidence-based practice make it a highly trusted and effective partner in the fight against youth and young adult suicide.

Lost&Found does work in four program areas:

• Student Programs: Delivering resilience programs for K-12 & college campuses, and training student advocates to lead and support the mental health of their peers.
• Evaluation & Research Services: Applying public health expertise to assess and score suicide prevention capacity on campuses, in workplaces, and in organizations across people, policies, & programs.
• Education & Policy: Providing relevant, evidence-based information, education, training, policy guidelines, and coalition-building tools to campus partners and community organizations to prevent suicide, build skills, and raise awareness of mental health needs.
• Postvention Support: Providing direct support to survivors of suicide loss as well as consultation and support services to college campuses, workplaces, and other community partners to prepare for and respond to suicide loss across the Midwest.