Lou earned undergraduate degrees in biology and classics from the University of Kentucky, later obtaining a master’s degree in English from Rutgers University with a scholarly emphasis on Victorian scientific writing. She has instructed courses in composition and literature and has expertise in academic and professional editing. Previously, she worked for a large social services nonprofit in Lexington, writing grants for federal, local, and private sponsors and as a research administrator in UK’s sponsored projects office before joining PDO. Lou’s primary agency responsibilities include the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and opportunities relevant to UK’s UNITE Research Priority Area.