Lauren joined the GlobalConnect team as a Program Associate after completing an internship in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs where she provided administrative support for international youth exchange programs. She was also an International Exchange Student Placement Intern with Youth for Understanding in Denver, Colorado where she secured placements for over 1,000 in-coming international students by assisting in recruiting American host families. Originally from California, Lauren graduated from the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Psychology. Lauren is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in International Education with a focus in Intercultural Communication & Exchange at the George Washington University. As the Program Associate for the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP), Lauren helped to select and evaluate 100 finalists from a pool of over 2,000 applicants, while managing the program’s logistics, tracking program finances, and designing and presenting program orientations.