Lauren Colby is the MSSP Program Coordinator. In this role, she coordinates communications, admissions initiatives, and events; she also provides programmatic administrative support. Lauren joined the team at SP2 after working for a research center at Wharton, where she specialized in fundraising and website/social media management. Lauren is passionate about cross-cultural experiences, working with immigrant populations, and adult education. Prior to Penn, she taught English in multiple capacities, including as a Fulbright scholar in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand and as an adult education instructor at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. Lauren has also lived and traveled extensively in China, Ecuador, and Southeast Asia. She enjoys hiking, exploring national parks, playing with dogs, and listening to live music.

Lauren received her BA in Global Studies with highest distinction and a minor in Teaching ESL from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is currently pursuing her MSEd in Intercultural Communication from Penn’s Graduate School of Education.