Lauren Palmer

            Lauren Palmer is a 21-year-old senior International Management major with a minor in Spanish. She came from Niskayuna, NY, a small town close to Albany, to Pace in the Fall of 2004 after being recruited by the women’s soccer team and was excited to be close to New York City.

            Lauren wasn’t always an International Management major, though. She started out as an undeclared student and explored many options first. Her semester abroad in Alicante, Spain in the Spring of 2006 helped her decide. She says, “I fell in love with the culture of Spain and with my travels to other countries abroad. From then on, I knew that I wanted to go into business and travel with my career.”

            As a student, Lauren has made the most of her Pace University educational options. For a year and half, Lauren lived on the Pleasantville campus before spending a semester abroad. She also spent a semester in Arizona and kept up with her degree by taking online courses. Lauren has spent the last year and a half as a resident of the Manhattan campus, but continues to take classes and work on Pleasantville. She feels strongly about encouraging students to make use of the multi-campus options that Pace has to offer.

            Lauren’s housing at the city campus comes with its own story. Her “roommate” is a senior citizen. Last summer, when Lauren decided the city was the place for her, she got involved with the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens as a participant in their Home Sharing program. She explains, “The home sharing enables the host, a senior citizen, to delay institutionalization, gain companionship, or simply assistance with their monthly bills. At the same time, this program helps people like me, or guests, find affordable housing in the city and gives us the opportunity to help a senior citizen.” Recently, Lauren was interviewed by The New York Times about her living situation.

            In her little spare time, Lauren likes to watch t.v. (her favorite shows are Heroes, Lost, and Grey’s Anatomy), watch classic movies, knit, workout, and read (fantasy novels). She also enjoys cooking and baking new recipes.

            As a second-semester senior, Lauren will be graduating in May. Her future goals include attending law school in the Fall of 2008, though she has considered applying for a “real job” first. Most important to Lauren, however, is the ability to travel. She says, “In the distant future, I would like to live abroad for a few years-possibly Spain or Germany. I want to go into international law or international business of some sort. Maybe a career that combines both?”

            Lauren encourages fellow classmates to take advantage of the opportunities Pace provides students, noting, “There are always activities going on, but there is no one forcing you to join or attend any of them, so it is your job to get involved.” She reminds students that getting involved is a great way to find out whether or not they enjoy what they’re studying and help them to figure out what they want to do in the future.