Lauren Parnell Marino

A 2007 graduate of Northwestern, Lauren Parnell Marino now lives in Uganda, working with a fair trade organization. Her interest in fair trade began when she was an undergraduate, volunteering as the campus coordinator of the fair trade crafts movement. She received several grants to research fair trade in Guatemala and Uganda. Lauren’s activism and commitment to social justice led her to start the Northwestern University Public Interest Program, which recruits and places 15-20 graduating seniors in non-profit organizations throughout Chicago. She founded the Global Engagement Summit, a week-long summit that focuses on international volunteerism and helps to fund social entrepreneurs. Lauren also co-chaired The Northwestern Community Development Corps, which promotes community action and advocacy and sends over 500 students to community service projects. For her service, Lauren won Northwestern’s Lincoln Laureate Award, given to one member of the senior class. Lauren spent a year as a Public Interest Fellow with the Interfaith Youth Core before returning to Uganda. She will pursue a master's in Gender, Globalization and Development at NUI Galway.