Parker is President of Alpha Phi Sigma, UHD's CJ Honor Society; the Event and Community Service Coordinator for theLauren Parker Professional Society of CJ; and Chair of the Gator Advisory Board within UHD's CPS. From organizing an Angel Tree project within CPS to educating underprivileged high school students about college admissions, Parker has made a name for herself within the UHD community.

"A highly regarded student leader, Lauren Parker continues to be highly engaged with student organizations such as Alpha Phi Sigma," said Steven Villano, Director of the Center for Public Service and Community Research. "She regularly does volunteer work, including winning and managing a Community Engagement and Service-Learning grant-funded proposal to work with underprivileged children in our community."

It comes as no surprise then that Parker was awarded the prestigious Newman Civic Fellowship, a one-year program for community-involved student leaders. In addition to the many networking and academic opportunities afforded her, Parker will join the other program fellows (hailing from institutions such as John Hopkins University and George Washington University) at a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows, a partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

What does the future hold for Parker? "After I get my undergraduate degree, I want to get a master's and doctorate in Criminal Justice. I'd like to do research, publish, and teach."