First Prep Alum to Earn Nieman Fellowship at Harvard

At Essence, Lauren’s recent work includes the magazine's iconic cover story of President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama in Fall 2016. Following the fellowship announcement, The Atlantic interviewed Lauren about her career and the role of mentors in the media industry. She credits her mentor, Essence Editor-in-Chief Vanessa De Luca, for creating opportunities for her professional growth and success: “Especially as a black woman, you have to have an advocate at corporations like this. If you don’t have someone in the room when you’re not there, singing your praises and pushing your name to the front, it’s a very, very difficult thing to navigate.”