Class of 2026: Lauren Tucker builds bridges between science and the public
Name: Lauren Tucker
College: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Major: Public health
Degree: Master of Public Health
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Plans after graduation: She will be headed to Baltimore, Maryland, to work as a renewals marketing coordinator for Marketwise.
Favorite Hokie memory: Meeting so many amazing friends and continuing to build new friendships throughout graduate school
Favorite Hokie tradition: Jumping to "Enter Sandman"
Bridging research and real-world impact
Tucker's academic work centers on translating public health research into accessible information that supports healthier communities. She is especially motivated by the connection between research and real-world impact with an emphasis on ensuring that evidence-based public health information reaches communities in ways they can understand and use.
Driven by a desire to build bridges between the idea of making science relatable and human centered to the general public, Tucker became involved with the Center for Communicating Science through her work with the National Science Foundation’s COMPASS Center.
The COMPASS Center and the Center for Communicating Science collaborate on a range of outreach opportunities, workshops, and events. In these two environments, she strengthened her science communication skills and contributed to projects that make complex public health research clear and relatable.
The Center for Communicating Science creates and supports opportunities for scientists, scholars, health professionals, and others to develop their abilities to communicate and connect.
"I found it especially exciting to see how public health and marketing intersect in different ways," said Tucker, where her portfolio of assignments included content creation for past and upcoming events, event promotion, and newsletter creation.
Center for Communicating Science Project Coordinator Erin Smith said Tucker's dedication and enthusiasm will be missed.
"Lauren stands out for her ability to bridge technical information and communication in a way that is strategic and human centered. Her contributions, from content creation to communication strategy, helped expand our reach and better connect our work to the communities we serve," Smith said.
A trusted resource
Tucker is commited to serving as a trusted resource for individuals to make informed health decisions and provide these resources to the community. During graduate school, Tucker worked on digital marketing and science communication projects, which sparked her passion for marketing.
During the spring semester, she participated in the Integrated Learning Experience at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine by interviewing community members about how they receive their health information and other health related topics.
"I learned so much through this experience and really enjoyed collaborating with different centers and resources across campus," said Tucker. "The project was highly successful and provided valuable insights for future growth. With all we learned, I developed a social media implementation plan for the public health program to support continued growth and strengthen the online presence."
Community focused
Tucker said what she will miss most about Virginia Tech is the sense of community and the amazing people she has met along the way. "The support, friendships, and experiences I have made here are truly so special to me. Virginia Tech will always feel like home," said Tucker.
