“NDNU’s culture was amazing,” Lauren Lopez exclaims as she describes her unique group of friends and the inclusivity of the community. She attributes the lack of judgment between peers to the fact that everyone at NDNU was so diverse, specifically in terms of socioeconomic status, education, race, etc. Adding to the culture of the university, one of the most valuable aspects of her experience was the support, both from the teachers and the learning centers.

Although social justice work was not a requirement, there were many opportunities to engage in community service and help others. While attending NDNU from 2018-2021, Lauren took an English class that allowed her to visit a nearby juvenile detention center. This sparked her interest in supporting children, especially low-income students. During her stint of online tutoring at the juvenile detention center, she recounted the genuine and honest connections she made with two students through their mutual interest in rap, and how she even helped one of them write a letter of apology to a family member.

Her study of sociology and business at NDNU combined with her personal experiences has led her to pursue a career in providing services to low-income children and families by bringing accessible health care to disadvantaged areas. She is currently a candidate for a Master’s in Public Health at Baylor.

Lauren serves as merely one example of the many that have been positively influenced by NDNU’s diversity and social justice efforts. NDNU’s impact goes beyond the university, and continues to improve the greater community.