Lauren Lowery ’09

Outstanding Young Alumna Award

During her time at UNC Charlotte, Lauren Lowery became a prominent figure and proponent of change across many different aspects of campus. Not only did she lead within the Greek community, she was involved in multiple honor societies and the campus newspaper, but she also served as a counselor for the S.A.F.E. program, and was a founder of UNC Charlotte’s Black Alumni Chapter.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from UNC Charlotte in 2009, and went on to obtain a Master of Public Administration in Planning and Economic Development from Georgia State University 
in 2012.

Among many of her accolades and honors, Lowery received special distinction for her work in the University System of Georgia’s Social Business and Microcredit Forum, a competition among all 36 colleges across Georgia to develop a social business plan. She served on GSU’s Public Management and Policy team and worked to create a social business called Fresh Oasis that would eliminate Atlanta’s “food deserts,” which are low-income areas and have limited access to healthy, affordable food. What made this plan stand out among the rest? “We did not just create this model for a competition. We created Fresh Oasis with the intent for implementation,” answers Lowery. 

Currently, Lowery serves as the Strategy & Policy Manager for the City of Norfolk’s Department of Neighborhood Development. In her role, she works to develop and implement neighborhood revitalization programs, as well as implementing a program known as Generational Changers, a program designed by and for young adults to give them a foundation of how to engage their communities and to highlight issues such as gun violence, civil injustice, crime and civic engagement. 

“Getting young adults to be active in civic leagues and City Council is really hard,” Lowery says. “We want them to be present in the issues… and we want them to be on the front lines and have a seat at the table.”

Lowery has continued to show leadership and give back to the younger generation of leaders through the development and implementation of the Department of Neighborhood Development’s College Internship and Externship Program. In the three years of its existence, Lowery has mentored and advocated for over 30 young adults and introduced them to local government and community development. 

For her outstanding work in communities across the Southeast, in 2017, Lowery was awarded with the Hidden Figure award by her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.