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About Lauren

Lauren Pugh was born in Lynchburg, Virginia and spent her middle and high school years in Wisconsin. During her undergraduate, she spent a year studying in Bologna, Italy, where she fell in love with the Italian language and culture.

After graduating in 2008 with a degree in Italian Studies and a minor in Learning Abroad, Lauren returned to Italy as the Resident Assistant for an American university program in Sesto Fiorentino. Since 2011, Lauren has called the town of Prato her home. Before joining the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ Tuscany Campus team, she taught English at two local Italian high schools, and worked in at an international university in nearby Florence as a Student Life Advisor. Lauren is currently finishing her Master’s degree through the University of Florence in Comparative European and American Languages and Literatures.

As Student Affairs Coordinator at the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ in Prato, Lauren is in charge of organizing student activities, volunteer opportunities, and excursions, managing communications with students, and overseeing the school’s social media presence. Having walked in their shoes, Lauren understands what it is like to be an American transplant in Italy, and enjoys sharing her insight into the local culture and territory with fellow study abroad students.

Lauren enjoys traveling, reading, and taking her dogs for walks along the Bisenzio river. She is big sci-fi fan and one of her favorite local events is the annual Lucca Comics festival.