ATLANTA — Georgia State University Honors College graduate Lauren Adams (B.A. ’24) has been selected as a 2024-25 Woodruff Fellow for the Woodruff, Whitehead and Evans Foundations. The yearlong fellowship offers work experience to recent college graduates interested in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Over 12 months, the fellow works closely with the foundations' staff on a range of work related to nonprofits and philanthropies. The foundations distribute more than $500 million annually to nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, the state of Georgia and across the Southeast. Adams is GSU's third fellow to be named a Woodruff Fellow since 2020.
Lauren Adams at graduation this spring.
A spring 2024 graduate, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Law & Ethics. She intends to undertake a J.D. program after completing her fellowship and added, “I’m excited to contribute to Atlanta’s future in a new way, leveraging my advocacy work with the foundations to pave the path for my future as a lawyer assisting marginalized communities.”
Marc Reyes, the assistant director of GSU’s Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships, brought the fellowship to Adams’ attention and recommended she apply for it. “I pass along a lot of opportunities to Lauren because I think the world of her and have no doubts about what she can accomplish,” Reyes said. Over his two years of knowing her, Reyes had, “a strong sense that this smart and talented young woman also had a big heart and wanted to do more for her community. I knew she would be a strong candidate for the fellowship.”
During her time as a GSU student, Adams was involved in numerous service projects. She served as an Honors College Ambassador and tutored at afterschool programs for the Agape Youth and Family Center and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Adams also provided English instruction for GoPeer Inc., an online tutoring platform.
Adams' previous summer as a participant in the Honors College’s U.K. Summer Internship Program helped push her to apply for the Woodruff Fellowship. For two months, she worked as a legal intern at Paysafe in their London office. It was her first extended time away from home and living by herself. Adams found the experience of working overseas to be, “transformative and sparking immense personal growth.”
Adams' many successes are a testament to the types of triumphs — both academic and professional — that Honors College graduates achieve. She wants her GSU professors and friends to know that, “I’m excited to embark on this new journey at the Woodruff, Whitehead and Evans Foundations. While I anticipate challenges, my time at GSU — particularly in the Honors College — has given me the skills to overcome them. I’m looking forward to giving back to GSU, reciprocating the support they’ve given me.”
The Honors College at Georgia State University is a destination for high-achieving students who embody curiosity, take pride in their work and dream about how they can make an impact through their studies and careers. Its mission is to serve students in a welcoming space by engaging students’ curiosity, empowering them to achieve their highest potential and inspiring them to find their place in the world. Its students form lifelong friendships, participate in community service, perform research, excel academically, explore their interests and chart their career paths.