In the Spotlight is an initiative to celebrate the incredibly talented people and teams within the college and to facilitate awareness and understanding of the unique individuals who make up the pharmacy family.

This month, we learn about Lauren Garcia, enrollment services manager in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Tell us about your role.

My role blends two of my favorite duties: recruiting and advising. I get to meet with prospective PharmD students to talk about career paths in pharmacy. For current PharmD students, I get to meet with them each semester to discuss their goals, courses, and the application process. I really enjoy meeting with campus partners and prospective students about the opportunities that exist in the field of pharmacy and promote all the good things happening in the college.

What field of work did you begin in?

My first job out of undergrad was as an admissions counselor at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids. I've been hooked on higher ed and enrollment services ever since!

What made you chose this field of work?

I first started working in admissions as a tour guide while I was a student at Coe College. I loved meeting with prospective students and helping them discover their path to higher education. I’m especially passionate about helping underrepresented minority and first generation students. Over the course of my career I’ve tried to intertwine both passion areas, which is how I originally ended up at the University of Iowa and now in the College of Pharmacy!

Tell us about your personal photo?

This is one of my engagement photos that I just received! My fiancé and I are getting married on July 12, 2019. He proposed the weekend of my birthday in August with a surprise trip to see Bruno Mars at Lollapalooza and a Chicago Cubs game with all of our friends. Of course, we had to feature my dog, Sophie, in the picture as well.

What is your favorite music genre?

I’m a music junkie, so I’m not really all that picky! I was a music minor in college and try to go to as many concerts a year as I can. It truly doesn’t matter to me what I listen to – I cycle through a little bit of everything from Panic! At the Disco, to Kenny Chesney, to Bruno Mars, to Ben Rector, to Chris Janson. Fortunately, my fiancé works in radio so we are often sharing new music with each other.

If money was no object, what would you do all day, every day? 

I would probably try to establish my own dog rescue shelter. I want to adopt and help every fluff ball out there! 

If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

My dog, my piano, an item out of my china hutch (it and its contents belonged to my grandmother before she passed), my jewelry (several items were passed down in our family), and my favorite blanket!

This "In the Spotlight" has been brought to you by the UI College of Pharmacy Staff Council.