Lauren N. Irwin is an assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lauren primarily teaches in the College Student Personnel (e.g., Conflict in Higher Education; Multiculturalism) and Higher Education Administration (e.g., Administration and Governance) programs. After earning a B.A. at UCLA and an M.A. in Student Affairs Administration at Michigan State University, Lauren completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Iowa. In addition to being on the editorial board of the Journal of College Student Development, Lauren has reviewed manuscripts for the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Educational Researcher, and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. Lauren is an active member of ACPA (College Student Educators, International), ASHE (Association for the Study of Higher Education), and AERA (American Educational Research Association) and regularly attends their annual conferences. Further, Lauren’s professional experience spans multiple universities, including Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA, and functional areas, including leadership education, residence life, service-learning, student-athlete advising, and InterGroup Dialogues.

Broadly, Lauren engages in critical and collaborative research pursuits to shape student affairs practice in ways that enhance and affirm students’ and practitioners’ agency and success. Primarily, Lauren leans on critical perspectives and qualitative methods. Lauren’s doctoral dissertation received ACPA’s Marylu McEwen Dissertation of the Year Award. Further, Lauren’s scholarship has been published in some of the top outlets in the field, including the American Educational Research Journal, Review of Higher Education, Journal of College Student Development, and The Handbook of Higher Education, among others. Recently, Lauren’s efforts as a scholar and educator were recognized with both the CEHHS and ELPS teaching awards and ACPA’s Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professional award.

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