Loyola University Chicago

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President's Medallion 2020-2021

LAUREN HINDT

GRADUATE SCHOOL
HOMETOWN: LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA
DEGREE: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY DOCTORAL DEGREE
EXPECTED DATE OF GRADUATION: MAY 2021
I have been grateful for examples set by mentors in always questioning how we can better live up to social justice ideals.

Lauren Hindt is committed to the well-being of families in difficult circumstances. Her work in Loyola’s Promoting Adjustment in Children through Evaluation (PACE) lab was the first of its kind, studying the negative effects on children who are placed in emergency shelters before foster care, and her other work focuses on the impact of parental incarceration and foster care on children and families.

Hindt is a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit honor society and the Diversifying Clinical Psychology Committee, where she helps review course syllabi and make recommendations for integrating greater diversity into course content. In 2020, she received the Graduate Student Teaching Award. She is known for mentoring undergraduate and fellow graduate students in the research lab, and has been a volunteer guest lecturer for undergraduate courses and an instructor in Loyola’s pre-college summer scholars program.

Here,Hindt reflects on the influence of her Loyola community and the importance of advancing social justice:

What was the most meaningful volunteer, service, or student organization activity you’ve been involved in? How has it influenced you or shaped you as a person?

I am grateful for my experiences with Illinois Birth Justice (IBJ), a nonprofit organization fostering the health and well-being of women who are incarcerated and their families. IBJ offers perinatal and parenting groups at Cook County Jail in Chicago, and also supports local and national advocacy efforts. Through my work in program development and evaluation, I have learned the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration with various stakeholders (e.g., doulas, nurses, public health workers, policymakers).

How have you been influenced by Loyola's Jesuit mission?

As an undergraduate student applying to graduate school, I was drawn to Loyola's social justice mission and faculty living up to this mission through their research. I have been grateful for examples set by mentors in always questioning how we can better live up to social justice ideals, which is the most valuable lesson I have learned at Loyola. I look forward to my life-long, active learning in advancing social justice.

What do you hope to achieve after graduating, and how has Loyola prepared you?

At Loyola, the relationships I have developed with my graduate cohort, mentors, and colleagues have laid the foundation for my future as a clinical psychologist. Beyond teaching me skill sets, they have shaped my experiences in working with individuals, families, communities, and systems. In tandem with my Loyola network, I have developed a commitment to strengthening families and supporting children from underserved populations through clinical work, research, teaching, and advocacy.