Fall Grad Spotlight: Lauren Love

After graduation this fall, Lauren Love hopes to land a job in marketing in the Cleveland area and possibly pursue a career in motorsports.

Love is from Westlake, Ohio, and graduates from the College of Business with majors in finance, marketing, and management and strategic leadership. She has also earned a certificate in Festivals, Events, and Entertainment Management.  

What was your ah-ha moment at OHIO—that point where you said to yourself, “I’ve got this!”?
When I got my internship. I realized that I can do it and that I am capable. I have been working hard to get experience like this, I am qualified and have learned all the tools necessary to do well.

Why did you choose OHIO? 
Because I really liked the reputation of their business program and when I met with the staff, they were all very kind and welcoming to a nervous high school student. 

Who were your favorite professors and how did they make an impact on your life?

• Theodore Muir- I really enjoyed taking Professor Muir’s international marketing class. He helped me to understand and learn my love for different advertisements and looking at them in different cultures gave me a whole new perspective on them and how things are around the world. I loved having conversations with him about various things going on in the world and different advertisements.
• Jessica Weeks- I have taken a few classes with Professor Weeks and have enjoyed them both. Jessica has impacted my college career by helping me figure out what it really means to market and how it impacts the customer.
• Adam Hepworth has impacted my life by showing me that there is more to marketing than meets the eyes. He was an extremely understanding professor and his class taught me it’s okay to speak up and share my thoughts and opinions.
• Christina Mehlon has probably made the most impact on my college experience and life. Though I was not a sports management major, she welcomed me into the Festivals Events and Entertainment Management certificate program and helped me fit it into my schedule. She also helped me realize my passion for motorsport racing can be achieved and I can in fact have a career in it if I would like to. She believed in me as I took on my capstone project as well as an experience to travel to New Orleans to help set up for the men’s final four last spring. Christina helped me realize my potential as a student and a person and I will never forget having her as a professor. 

What was the hardest hill you had to climb (not counting Jeff Hill) at OHIO? And how did you overcome challenges or obstacles in your path?
Adjusting to the hybrid balance of classes. Understanding how professors teach online and getting accustomed to different methods and processes was very challenging.

What are your favorite OHIO memories?
My favorite memories are from this last year. I met my best friend so being able to go around Athens and get coffee every week or celebrate Halloween has been the most fun. Especially since COVID threw the whole four years out of whack, it was nice to feel that “Normal” from before the pandemic. 

What’s the one thing you would tell a new OHIO student not to miss?
I would say don’t miss out on all the great restaurants uptown. There are so many great options. Don’t just default to door dashing McDonalds or Taco Bell. Just try everything.