Lauren Bennett

Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA

Education: M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, College of William & Mary; B.S., Business Administration, University of Mary Washington

Favorite TV show to binge watch? Friends. ...I'm obsessed.

Favorite D-Hall dessert? Jersey Dirt. The. Best. Ever.

Favorite RVA restaurant? My favorite food is French fries, so here are my top French fry stops: Burger Bach, Jack Brown’s (sweet potato fries with extra Jack Brown's sauce), and Mosaic.

Biggest travel-related phobia? Eating alone at a restaurant.

Favorite part of the application? The personal essay. I love getting to dive into the student’s story!

What is the coolest architectural feature or piece of architecture on campus? Why?

I absolutely love the Chapel. I could stare at it all day. There is a secret garden off to the side that I love to sit at when I need a break. I also got married at the Chapel... so maybe I'm biased!

If you could take any class at UR, what would it be? 

Catching Criminals with Chemistry. CSI in a class? Sign me up.

What is one piece of advice you’d give students for the college search/application process?

Make some lists! I'm a firm believer in a good list, and feel they're very fitting for the college application process. I encourage you to make lists about the top things you are looking for in an institution. Make a list of schools that you want to apply to (not too many… trust me, you do not want to do that to yourself). Make a list of your unique stories, characteristics, or talents to help you decide what to write for your college essays. A list of application deadlines is always helpful, too.

Happy list making!

Let’s talk about RVA. What do you like about living here? What are your favorite things to do in the city/region? What should visitors be sure to check out?

I absolutely love living in Richmond. When my husband attended the University of Richmond, we fell in love with the city and knew it's where we wanted to end up. There is always so much to do in Richmond, from eating at over 900 restaurants, to white water rafting, to exploring Hollywood Cemetery (sounds creepy, but it is beautiful!), to attending festivals. We never run out of things to do!