Lauren Peckham’s interest in law and justice started early, watching courtroom dramas with her grandparents and imagining herself one day on the bench—or behind the podium at the White House. That spark turned into purpose as she pursued studies shaped by personal experience and a passion for advocacy.

With three majors across two colleges—criminology and criminal justice, political science, and psychology—she’s worked to understand the legal system from every angle—intellectually, emotionally, and systemically. The East Haddam, Connecticut native ill celebrate her achievements as this year’s student commencement speaker for the URI College of Health Sciences.

At URI, Lauren fully embraced student life. She served as an advisor in the Student Events Advising Office, a Peer Mentor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and held leadership roles in P.I.N.K. Women and Student Senate, most recently as Speaker of the Assembly.

One of her proudest moments at URI was receiving the Rainville Servant Leadership Award—an honor made deeply personal by her connection to the late Maureen McDermott, a cherished mentor in the Office of Student Involvement who helped shape the awards. “The Rainville isn’t just an award—it’s a memory, a celebration, and a reflection of the community that makes URI feel like home,” Lauren says.

But it’s the everyday moments she’ll treasure most: late nights planning events, laughs with friends, and the mentorship of faculty and staff. Now preparing for law school, Lauren says URI taught her to lead with compassion and resilience. “I’ve learned how to be kind even when it’s hard, how to keep showing up when things get messy, and how to let challenges shape me rather than stop me,” she says.