Lauren Burgess is a senior majoring in HAA and Communication Rhetoric with a Studio Arts minor. Lauren has been an active on Pitt’s campus both in academic pursuits and student organizations. In the spring of 2013 Lauren received a Small Grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research to travel to New York City to conduct research for her honor thesis. She later participated in the interdisciplinary Brackenridge Summer Research Program with the University Honors College in pursuit of turning her honors thesis into a Bachelors of Philosophy paper. She studied abroad in Paris, France continuing her research of a Chapel in France with on-site visits. While finishing up her Bachelors of Philosophy she is also engaged in the Encounters: Art in the City Assistantship. Outside of HAA Lauren is the vice president of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars at the University of Pittsburgh and was an executive board member, choreographer and dancer for the Pitt Dance Ensemble.
Lauren will be presenting her paper "Embodiment and Decoration: Henri Matisse's Rosary Chapel in Vence, France” at HAAARCH!!! 2014. She will also be presenting as part of the group presentation "Encounters: Art in the City."