Lauren Norris Lessard is in her first year of the 2-year MPH/MCH program.  Lauren is primarily interested in studying methods to increase access to family planning in developing countries.  As a Peace Corps volunteer in Suriname, she helped the Pan-American Health Organization reach out to indigenous communities in order to get feedback for a national family health policy.  Overwhelmingly, women cited lack of contraception and pregnancy prevention education as the key barrier to healthy families.  Lauren initially became interested in MCH while working for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte as a development coordinator. Prior to Planned Parenthood, she worked for Congressman Sam Farr as a Congressional Aide, specializing in issues involving women’s health, military families and veteran’s benefits.  Lauren graduated in 2005 from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Politics.  In her spare time, she enjoys cooking with friends, snowboarding and traveling.