Lauren Cochran, Coordinator of Civic Engagement at Troy University, has received the David Mathews Center for Civic Life’s 2025 Jean O’Connor-Snyder Award.

The award is presented annually to individuals who empower others to be active and engaged members of society. The award is named in honor of O’Connor-Snyder, an educator and civic leader who served as Director of Events and Protocol and Assistant Director for Development at the University of Alabama.

As Coordinator of TROY’s Office of Civic Engagement, Cochran oversees community engagement programs such as Campus Kitchens Food Recovery & Distribution, Garden and Nutrition Education, Civic Lab, Democracy Project and Bright Futures College and Career Program. Cochran developed the Civic Scholars program, an immersive volunteer opportunity, where students serve in leadership roles for the initiatives above, deepening the impact of students in the Troy community.

Cochran, a two-time graduate of TROY’s Hall School of Journalism and Communication, teaches civic engagement courses, manages the University’s minor in Civic and Community Engagement, and serves as a faculty mentor of the Jean O’Conner-Snyder Internship Program with the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. She also co-founded the Trojan Pantry, which addresses food insecurity on the Troy Campus, and is a member of statewide and university student basic needs coalitions.

“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the David Mathews Center for Civic Life for so many years,” Cochran said. “This partnership and the influence of Dr. Mathews has inspired me personally and our work at Civic Engagement.”

Cochran said she draws inspiration both personally and professionally from Dr. Mathews’ book, “Together: Building Better, Stronger Communities.”

“The power we have as citizens to create the change is something we often lose sight of. One particular sentence has become somewhat of our office motto: What happens in Communities depends, to a large extent, on what everyday citizens do. This is embodied in our work at Troy University’s Office of Civic Engagement, and it’s one of my life’s greatest honors to work alongside students who live this out every day. This award is a recognition of that everyday citizenry that accrues to healthy democracy and stronger communities.”

A native of Mobile, Cochran is a two-time Troy University graduate and advocate for local schools and nonprofits. She and her husband Rick have been married for 19 years and are passionate about fostering faith and community among college students. They have two sons, Ben and Elliott.