Finding Greatness: Lauren Faulkner

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Monday, September 29, 2025 12:00 AM
Categories: Pressroom | Students | Finding Greatness | School of Arts and Letters

Macon, GA

For Lauren Faulkner, words are more than a passion. Now serving as editor-in-chief of Middle Georgia State University’s literary magazine, this Macon native, Army veteran, and full-time graduate student is using her talents to shape stories, strengthen her craft, and define her professional calling. 

Full Name: Lauren Elizabeth Faulkner.

Age: 37.

Hometown & Residence: Macon.

Employment: “I am currently a full-time graduate student at MGA. I write freelance articles for The Monroe County/Macon Reporter, which is published once a week. I was also given my own opinion column in the same paper, which I call Literally Lauren. Most recently, I was honored to be named editor-in-chief for the University’s literary magazine,The Fall Line Review.”

Activities: “This is my second year working on the staff of The Fall Line Review, and I was privileged to be named editor-in-chief for the 2026 issue. Working with the amazing faculty and students has been an incredible experience, and I am eager to watch the publication grow and develop this year, as well as all the years to come.”

MGA Graduate Degree Objective: Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing.

Undergraduate Degrees: “I received my B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2016 from MGA. I also completed the graduate creative writing program recently and moved directly into the master’s degree program.”  

She chose Middle Georgia State University for graduate school because … “It feels like home here. I have traveled the world, worked all over the United States, joined the Army, and taken more road trips than I can count. When I began looking at programs to support my creative and technical writing aims, Middle Georgia State University just felt like home. It’s an affordable university with an experienced and caring faculty that encourages student success.”

Her greatest experience as a Middle Georgia State grad student has been … “I could list several great experiences here: being chosen as editor-in-chief, speaking on a panel about my poetry, or getting a good grade. But my greatest experience has been finding my niche through MGA’s writing programs. I have always felt like a square peg trying to fit into a triangle world, but throughout my graduate school courses I have found myself succeeding and doing so happily.”

To her, greatness means … “In my experience, greatness is often found in the smallest of places. Being successful is great in its own way, but I think that greatness is found in the smallest acts of humanity: a nod of encouragement when someone is afraid; little acts of kindness; a single voice speaking out against injustice. Those are the things that encourage greatness and positive change.”

In five years … “Although I love to write, I plan to use the skills I have learned in the Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing to find a career in editing. I would love to find myself working for a publishing house in five years, either independent or one of the big five. As a writer who has found very little empathy in the publishing process, I would really enjoy helping other writers develop their manuscripts and succeed with their own writing aims.”