The Voice of the MATRIX Lab: Lauren Bacon Wins UMD's 2026 MVP Impact Award

This article was written for Lauren Bacon by the MATRIX Lab staff.

Not all heroes wear capes; sometimes they have a camera, a microphone, and an unmatched ability to bring people together.

“The University of Maryland recently honored 25 outstanding staff members with the 2026 Fearlessly Forward Awards, and we are thrilled to announce that our very own Lauren Bacon, Communications Program Manager for the A. James Clark School of Engineering MATRIX Lab, is among the recipients,” said Dr. Reza Ghodssi, Distinguished University Professor and Executive Director of Research and Innovation at the MATRIX Lab.

"I am so honored to receive this award recognizing the work I've done for the University and for Southern Maryland. Thank you to university leadership and the selection and organizing committees for taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate all of the recipients," said Ms. Bacon.

Connecting the MATRIX Lab to the World

Located an hour and a half away from College Park, the MATRIX Lab could easily have remained isolated. Instead, Lauren rapidly learned to navigate and connect units throughout the Clark School, expertly bridging the MATRIX Lab with UMD College Park resources so that we operate as a seamless entity. Moreover, she extends the reach of College Park by spearheading coordination with the federal government and industry partners like AeroVironment and HII. Through targeted stakeholder management and engagement, Lauren ensures that we are not only unified with the main campus but that we are consistently adding value and building a thriving interdisciplinary autonomy hub right here in Southern Maryland.

A Master Storyteller

Lauren's exceptional communication skills have consistently translated complex autonomous systems research into accessible, engaging narratives. Through coordination of the Evening@SMART lecture series, she helps bring faculty down from College Park, harnessing visual storytelling to share their research directly with the Southern Maryland community. Over the past year alone, she helped facilitate presentations for more than ten UMD professors. To further market our lab, she spearheaded the MATRIX Lab's first commercial, establishing a creative vision that makes autonomous systems approachable for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Lauren also possesses an incredible talent for humanizing science and connecting it with the masses; one particularly impactful article she wrote wove together the challenges and triumphs of undergraduate researchers, earning widespread praise for its authentic portrayal of the scientific method.

The Ultimate Team Player

Those who work with Lauren know she embodies the ultimate "yes, and" mentality. She consistently develops our stories and brand for the larger community, ensuring that the MATRIX message is out in the world. Whether she is assisting with comprehensive reports when needed (such as a vital report generated for the Autonomy Summit), stepping up for last-minute facility tours, or making behind-the-scenes edits to slides for international conferences, she is always ready to help. Lauren consistently prioritizes team achievements over individual recognition, championing inclusiveness by ensuring every team member's voice is heard.

Lauren's contributions demonstrate her profound positive impact on the MATRIX Lab, the University of Maryland, and the state as a whole. She embodies excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, and service in everything she does. Congratulations, Lauren, on this incredibly well-deserved honor!

Published March 5, 2026