Engaged Alumni Award

During her time at the Morgridge Center, Laura served as the community engagement graduate assistant, supporting data management, coordinating the AGES network, and mentoring Wisconsin Idea Fellowship students. She strengthened WIF and AGES programming, enhanced marketing processes, and created sustainable systems such as surveys, task calendars, and Canvas training tools. She co‑taught counseling psychology 601, helping graduate students integrate community‑engaged scholarship into dissertations and grant proposals while collaboratively managing course logistics, grading, and feedback systems.

Laura is now a faculty at Chatham University where she partners with Pittsburgh‑area farmers on community‑driven food systems work. She supports grant writing, facilitates communities of practice, teaches community‑based research, and leverages university resources—including a campus farm—to strengthen regional agricultural initiatives.