Laura started working with RCAP in May 2018 as a research and policy fellow and joined the team full-time in June 2019 after receiving a Masters of Environmental Management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. As a research manager, Laura advances RCAP’s mission of supporting small and rural communities by identifying, understanding and sharing their needs and contributing to national environmental and economic conversations.

At Duke, Laura was involved in projects that influenced her desire to work on issues of access and equity in the water and sanitation space. These included a project addressing concerns of equity and environmental justice through a focus on wastewater issues in rural areas and another project studying water and wastewater system regionalization efforts by rural systems to better understand the benefits of regionalization and cooperation. Prior to studying at Duke, Laura worked for a social good consulting firm in Arlington, VA for 3 years. She worked on cost models for federal drinking water regulations and assessments of federal laboratory certification programs at the regional level. Combined with a BA in Economics and Environmental Policy with high honors from the College of William & Mary, these experiences have given Laura a strong background in research, writing, and statistical analysis, as well as a grasp on the unique challenges rural and small communities face.

Session One:
Track: TAP Skills: Strategy
Title: What Do We Want to Do as a Network for DEI?
Day/Time: Tuesday, 8/16 | 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm 

Session Two:
Track: What’s New at National RCAP
Day/Time: Thursday, 8/18 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am