Laura joined LFA in 2008 with a background in sociology (with a focus on social inequality, education, race, and ethnicity) and expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods. She is committed to advancing social justice by supporting social sector organizations to use data to inform their decision-making. Laura’s work at LFA has focused on evaluation and capacity-building, and she has extensive experience working in partnership with organizations to use evaluation as a tool for learning and planning. Laura’s project work has spanned a range of issue areas including early childhood and K-12 education, economic well-being of vulnerable populations, housing and community development.
Laura is passionate about embedding an equity, racial justice, and social justice lens into her consulting work, and into LFA’s organizational culture, policies and practices. Laura previously served as LFA’s Director of Equitable Practice and led LFA’s Equity Leadership Team, facilitating ongoing personal and organizational learning, reflection, and skill development for embedding and advancing equity in LFA’s work.
Laura spends her free time hiking and fishing in the mountains. She loves to travel and has hung out with orangutans in the Bornean rainforest, cheered on the US Women’s National Soccer Team at the Women’s World Cup, and trekked to Everest Base Camp.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of California, Davis
Master of Arts, Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles
Selected Project Experience
Evaluation of the Kresge Foundation’s Fresh, Local, and Equitable (FreshLo) Initiative
Evaluation of the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge Competition
Evaluation of the HOPE SF Initiative, a public-private partnership led by the San Francisco Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, and the City and County of San Francisco.
Evaluation of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Common Core Initiative
Evaluation of Genentech’s Futurelab Initiative
Community Needs Assessment for the City of San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families