Laura Parker

Laura is an EdD graduate from Capella University with Post-master's certifications in Leadership and Accountability and Adult Education Leadership and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. She holds an M.A. in TESOL and a B.A. in Spanish. She has twenty years of experience in education, including eight years in English as a Second Language (ESL) as an instructor working with undergraduate and graduate international students. She also taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Beijing and Hefei, China for a year and a half. Laura has a well-rounded skill set in organizational leadership, program development and management, training and coaching, advising, developing learning outcomes and assessments, instructional design and curriculum development, and critical thinking and problem-solving. She is a member of TESOL, OKTESOL, ACHE, AAACE, NAFSA, and English USA and has presented at regional, state, and national conferences on Stephen Brookfield’s Discussion Techniques and PechaKucha 20X20, an innovative presentation style focusing on improving students’ speaking skills. Laura currently resides in Oklahoma but is originally from Kansas. She is an Associate Director for a non-profit community development corporation in Oklahoma City. When Laura is not teaching or working on community development projects, she enjoys traveling, camping, and kayaking.