Career Roadmap
Laurie's work combines: Design, Entrepreneurship, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Webster High School, South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree
Psychology, General
University of South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
University of South Dakota
Graduate Degree
Human Biology
University of South Dakota
Doctorate
Human Biology
University of South Dakota
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Human Factors Engineers & Ergonomists:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Psychology, General
Bachelor's Degree: Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Graduate Degree: Human Biology
Doctorate: Human Biology
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I grew up on a farm in South Dakota. My dad, uncles and cousins were all in the Army National Guard.
2.
I joined the South Dakota Air National Guard at 17, a month after 9/11.
3.
I had a pretty 'normal' college experience and didn't deploy until my first year of grad school.
4.
I was sent to Iraq for a few months, then came back and continued with grad school.
5.
The Roadtrip Nation book inspired me to take a few months to explore after finishing grad school.
6.
I volunteered with Team Rubicon in 2010 and have been a volunteer leader within the org since 2013.
7.
Recently, my fiancee and I moved to Santa Barbara; I'm currently in a job I LOVE at AppFolio.
8.
I'm in the process of transitioning to the Channel Islands Air Guard and am currently a captain.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You shouldn't go on this road trip; it could be dangerous for a young woman.
How I responded:
Having grown up in the Midwest, people are much more conservative than they are on the West Coast. So when I wanted to do this long road trip after grad school, my parents were pretty concerned about me. I just knew that I had to be a smart traveler, and trust my military experience, and trust myself to make good decisions. Luckily, I didn't let anyone's concerns stop me, because that was truly a transformative experience that showed me that there was more out there beyond South Dakota.