Dr. Laura Maldonado is a Senior Research Associate with Advance CTE. In this role, Laura directly supports Advance CTE’s policy research and technical assistance initiatives, data quality initiatives and internal data strategy.

Prior to joining Advance CTE, Laura worked as a senior research associate at a community college leadership and research center and spent more than a decade as a career services practitioner. In 2019–2020, she also participated in the Postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) Research Fellows Program at North Carolina State University – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation.

Laura earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development from North Carolina State University, a Master of Education in Counselor Education from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Muhlenberg College. She is a nationally certified counselor committed to advocating for the career trajectories of all learners. A native of Pennsylvania, Laura now resides in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband, a secondary CTE digital media teacher and son.