Baord of Governors

Laura Bauer
Director of National Initiatives, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

Laura is Director of National Initiatives for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW). Co-author of the RCI’s signature training program, Caring for You, Caring for Me – Education and Support for Family and Professional Caregivers, 2nd Edition; Laura has co-authored numerous journal articles and contributed chapters to Voices of Caregiving (LaChance Publishing, 2008) and Re-Creating Neighborhoods for Successful Aging (Health Professions Press, 2008). Laura is currently directing the national rollout of Operation Family Caregiver, RCI’s evidenced based program for caregivers of returning service members and veterans with PTSD, TBI, and/or physical disabilities. She also teaches several courses in the RCI’s Certificate in Caregiving Program, housed at GSW. Laura has previously worked as a counselor for at-risk youth at an outdoor therapeutic program and as a child abuse investigator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia and also holds a Certificate in Gerontology from GSW. Laura serves as Vice-President of Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Alpha Alpha, and the American Association of University Women. An advocate for social justice, the environment, caregiving issues, and peace; Laura enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, photography, bird-watching, dancing, and music of all genres. She and her dog Katie are a certified Pet Partner animal therapy team; regularly volunteering their services at local elementary schools, hospices, hospitals and nursing homes.