Laura Figura

Laura brings over 30 years of extensive experience in higher education administration and instruction, distinguished by her selection as the recipient of the 2026 SMU Faculty Senate Outstanding Staff Award. Her tenure includes a decade at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, where she excelled as a Program Specialist for Student Life, Alumni, and Community Engagement, and as a Coordinator of Admissions. Her background also features key administrative roles within the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business MBA programs and Minot State University Residence Life. As an educator, Laura has dedicated over 15 years as an adjunct instructor of French at Collin College and Dallas College across both in-person and online modalities, alongside 10 years of early childhood teaching experience. She offers deep technical proficiency across SMU systems including my.SMU (Oracle PeopleSoft), Concur, Microsoft Office Suite/Copilot, Blackbaud CRM, Sitecore, and various learning management and communication platforms.  Given her extensive knowledge of SMU frameworks, she is uniquely equipped for a rapid transition and immediate positive outcomes.  She brings an exceptional blend of organizational precision, customer-centric service, and advanced communication skills. Her diverse background includes managing high-priority, sensitive initiatives, supporting senior executives, and navigating non-profit, corporate, and international landscapes. Additionally, she is highly adept at full-cycle event planning, strategic purchasing, and supporting graduate student populations.  Her background of living and working abroad, paired with 10 years of assisting SMU international students, makes her an invaluable asset in fostering an inclusive and supportive global campus community.