Laura Kaub

Laura believes that education is a key tool for sustainable development, and has worked for the past several years with students around the world as an administrator and advisor, admissions officer, and college guidance volunteer. After completing her B.A. in English from Penn State University and working for a couple years on the ‘corporate side’, Laura was eager to return to the academic world. She joined Clark University’s Department of International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE) in Worcester, Massachusetts, overseeing the department’s admissions, enrollment, advising services, budget, etc. During her time at IDCE Laura worked with international students from around the globe, but especially from Africa. Here she developed her interest in the continent and her desire to one day work with African students as they sought university admission. (While working at Clark, Laura also earned her Master’s degree with a concentration in international non-profit management.)

Upon completing her degree and six years of service to the IDCE Department Laura relocated to New York City and took a position at Barnard College of Columbia University as coordinator of their international student admissions. She relished the opportunity to travel around the world to counsel international students on applying to university in the United States. While at Barnard Laura visited nearly 30 countries and also advocated successfully for an increase in international student financial aid. During this time Barnard admitted the first fully funded African student, and since then three other African students have received full funding (including two from African Leadership Academy).

As director of African Leadership Academy’s university guidance department Laura works with Associate Director Chemeli Kipkorir to equip students to explore the many paths to success and life as an agent of positive change after leaving ALA. With her guidance students and their families learn about the different types of course offerings available at colleges and universities around the world, and also about the value of alternative plans like taking an academic or practical ‘gap year’ before entering university, pursuing a volunteer or entrepreneurial opportunity, or embarking directly into pursuit of a career. When not working with students around university counseling Laura serves as an advisor to ALA’s gap year students, is co-advisor to the ALA Spanish Club, and is a proud member of Volta house.