Laura Bauer McConatha

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LAURA BAUER MCCONATHA

Believing strongly in the power of community to organize efforts that support social justice reform, I recently launched Lovingkindness, LLC to support my current volunteer roles as a connector, community builder, nonprofit business consultant, facilitator, and coach. I served as Executive Director of the Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation from 2018 to 2022, retiring after achieving my goal of obtaining infrastructure funding for the foundation named after the late teen poet and peace activist Mattie Stepanek. In March of 2018, I retired from a 20-year career at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW). There I co-authored the RCI’s signature training program, Caring for You, Caring for Me – Education and Support for Family and Professional Caregivers, 2nd Edition and was instrumental in the development and launch of Operation Family Caregiver, an evidence-based program for military caregivers now available nationwide. From 20••••21, I was also an instructor for the Long-Term Care Management bachelor’s degree program at GSW. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University. I also hold a Certificate in Gerontology from GSW, a Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida, and a Certificate in Community Organizing for Social Justice from the University of Michigan. I am a certified youth facilitator for the Youth Leadership in Action Curriculum developed by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia.