Laura Ferdinand
Laura Jeanne Ferdinand is Assistant Director of Content and Communications at the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching. Since joining the Center in 2022, she has partnered with instructors across Northwestern to strengthen teaching practices that foster deep learning, student engagement, and instructor vitality.
Laura’s work advances the University’s commitment to delivering an outstanding educational experience by translating research on how students learn into practical, accessible, and inclusive teaching resources. She designs and facilitates professional learning initiatives grounded in the science of learning, mentors Searle Fellows as they develop classroom-based inquiry projects, and helps lead programs that support new, teaching‑line, and early‑career faculty as they navigate the evolving demands of teaching in higher education.
Through initiatives such as the University Practicum, Course Delivery Lab, and Getting to Know Our Students Sparkshop Series, Laura supports instructors in cultivating attention, designing engaging discussions, and learning from student perspectives. She also provides individualized consultations and collaborates closely with campus partners and student consultants to ensure programming is both evidence‑informed and responsive to campus needs.
In her role overseeing content, communications, and design, Laura expands the Center’s reach through open educational resources, strategic publications, and a carefully designed digital presence that reduces barriers to engagement. Her approach to educational design—whether shaping a workshop, guide, or visual asset—centers care, clarity, and usability, reflecting a deep respect for instructors’ time and expertise.
Laura earned her doctorate in Interdisciplinary Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University, where she was honored as a Presidential Fellow, and has taught at Miami University, Columbia College Chicago, and Northwestern. Her scholarship has been published in Theatre History Studies (2014), Enveloping Worlds (2025), and the forthcoming Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in Higher Education.