Laura’s journey in education and European culture began in southern Ohio, nurtured by her family’s values. This early inclination led her to study abroad in France during high school and later to Hillsdale College for her undergraduate degree. At Hillsdale, she broadened her academic horizons beyond her major, exploring subjects like Music, Art, Education, and History. Completing her degree in just three years, Laura and her husband moved to the Green Bay area. There, she gained professional experience as a bilingual account manager at Kohler Co. before transitioning to teaching at Providence Academy, a Classical Christian School, for eight years. At Providence Academy, she demonstrated her innovative spirit by establishing their modern foreign language program, crafting a classical French curriculum for high schoolers, and redesigning the middle school literature and composition curriculum. Now, Laura is back in Hillsdale with her husband, a fellow alumnus, and their five children, embracing classical education as a family. She is eager to see how her experiences as a graduate student, teacher, and parent will converge to further her passions.
Her research interests are rich and varied, encompassing Medieval and Renaissance Literature, Medieval Paideia, Classic Children’s Literature, Christian Education, and Mechanical Arts Education.
When reflecting on her time at Hillsdale, Laura emphasizes the irreplaceable value of learning from brilliant minds in an environment of rich conversation. “Being able to sit and learn under great minds with rich conversation is irreplaceable,” she states. “I love entering into the worlds, histories, and philosophies of the literature we study. Right now, reading is my job, but it is also my delight.” This immersive approach to learning, where reading is both work and joy, highlights the unique academic atmosphere at Hillsdale.
The collaborative learning environment with fellow Master of Arts in Classical Education (MACE) students adds another layer to her positive experience. “Learning alongside my fellow MACE students brings a synthesis of challenge and joy. We are not only being instructed in classical education, we are being educated classically in the process.” This sentiment underscores the program’s commitment to embodying classical education principles in its teaching methods, offering students an authentic and lived experience of classical learning.
Laura also expresses a profound sense of intellectual heritage and gratitude for the opportunity to study at Hillsdale. “I am fully conscious of the intellectual lineage I am inheriting, which triggers a response of immense gratitude and responsibility. I am reminded of how blessed I am every day I walk up the hill.” This awareness of being part of a long tradition of intellectual thought fosters a deep appreciation for her education and a sense of responsibility to contribute to this legacy.
However, the path of a graduate student, especially one balancing family life, is not without its challenges. Laura identifies balance as her greatest academic hurdle. “A married graduate student with children must be ready to correctly order one’s loves. We are here at this particular place, for a brief time, for a particular purpose. A commitment to the program is a commitment to doing what is best for this season. You and your family must be all in- together.” This perspective reveals the discipline and prioritization required to succeed in rigorous academic pursuits while honoring familial commitments, a testament to the holistic approach needed for graduate studies at Hillsdale.
What truly distinguishes Hillsdale’s School of Classical Education, according to Laura, is the caliber of its community – the students, professors, and guest lecturers – and the profound intellectual material they engage with. She elaborates on this, explaining, “It is commonplace to praise an institution’s faculty and program, but my studies have made me acutely aware of the influence of single places and individuals throughout history. As we read in John Henry Newman, ‘There has only been one Judaea, one Greece, one Rome; one Homer, one Cicero, one Caesar, one Constantine, one Charlemagne.’”
Drawing inspiration from historical uniqueness, Laura connects this to the present-day Hillsdale experience. “Though this institution and its faculty may seem small in the course of human events, they are certainly shaping mine. There is only one Hillsdale, one Arnn, one Coupland, one Whalen, one Ellis, one Diener, one Smith, and one Beier. Come and let them shape you, too.” This powerful invitation encapsulates the transformative potential of a Hillsdale education, emphasizing the unique individuals and the singular institution that contribute to a student’s intellectual and personal formation. Learn From Hillsdale, and discover the enduring impact of classical education.
