Dr. Laura J. Cortez is a native of the Rio Grande Valley and has lived in Austin for over twenty-five years. She started her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the National Hispanic Institute. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Drake University, and later went on to earn her MBA from St. Edward’s University and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. Laura spent fourteen years in higher education and had a long career of serving students at St. Edward’s University, UT–San Antonio, Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin.
In 2011, Dr. Cortez served as the Director of Public Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. In this role, she led one of the City’s most comprehensive public engagement projects known as the Colony Park Sustainable Community Initiative. Laura credits this experience with changing her professional trajectory and after completing the project she launched her own firm, Cortez Consulting. This experience has impacted Dr. Cortez community-based philosophy and has led to her successfully implementing an array of high-impact projects in Austin and beyond.
During her free time, Dr. Cortez is active in the local community. She is a graduate of Leadership Austin Essential Program and served on the board of the Austin Parks Foundation, Cathedral School of St. Mary’s, The New Philanthropists, and Leadership Austin. She was a finalist for Austin Women’s Magazine “Women to Watch” and selected for the Inaugural Business Leader Lab Cohort.
Speaking Engagements
The University of Texas at Austin invited Laura to share career tips and speak to Graduate students through the Alumni@Work program. This program was sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin Texas Career Engagement program. Here is a video of the advice she shared.
Austin Parks Foundation held a Digital Dialogue on public participation in the COVID-19 era. Along with a panel of community organizers, Dr. Cortez shared her experience during these uncertain times. To view the presentation, click here.
As part of the “Hilltop Talent Summit” at St. Edward’s University, Dr. Cortez was invited to serve on an Employer Panel to share best practices on Internship Programs and setting up students for success.
Collegehood Advice, founded by Katy Oliveira, featured Dr. Cortez in her very first podcast! You can listen to her advice on Episode #16: The Power of Servant Leadership. The podcast features two friends sharing the meaning of what it is to be of service, listen here.
Dr. Cortez returned to Texas State University to kick-off Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) Week. She served as the keynote speaker revisiting her dissertation findings and insights on “Building Community at Hispanic Serving Institutions.”
The Urban Land Institute Austin hosted a luncheon on “Engaging Community for Equitable Development.” Dr. Cortez served on a panel with community leaders to discuss lesson learned with the successful Colony Park Sustainable Community project. Connect here to listen to a clip of her presentation.
Dr. Cortez took part in the 2nd Annual Summit on “Improving the Outcomes of African American and Latinx Male Youth” with Prairie View A&M University MACH-III Center. She shared her insights on how we as a community can help to shape the future of the minority male population. Here’s a sneak peak on the advice she shared.