Laura O'Brien

Education

• B.S. in Communications/Public Relations, James Madison University

Bio

Laura O'Brien serves as the Director of Strategic Communications for the VCU School of Education.

A 1988 graduate of James Madison University, Laura has more than 30 years of experience in marketing communications. Previously, Laura was president of Amann & Associates Public Relations and Laura O’Brien PR. As a freelance consultant, Laura led a statewide teacher recruitment campaign, Teachers Rock, on behalf of the Virginia Department of Education. 

Laura joined VCU in 2018 and most recently served as marketing communications manager for the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) with responsibilities to bolster student engagement through RamsConnect (ramsconnect.vcu.edu) and programs supported by The Commons (thecommons.vcu.edu) such as Weeks of Welcome, the Student Leadership Awards, Homecoming and more. 

Before joining DSA, Laura served as director of communications for the Virginia Council on Economic Education based in the VCU Snead School of Business. In addition, Laura has a record of community service in K-12 education, including previously serving as vice-chair of the Henrico County Gifted Advisory Council and as a member of the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Foundation Board and the Richmond House for Adults with Autism Board. In addition, she received a national PTA award as a volunteer advocate for lobbying to increase education funding in Virginia.