Co-Chair, Div 9 at APA Convention

Laura Bogardus earned her PhD from Clemson University, where she received the 2016 Kimbrough & Melton Parents Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Family and Community Studies and the 2017 Graduate Student Government’s Excellence in Engagement and Social Advocacy Award. Her dissertation topic was, “Suicidal behaviors among college students: Are transfer students at greater risk?” Her research interests focus on employment barriers including issues of health and disability in relation to work.

Laura earned an MA in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College and a BA in Political Science from Miami University. She is a Marano Fellow of the Aspen Institute's Sector Skills Academy for innovative workforce strategies. In 2018 she delivered a TEDx Greenville talk on, "Why We Should Go Beyond EEO." Laura is a member of the Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst (APSE), The Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), The American Sociological Association (ASA), The American Psychological Association (APA), Upstate International, and the national and Greenville chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is a SHRM certified senior HR professional. Laura provided leadership within the GSHRM Workforce Readiness Committee, which was recently honored with the SHRM Pinnacle Award for the chapter’s work on issues of disability and employment.

As owner of Bogardus Research Consulting, Laura leverages her considerable experience in workforce development, organizational management, and human resources to provide specialized consulting services to her clients. As a member of the Greenville CAN team, she advises businesses that seek to create or augment their disability employment initiatives. She also works to communicate the needs of businesses with service providers that prepare and place people with disabilities in employment. Laura also provides strategic guidance and organizational development services to non-profit boards of directors.