Laura Simmons is a senior officer for the Strategy, Learning and Evaluation Department supporting the Home Region Program. In her role, she assists with strategy conceptualization and adaptation, as well as measurement and evaluation efforts to support program learning and decision-making.

Before joining the foundation, Laura served as the Director of Community Indicators at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute for 10 years, where she led applied public policy research and evaluation projects focused on the greater Charlotte region.

Laura earned a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College and a Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, both in Geography.