Embedded Files
Laura J. Harcum
Laura J. Harcum
Laura J. Harcum serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Professional Development and the Executive Director of Virginia’s Community Colleges Student Success Center. She is also a Master Trainer with the Community Resilience Initiative and a certified FranklinCovey facilitator for the Trust and Inspire Higher Education curriculum.
A lifelong educator and learner, Laura began her career in early childhood education and with under-resourced families. Her 20 years in higher education have been dedicated to helping students reach their goals and equipping educators and leaders to do the same. She has worked with international, first-generation, and historically marginalized student populations and is a fearless advocate for creating environments where everyone can belong, grow, and chase their dreams.
Through her certification with CRI, Laura has trained thousands of higher education professionals to become trauma-informed practitioners and guided nearly a thousand educators in building cultures of safety, connection, and belonging.
A first-generation college graduate, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Development with a specialization in Student Affairs Administration from Radford University.
Laura was one of the founding College Success Coaches in the Chancellor’s College Success Coach Initiative at Paul D. Camp Community College, where she helped design an award-winning, nationally recognized coaching model that continues to shape student success work across the country.
Her professional journey also includes teaching Health and Student Development courses at Paul D. Camp Community College and serving in instructional, research, and support roles at Virginia Tech and Radford University. Earlier in her career, she led regional training for two Fortune 500 companies, overseeing professional development and performance for teams at 13 locations across Virginia.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys traveling, stage design, crafting, baking, and watching ice hockey. A native of Suffolk, she now lives in Henrico, Virginia, with her partner, her daughter—a VCU art student, and their two mischievous rescue cats.
Page updated
Report abuse