Laura Duckworth joined the University of Virginia in 2014 as the Occupational Health and Safety Director for Facilities Management. Laura has over 20 years of experience building, refurbishing and overseeing programs that support successful business operations. Her experience combines relationship building, strategic planning, budgeting, problem solving and being an effective change-agent. Under Laura's leadership, Facilities Management has shown a significant reduction in the severity of workplace injuries and an increase in employee involvement. Prior to UVA, she was the Director of Occupational Health and Safety at George Mason University, has worked for GlaxoSmithKline, and was employed by the North Carolina Department of Labor, OSH Division, where she held multiple positions including a commissioner appointed position as interim Executive Director of the Ergonomics Center of NC.
Laura has served as Advisory Board Chair, Ergonomics Center of NC; Secretary, American Society of Safety Engineers-Tidewater; President, Carolinas Biosafety Association; and co-leader of the Facilities Management Community of Practice for the College Safety Health and Environmental Management Association. Laura earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from George Mason University and a master's degree from Old Dominion University.