Laura Saavedra has served as a higher education professional for over fourteen years working at multiple post-secondary institutions in several functional areas across Ohio and Michigan. Currently, she serves as the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, GEAR UP Program Director for the Center for Educational Outreach (CEO), housed within the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In this role and alongside her talented team, she is excited to lead an evidence-based, data-informed organizational framework and program design that will support CEO's strategic plan to significantly increase college access and success outcomes across the State of Michigan.

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Throughout her career, she has been committed to ensuring equitable pathways of opportunity through advocating for and empowering underrepresented, first generation, and historically marginalized student groups. In addition to being a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Laura is a proud second generation Mexican-American, first-generation college graduate, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and she has made this work her life’s mission because she wholeheartedly believes in the transformative power of a higher education.