Email
lroberts@wpi.edu
Office
Project Center 212
Phone
+1 (508) 8316306
Director, Worcester Community Project Center
Education
BS, University of Connecticut
MPA, Seton Hall University
M.Ed, Eastern Nazarene College

Laura Roberts is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Integrative and Global Studies department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Director of the Worcester Community Project Center (WCPC). The WCPC is one of 50+ WPI project centers around the world, where students engage in hands-on, community-based research projects exploring topics situated at the intersection of society and technology. In this role, Professor Roberts facilitates global learning opportunities with local community organizations where students investigate pressing global issues without stepping on a plane. Prior to joining WPI, she worked in the nonprofit sector with organizations addressing health equity, food insecurity, and educational access.  As a practitioner turned academic, Professor Roberts brings unique perspectives and experience from the field to her classroom and students’ field experiences. 

Laura serves as the faculty advisor for the WPI Food Recovery Network, a student club dedicated to recovering perishable food from campus dining halls for use at a local shelter. She earned her BS from the University of Connecticut where she studied social policy and human development, a MPA from Seton Hall University with a concentration in nonprofit management, and a MEd from Eastern Nazarene College.  When she is not on campus, Laura volunteers with local refugee resettlement efforts, the United Way Women's Initiative, and enjoys skiing and travel with her family.

Email
lroberts@wpi.edu
Director, Worcester Community Project Center
Education
BS, University of Connecticut
MPA, Seton Hall University
M.Ed, Eastern Nazarene College

Laura Roberts is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Integrative and Global Studies department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Director of the Worcester Community Project Center (WCPC). The WCPC is one of 50+ WPI project centers around the world, where students engage in hands-on, community-based research projects exploring topics situated at the intersection of society and technology. In this role, Professor Roberts facilitates global learning opportunities with local community organizations where students investigate pressing global issues without stepping on a plane. Prior to joining WPI, she worked in the nonprofit sector with organizations addressing health equity, food insecurity, and educational access.  As a practitioner turned academic, Professor Roberts brings unique perspectives and experience from the field to her classroom and students’ field experiences. 

Laura serves as the faculty advisor for the WPI Food Recovery Network, a student club dedicated to recovering perishable food from campus dining halls for use at a local shelter. She earned her BS from the University of Connecticut where she studied social policy and human development, a MPA from Seton Hall University with a concentration in nonprofit management, and a MEd from Eastern Nazarene College.  When she is not on campus, Laura volunteers with local refugee resettlement efforts, the United Way Women's Initiative, and enjoys skiing and travel with her family.

Office
Project Center 212
Phone
+1 (508) 8316306
Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 1: No Poverty

SDG 1: No Poverty - End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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Preview No Poverty Goal

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 2: Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

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Preview Zero Hunger Goal

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 4: Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Preview Quality Education Goal

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Reduce inequality within and among countries

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Preview Reduced Inequalities Goal

Scholarly Work

Featured Works:

Kurlanska, C. & Roberts, L. (Hosts). (2024). Methods to our Madness: A “How to” Podcast Exploring Qualitative Research: Interviews  [Audio podcast Episode].  https://padlet.com/lroberts64/methods_podcast 

Kurlanska, C. & Roberts, L. (Hosts). (2024). Methods to our Madness: A “How to” Podcast Exploring Qualitative Research: Obervation [Audio podcast Episode].  https://padlet.com/lroberts64/methods_podcast 

Kurlanska, C. & Roberts, L. (Hosts). (2024). Methods to our Madness: A “How to” Podcast Exploring Qualitative Research: Participant Observation [Audio podcast Episode].  https://padlet.com/lroberts64/methods_podcast 

Kurlanska, C. & Roberts, L. (Hosts). (2024). Methods to our Madness: A “How to” Podcast Exploring Qualitative Research: Qualitative Data Analysis [Audio podcast Episode].  https://padlet.com/lroberts64/methods_podcast 

Roberts, L., & Kurlanska, C. (2024). Playful Strategies to Engage STEM Students in Qualitative Research Methods. In: Baecher, L., Portnoy, L. (eds) Playful Pedagogy in Higher Education. Knowledge Studies in Higher Education, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54956-4_9

Roberts,L. (2024). AI Toolbox for Academic Research and Writing. WPI Center for Project Based Learning. https://wp.wpi.edu/projectbasedlearning/files/2024/08/AI-Toolbox-for-Academic-Research-and-Writing.pdf 

Presentations:

Roberts, L., Gonzalez, M., Pietrantonio, M., & Waddell, R. (2023, June 21). Stronger Together: Building Sustainable Community Partnerships for Project Based Learning.  [Conference presentation]. WPI Institute For Project Based Learning. Worcester, MA, United States.

Roberts, L. (2024, October 9-11). Building Your Students’ AI Toolbox for Research and Writing [Conference presentation]. Lilly Conference: Advancing Teaching and Learning, Traverse City, MI, United States.

Roberts, L. (2024, October 18). Using AI in Academic Research and Writing  [Conference presentation]. NEFDC Conference
Innovative Connections for Learning, Worcester, MA, United States.

Roberts, L. (2024 November 20). AI Toolbox for Academic Research and Writing. [Conference Presentation], NERCOMP AI in Higher Ed, Worcester, MA, United States.

Smith, G., Roberts, L. & Toto, E. (2024, October 2). Food for Thought: Fusing Generative AI Critical Literacy, Pedagogy, and Practice. [Presentation]. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Morgan Center for Teaching and Learning. Worcester, MA, United States.

Wittman, A., Roberts, L (2024, November 9). Share the Wealth! A Conversation about University-Community Partnerships in College Towns. [Conference Presentation]. CBGL Summit, Worcester, MA, United States.

Award-Winning Student Projects:

President's IQP Awards Honorable Mention (2020): Bielawski, P., Kaplan, N., Preiss, B., Sousa, A., & Vernon, R. (2020). Developing a Sustainability Plan for Hammams in Morocco. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Worcester, MA, United States.

To view more student projects advised by Professor Roberts, visit Digital WPI.

Professional Affiliations
Steering Committee, Community Based Global Learning Collaborative
Professional Highlights & Honors
Leadership Worcester Alumni, 2021
Campus Compact Engaged Scholar, 2023
Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship Campus Innovation Cohort, 2023 - 2024
Teaching Innovation Grant, Methods to our Madness: A “How to” Podcast Exploring Qualitative Research - 2024
Center for Project Based Learning, Faculty Fellow, 2024
Morgan Center Professional Learning Community, Generative AI in Teaching and Learning, 2024 - 2025
United Way of Central Massachusetts, Women's Initiative Community Impacts Committee

News

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