laura anderson
product design engineer
EDUCATION
B.s. mechanical engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology, December 2021
post-baccalaureate mechanical engineering
Boston University, May 2019
B.A. PSYCHOLOGY
Yale University, May 2017
Experience
volunteer,
slv.global sri lanka
SEPTEMBER 2017 - DECEMBER 2017
As a volunteer in a small city outside of Colombo, I spent nearly 40 hours per week in schools, group homes, temples, and inpatient psychiatric facilities working with people of various diagnoses and degrees of impairment. I organized and conducted English lessons and crafted research-based activities for improving a range of skills, such as motor function, interpersonal communication, and short-term memory retention.
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While in Sri Lanka, I also participated in several field trips and workshops. I shadowed a psychiatrist in an addiction recovery center, observed a doctor's day at a rural clinical outpost, and spent a day with juvenile offenders at a certified school for behavioral intervention. I learned Buddhism from a monk and meditation from a scholar. These experiences and more made for a life-changing experience in a previously-unknown cultural environment. In twelve short weeks, I grew tremendously as a psychologist, as a student, and as a citizen of the world.
PUBLICITY COORDINATOR, DAVENPORT COLLEGE
SEPTEMBER 2013 - MAY 2017
In my role as publicity coordinator, I orchestrated advertising efforts for all events in the Davenport College residential and academic community, including guest lectures, panel discussions, and community events. This involved interacting with marketing and public relations teams, digital and print publications, student organizations, and professional schools at Yale.
This role also entailed serving as an aide to the Head of Davenport College. I supported the office staff by taking calls, organizing student data, welcoming guests, and assisting in clerical work. Additionally, I served as event staff, arranging seating and displays, coordinating technology for presentations, setting up food and beverage stations, and taking down events afterwards. In sum, I served as a student liaison for any and all guests of the college, hosting fellows and esteemed guests in the place of the Head of College when necessary.
PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN, FACTORY PR
JULY 2016 - AUGUST 2016
As a public relations intern, I assisted publicity teams by coordinating sample trafficking to and from stylists and photographers at top publications, designed sample displays in the in-office showroom, guided editors on sample-selection tours of the showroom, clipped media mentions for clients from blogs and magazine websites, and compiled sample pitches for publicists to be sent to editors. I also took part in a seminar conducted by Parsons professor Tom Hadley which culminated in a magazine analysis project. I gained powerful insights about intra-industry communications, teamwork, working under pressure, and market research.
MANAGEMENT INTERN, WILLIAMS-SONOMA INC.
JUNE 2015 - AUGUST 2015
I functioned in the role of the general manager of a luxury kitchen supply retailer in my time at WIlliams-Sonoma, Inc. I led associates on sales floor and conducted team meetings; I balanced registers, transported daily store deposits, oversaw stock and visual maintenance, and opened and closed the store. Additionally, as part of the internship program, I coordinated a sales event that brought in additional sales to push the team to our goal on the day!
In this position, I gained powerful insights into the importance of product knowledge, the necessity of understanding the consumer, and the power of a cohesive team.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, RICHARD SKOLNIK
MAY 2014 - AUGUST 2014
As a research assistant, I worked to help complete Professor Skolnik's Third Edition of the public health textbook Global Health 101. This entailed pitching, researching, and writing case studies for book, curating video materials for the interactive website, and organizing the bibliography for the entire book. I additionally functioned as an assistant to Professor Skolnik in his teaching role by arranging his course schedule and designing the semester syllabus handouts for two courses.
In these roles, I gained experience in time management (as I was working as a satellite employee, creating my own schedule), academic research, and independence in a work capacity.
EXTRACURRICULAR (Yale)
PRESIDENT
AURELIAN HONOR SOCIETY
APRIL 2016 - PRESENT
Negotiate start of a capital-raising fund for investment in New Haven’s emerging real estate market
Liaise amongst student delegates, Board of Trustees, and nearly 900 alumni for management of six-figure endowment and selection of a Book Prize recipient
Orchestrate regular operations of group through delegation to and management of peer members
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR
Yale SPECIAL OLYMPICS
AUGUST 2014 - NOVEMBER 2016
Secure materials and equipment for events
Work with local venues to coordinate contracts for space usage
Develop relationships with local vendors and suppliers to ensure future stability of the
re-emerging organization
MEMBER
SENIOR CLASS COUNCIL
APRIL 2016 - PRESENT
Facilitate communication between student body and student government
Liaise with local businesses while working within a fixed budget
Coordinate celebratory events for the senior class