2016 Panelist: Laura Woodard Clark
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Laura Woodard Clark is the Corporate Communications Officer at P&S Surgical Hospital, where she has coordinated
marketing and public relations efforts since 2013.
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A Brookings, SD native, Clark graduated from South Dakota State University with a
bachelor’s degree in journalism and minors in women’s studies and German. She served
as editor-in-chief of her university’s student newspaper and was involved in several
student organizations, including Mortar Board.
After graduation, she was the editor of a weekly newspaper in the Black Hills, where
she learned all facets of the newspaper business. During that time, she was named
Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year by the South Dakota Newspaper Association.
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Clark moved to Monroe in 2005 and began working as the Assistant Director of Publications
at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She was promoted to ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s Director of Media
Relations in 2006.
She quickly developed a passion for working with her colleagues and the media to promote
the university’s academic excellence, its cultural contributions, and its outstanding
faculty and staff members.
During her time at ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥, she helped coordinate Ace’s Adventures (a free educational
tool for the region’s children); provided leadership in publicizing hurricane relief
efforts; and facilitated promotion of the university’s record-breaking bone marrow
drive.
While at ÃÛ½ÛÖ±²¥, she was named Top 20 Under 40 Young Professionals by Delta Business
Magazine. In addition, she and her colleagues received several awards from the Council
for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for their public relations work.
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Clark is a past president of the Northeast Louisiana Young Professionals; a member
of the United Way Community Investment Investment Committee; a volunteer for the United
Way Reading Program; a board member of the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Coalition;
and a member of the 2016 Leadership Ouachita Class. She has also co-chaired fundraising
efforts for P&S Surgical Hospital’s United Way campaign and the hospital’s participation
in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
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Clark is nearing completion of an online Master’s degree in Healthcare Communication
at Lasell College. She and her husband Tim enjoy traveling with their two-year-old
son, Weston.Ìý
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