Laura Turek has been with the St. Olaf Wellness Center team since July 2023! She is responsible for managing and implementing a Mental Health Awareness and Training federal grant (SAMHSA) for faculty, staff, students and parents.

At St. Olaf, she serves on several committees and working groups, including the Division of Student Life Health and Well-being Team, Staff and Faculty Well-being Committee and is on the rapid response team for the Thriving Innovation Team as part of the Strategic Planning Process.

She is a former community partner of higher education institutions, having previously worked in community organizing and collective impact work at local non-profits in both healthcare for the uninsured, education and youth development.

She has a background in public health with a Masters’ Degree from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and many years of experience with grant management at the federal, state and local level.  Her non-profit experience has included program evaluation, coalition building and community organizing around a collective impact model. She spent the past seven years working with various health related grants to support students and families in Rice County, including literacy, chronic absence, mental health and chemical health. She is grateful to be working here on campus and welcomes connection around this important topic of mental well-being. 

If you would like to connect to learn more about mental well-being on campus, the grant or activities in the Wellness Center, please reach out. Laura can be found in Buntrock Commons in the Wellness Center.

She lives in Northfield with her husband and two kids. In the community, she serves on multiple committees including the Northfield Public Library Board and Women in Northfield Giving Support (WINGS).