Dr. Laura McGuire (they/all) is an internationally recognized consultant, survivor, researcher, seminarian, and author of the book Creating Cultures of Consent (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021) and The Sexual Misconduct Prevention Guidebook: Consent and Conduct for Higher Education Campuses (Fielding University Press, 2022). They were named as one of the 2022 Champions of Pride by The Advocate magazine and are regularly featured in media outlets for their expertise and approachability.
Dr. McGuire earned their bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Thomas Edison State University and their graduate degrees in educational leadership for change from Fielding Graduate University. Dr. McGuire’s doctoral dissertation, entitled “Seen but Not Heard: Pathways to Improve Inclusion of LGBT Persons and Sexual Trauma Survivors in Sexual Health Education,” examined the marginalization of sexual minorities within health education on a global scale. They earned a Master of Divinity degree at Earlham Seminary, where they studied the intersections of Judaism, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice in faith settings. They are currently completing a year-long internship as an interfaith minister at the Unitarian Universalist Friendship Fellowship in Rockledge, Florida.
Dr. McGuire is a certified full-spectrum doula, professional teacher, certified sexual health educator, and vinyasa yoga instructor. Their experience includes both public and private sectors, middle schools, high schools, and university settings. In 2015, they served as the first sexual violence prevention and education program manager at the University of Houston, and in 2017, they became the first victim advocate/prevention educator at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. They have created the world’s first certifications in trauma-informed care for industries spanning from law to insurance.
They are a certified member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), a board certified sexologist through The American Board of Sexology, and are a member of the Society of Professional Consultants. They are a graduate of the National Leaders Council and served as a fellow with the Institute for Social Innovation, where they researched sexual medicine competency in provider care. Dr. McGuire lives in the United States, where they work as an adjunct professor at Widener University and Dominican University and serve as CEO of the National Center for Equity and Agency Inc.
