Laura is MERLA Director - USAID´s Justice and Security Activity at Chemonics International. Previously, she served as a Research Manager for IPA Dominican Republic, where she oversaw ongoing research projects and new project opportunities. Laura is also a Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration and International Affairs at Syracuse University's Maxwell School. She holds an MA in Economics and an MPA from Syracuse University, and a BA in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). Before joining the Maxwell School, Laura worked as a Junior Economist for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Dominican Republic.