Laurel Fisher

Biography

Laurel Fisher is a higher education professional with over a decade of experience in student success, academic advising, and innovative university partnerships. As a proud Western alumna, Laurel returned to Gunnison in 2019 to help launch the Western–CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Program and now serves as its Co-Director.

As Co-Director, Laurel oversees program operations, budgeting, and logistics while leading efforts in recruitment, advising, and student success initiatives. She works closely with faculty, staff, and administrators at both Western and CU Boulder to coordinate curriculum delivery, streamline transfer and degree completion processes, and ensure alignment with institutional policies and accreditation standards. Laurel is committed to building clear, accessible pathways that support student retention, timely graduation, and meaningful experiences.

Prior to her current role, Laurel held advising and student success positions at Fort Lewis College and Central Community College, where she built a strong foundation in recruitment, retention, and program development.

As a Western student, she was actively involved on campus, serving as President of the Women’s Soccer Club and Vice President of the English Honors Society. She studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina and competed in some of the first Rail Jams on campus.

Q&A With Laurel Fisher

How did you discover Western?

I was first introduced to Western by my dad, who attended in the early ’70s. Every time we took a trip to the Western Slope growing up, he would drive the family around campus, show us every house he ever lived in as a student, and reminisced on the good ol’ days in Gunnison. I rolled my eyes from the back seat until I came for Preview Weekend in February 2008. It was a record winter and the sidewalks of Crested Butte were lined with six-foot-tall walls of snow. I had a fabulous tour of campus, met inspiring faculty members, and went to a freezing cold hockey game at the outdoor rink. I was hooked. That August, I packed up my things, moved into Moffat Hall, and began my journey as a Mountaineer.

What are some of the highlights of your career?

– Administrative Leadership Council Vice Chair (2025-26)
– Administrative Leadership Council Board of Trustees and Extended Cabinet Representative (2024-25)
– NACADA Region 10 Excellence in Advising Award (Primary Role Advisor) recipient (2023)
– CDHE Advisors LEAD Course certificate recipient (2021)
– Central Community College Innovation and Creativity Spirit Award recipient (2015)

What most excites you about your field?

I’m excited to be a part of such a unique partnership program that’s working to expand engineering education to students across the state of Colorado, especially on the Western Slope and in more rural communities.

What is your favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley?

The community and location. I love to mountain bike, ski, snowboard, play soccer, do yoga, read, see live music, and get outside as much as possible. This is such a special place in terms of being able to do all of those things and be a part of a community that really cares about one another and the place that we get to call home.

External Professional Affiliations

• National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) member