Laura Sponsler (MCE) - Laura E. Sponsler, Ph.D is appointed as Clinical Assistant Professor, Higher Education in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.  In her role, Dr. Sponsler integrates teaching, scholarship, and service in service of the institutional mission to be a great private university dedicated to the public good.  Her work examines the role of colleges and universities in creating more democratic practices and institutionalizing the civic mission of higher education.

 Dr. Sponsler received her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Saint Joseph’s University and a master’s degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Dr. Sponsler served as the founding director for NASPA’s Lead Initiative, a project recognizing a network of nearly 100 postsecondary institutions for their commitment to institutionalizing civic learning and democratic engagement.  Prior to her scholarly work, Dr. Sponsler served as a practitioner in student affairs, taught courses through the Inside-Out model, and worked on the U.S.-Mexico border in international service immersion.