Laura Holland, B.A., M.F.A.

Chair and Professor, Communications Arts and Media

Laura Holland set out to be a music major at the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln, but God had other plans for her life. Through a small prayer group among friends, she had an "incredible encounter with God" that completely changed her life and her goals. Unbeknownst to her, a friend put her name in to receive an invitation to ORU's College Weekend.

Meanwhile, Laura was praying in the University of Nebraska chapel, asking the Lord where she should go with her life, and what she should study. Out of the blue, God put ORU in her mind - a place she had never heard of. She said, "All right Lord, if that's what you want, I need to have a letter from this ORU by Friday." She went to her mailbox soon afterward and amazingly, there was a letter from ORU inviting her to College Weekend!

She went to ORU's College Weekend and felt like she was coming home. Soon after, she transferred and ultimately graduated in 1974. One of the activities Laura enjoyed while in college was touring local churches where she and other ORU students put on drama programs. At one of these events on a Good Friday, she met Bob Holland. They had their first date on Easter and two weeks later they were engaged. They married that August after Laura graduated.

Laura also holds an M.F.A. in Theatrical Design from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to her teaching, she enjoys writing plays. On her first sabbatical, she wrote the book and lyrics for a musical and on her second she wrote three one-act plays. She has directed nearly 30 plays and designed sets and/or costumes for more than 70 plays.

"I love coming to work every day and I love the people here on campus. Faculty and students are driven by a vision. That's what got me here and that's what keeps me here," Laura commented.

B.A. from ORU
M.F.A. in Theatrical Design from the University of Oklahoma