Dr. Laurrie McKendry was drawn to College of the Redwoods because of its strong commitment to access, equity, and second-chance education—values that deeply align with her own. Before joining CR, she taught business and diversity courses at St. Catherine University, where she also earned her BA in Critical Studies of Race & Ethnicity and Women’s Studies and her MBA. She later earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at St. Mary’s University, where her dissertation explored how white women in the Midwest navigate understanding their racial identity within systems of privilege. Prior to teaching, she worked as a business entrepreneur and consultant and served as a Minnesota State Senate candidate, experiences that continue to inform her approach to leadership and organizational development in the classroom.
Her teaching style is student-centered, collaborative, and rooted in real-world application. She believes learning is most powerful when students can connect theory to lived experience. In her classes, whether studying marketing, management, or entrepreneurship, students engage in reflection, teamwork, and critical thinking in a supportive environment that challenges them to recognize their potential as leaders and change-makers.
Dr. McKendry emphasizes that curiosity, communication, and accountability are key to success in business education. Students who thoughtfully engage with course concepts and participate actively in group discussions tend to thrive. Business courses at CR provide a foundation for careers in management, entrepreneurship, marketing, social media strategy, and nonprofit leadership, while also teaching transferable skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and ethical decision-making.
She teaches Introduction to Business (BUS-10), Social Media Marketing (BUS-35), Managing People and Projects (BUS-68), and Starting and Growing a Business (BUS-69), each designed to help students understand how business concepts apply in real-world settings.