The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has selected Laura Schraven, director of Student Affairs Communications and Marketing (SACM), as a recipient of the 2024-2025 USM Board of Regents Staff Award in the Category of Outstanding Service to Students. The Board of Regents Staff Awards are the highest honors bestowed by the Board of Regents to recognize exemplary staff achievement. Award recipients will be recognized at a special celebration in spring 2026.

“Laura’s passion for this work is evident in her unwavering commitment to the betterment of our community,” says Fritzie Charné-Merriwether, associate vice president for student affairs and chief of staff. “Her vision, resilience, and unwavering dedication make her a linchpin in the efforts to achieve our collective goals, and it is a privilege to have her as a part of our team. Laura's extraordinary ability to create professional development opportunities for students, foster collaboration, and prioritize an inclusive approach to teamwork set her apart as a true leader.”

Schraven spearheaded the development of and serves as director of Student Affairs Communications and Marketing (SACM), a team focused on technology, communications, marketing, and design. SACM enhances branding through messaging and effective, inclusive, and accessible graphic and digital design, and develops and standardizes divisional practices for technology and digital environments to enhance communication effectiveness for departmental communications and across the division. She also serves as a key member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team.

In her 24 years at UMBC, Schraven has dedicated herself to serving as an innovator in mentoring and teaching students. In 2003 she created commonvision, UMBC’s Student Design and Print Center, now part of SACM. What she initially started over 20 years ago with just herself and one student assistant helping student organizations promote their events has grown into a space that houses 20+ undergraduate student workers and graduate assistants who provide full-service print, design, and animation services for the university. 

commonvision is unique in the world of higher education. While many universities offer some print and design services, it is rare to have a space for student staff that serves as the primary hub for Student Affairs and student organization print and web design, animation, motion graphics, digital signage, wide format printing, outdoor signage installation, and promotional items, while also supporting university campaigns. Clients extend throughout campus, including students, faculty, staff, academic and administrative departments, offices, and more. 

Even more important is the opportunity commonvision gives UMBC undergraduate and graduate students to work in a professional tier environment, through immensely valuable applied-learning experiences that complement their academic experiences, propelling students into the workforce with client and customer service experience, print production training, and soft skills, as well as a way to make friends, feel a sense of belonging, and help build community at UMBC. In addition, Schraven’s support in the pursuit of the most current technology and creative tools ensures students are entering the workforce well equipped and prepared with the tech skills necessary to thrive in their fields.

With an alumni network of over 100 past commonvision student staff, Schraven’s work extends beyond the UMBC experience. Alumni stay connected and involved with the space post-graduation, creating more opportunities for our students, and Schraven provides ways for them to make those important connections throughout multiple “generations” of students. Many students who worked at commonvision have gone directly on to work in the creative fields of their choice, with roles at Baltimore Magazine, Stanley Black and Decker, numerous ad agencies in Baltimore, Squad 47, Wall Street Journal, and The New Yorker. They have become notable speakers and authors, and produced work for companies like Hershey, Dunkin, Under Armour, and PBS Kids. 

Laura’s current university service includes co-leading the Student-Facing Communications Workgroup, a UMBC Partnership with the National Institute for Student Success to collaborate on the implementation of communication strategies to enhance student engagement and outreach. She is the staff advisor for UMBC Review, and also serves on several committees, including Homecoming and Student Affairs’ Community Commitment Team.

Thumbnail photo caption: Schraven and over 10 years of commonvision alumni at an event in her honor.