Board Vice President Laura Karlen began her work with St. Ambrose in 2011 as development director. After serving the school in that role for four years and then as senior development associate the following two years, Laura has returned to St. Ambrose as a board member and school parent. The experience of having a child at the school has lived up to her high expectations she first formed many years ago. She’s excited for her younger children to have the same great academic experience and formation as her oldest child. 

As Vice President, Laura is passionate about helping the mission of St. Ambrose reach further into the diocese to change hearts and minds as part of the New Evangelization. She is a UW-Madison graduate with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Spanish and is fluent in Spanish.

Laura and her husband Steve are also deeply involved in the pro-life movement on the local and national levels. Laura has co-led the Madison 40 Days for Life campaign and is a volunteer and past board president for Vigil for Life. Laura and Steve are advocates for Our Lady of Hope Clinic. Laura also is a participant in a living rosary for the diocesan seminarians. When not traveling or exploring Madison, she and her family enjoy parish life at St. Peter’s in Ashton. Laura and Steve are parents of one current student and four future Guardians.