Dominican Provides a Foundation for Leadership, Advocacy

Laurel Druke ’12 draws inspiration from a sentiment attributed to poet Maya Angelou: “Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.”

Standing up for others has long been part of Laurel’s identity.

“I believe some women have the courage to stand up for themselves, while others need someone to help them find their voice,” Laurel says. “When one person stands up for herself for the first time, she can give someone else the courage to do the same.”

Today, Laurel puts that conviction to work in both her professional and community life. As the Vice President of Finance at North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC), she manages a budget of $20 million for a nonprofit providing childcare and early education to more than 700 children across 14 locations from Novato to Healdsburg. 

“For many lower-income families, NBCC provides childcare that makes it possible for parents to work. In total, the program serves about 1,600 parents and helps support the local economy.”
Her path to that work began with an education that combined her interests in politics, business and community impact — and with a college experience at Dominican University of California that helped her discover her voice as a leader.

Growing up, Laurel moved every three or four years, learning along the way how to navigate new situations and build relationships. Her first year of high school was at a public school in Palo Alto with about 2,000 students. The following year, Laurel moved to Cambria, where her graduating class had just 62 students.

She thrived in the smaller environment, where teachers knew her well. When it came time for college, she wanted a similar sense of community.

“I knew that I wanted to attend college in the Bay Area but that I did not want to move to a big school and become just another number in a crowded classroom.”

During her first campus tour at Dominican, Laurel met political science professor Dr. Gigi Gokcek, now associate VP for Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education. Gokcek explained how Dominican’s intimate classes allowed faculty to know their students and understand their ambitions.

“I knew right away that I wanted to be part of a campus where people would know my name and understand my goals, and that is what happened at Dominican.”

Living out the Dominican Experience

At Dominican, Laurel quickly found opportunities to test herself as a leader. She joined Toastmasters and, within months, was selected as one of the youngest area governors to serve the area. Through Toastmasters, she met Giulia Welch, a faculty member in Dominican’s Barowsky School of Business, who became an important mentor and advisor throughout her time at Dominican and beyond.

Welch encouraged Laurel to work with international students through the Global Ambassadors program, which brought international students into local schools to share their cultures and experiences. Laurel was particularly drawn to helping international and transfer students and those for whom English was not their first language.

The instinct to notice people who needed support and help them find their footing would become a recurring theme in Laurel’s leadership and career.

She found the same support from Dominican’s faculty and staff. “Every time I turned around a Dominican staff member or professor was there for me, supporting me.”

Her political science professor and advisor, Alison Howard, supported Laurel’s goal of a double major in political science and business administration.

“I realized early in my freshman year how naturally the two subjects complemented each other,” Laurel says. “My advisors at Dominican made it possible for me to double major and still graduate in four years. They understood my interests and continually encouraged me to pursue opportunities.”

Those opportunities soon extended beyond campus. Laurel re-launched the Marin County Young Democrats, while interning with the Democratic Central Committee of Marin and, through Howard, was honored at the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee (MWPAC) annual Elected Women’s Luncheon.

Laurel was one of the youngest people in the room, but she quickly became fascinated by the women she met and what they had accomplished. The experience sharpened her interest in supporting women and strengthening her local community.

“I came to realize that while I might not be able to influence or change anything on a national or state level, I could do a lot of good in Marin to improve the lives of those around me,” she says. 
“That mission of supporting women is why I joined the MWPAC — not only to fight for women’s causes, but also to get more women elected locally. I also recognize the need for more women-supporting men at the table who are going to stand up and pull out a chair for a woman.”

Honing in on Organizing Women

At MWPAC, Laurel found mentors who helped shape her approach to leadership, including Cathryn Hilliard of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. As the first and only woman on the fire district board, Hilliard understood the importance of paving a path where  women’s voices were heard. She commands a room. Hilliard soon became one of Laurel’s role models. 

Hilliard encouraged Laurel and other younger women to help make MWPAC more welcoming to a new generation. Laurel helped bring younger members onto the board and create more opportunities for them to step into leadership.

When Laurel became vice president of the MWPAC board three years ago, she was determined to build on what previous generations had created. This continues now as she has stepped into the role of president.

“Leadership is not about coming in and tearing everything down in order to build it back up,” she says. “I would rather be invited in to honor what has been created and make it more welcoming.”
Her approach has helped transform the organization. Five years ago, MWPAC had about 25 members. Today, it has over 200. The organization has also doubled its investment in women’s elections this year.

Laurel has also pushed the organization to try new ways of bringing people together, including recently hosting a silent disco. Why a dance party at a political organization? For Laurel, the answer was simple: We need to have some fun!  About 50 people attended the first event, held during a particularly stressful election season. 

And the momentum continues. Recently, MWPAC had its highest ever turnout for its candidate endorsement nights, with more than 75 members in attendance for the first endorsement night and 63 members the second night. 

The experience reinforced a lesson Laurel has carried into all her leadership roles: trying something new is often worth the risk.

“Leaders don’t have to get everything right. They are responsible for creating an environment where people feel welcome enough to contribute, experiment and find their own way forward,” she says. “There are many ways people can contribute — through money, time, connections, mentorship or simply by creating space for someone else. Leadership is not about having the loudest voice. It is about listening, building relationships, recognizing people who need support, and helping them take the next step.”

Putting Her Education to Work

Laurel’s Dominican education gave her a foundation she has carried into many different settings. Political science helped her understand government, policy, and economic development. Business gave her practical skills in economics, finance, operations, and accounting.

“I saw business as a really strong foundation,” Laurel says. “It’s so transferable. You can do almost anything with a business degree.”

The combination proved valuable as she built a career focused on making a difference close to home. After graduating from Dominican, Laurel spent five years with ELS, an English-language education program at Dominican, working with students from countries including Saudi Arabia, China, Brazil, and Spain.

The experience deepened her appreciation for the power of connection across cultures. It also brought her back to Dominican as an alumna, where she helped connect students on campus with these ESL students to build friendships and lasting memories for all. 

Laurel later earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Welch again encouraged her to think broadly about how she could combine her interests in education, government, and economics.

That path led Laurel to a finance leadership role at nonprofits, including Beyond Differences, Saint Francis Foundation, and now the North Bay Children’s Center.

The Through Line

For Laurel, the through line is clear: use what she knows to help people and strengthen the community around her.

She credits Dominican with helping her develop one of the most important qualities of leadership: listening.

“Dominican is just in my backyard, and I can walk to campus from my house. It was the place where I deepened my identity and developed into the person I am today. I love everything Dominican stands for.”

Photo courtesy of Laurel Druke