Laura grew up in Kings Park and at 14 worked in animal care for the wildlife rehabilitation center at Sweet Briar Nature Center. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and mathematics. Her animal companions include Ellie, a Chinook sledding dog from New Hampshire; Willey, a bearded dragon; and Jenkins, a 11-year-old goldfish. In her free time, she enjoys working out and running (she ran track for 10 years), as well as hiking, painting, reading, bike riding, traveling and baking.