Laura Higgins Hittie (’07, ’08M) is a double-Duke who earned her B.S. in Health Sciences and her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from JMU. Since 2009, Laura has been employed as an occupational therapist in acute care at Sentara RMH Medical Center. At Sentara RMH, Laura also serves as an academic fieldwork educator, which gives her the opportunity to further students’ (from various schools, including JMU) clinical competencies. She has served on the leadership team of the Harrisonburg Alumni Chapter in various capacities since 2013, most recently as President. In 2019, Laura was named Volunteer of the Year at the Madison Alumni Conference.

In her time at JMU, Laura was involved in various academic & social organizations, campus ministry, and worked in the offices of Alumni and Parent Relations. Laura is proud to support efforts significant to her JMU experience, such as the Duke Club/JMU Athletics, the College of Health & Behavioral Studies, the Occupational Therapy Program, and the JMU Harrisonburg Alumni Chapter Scholarship fund. She has also contributed to Madison for Keeps and the Atlantic Union Bank Center. By growing financial support from passionate alums, Laura hopes that more JMU students get to have their own amazing Madison experience that they will want to share for years to come.

Laura lives in Harrisonburg with her husband Zac (’06, ‘10M), who serves on the Alumni Board of Directors. Laura & Zac did not meet as students, but instead met through their involvement with the Harrisonburg Alumni Chapter, and the rest was history! Being able to share their passion for JMU wherever they go, while still living in Harrisonburg, is a blessing they are grateful for. Laura’s purple blood runs deep in a family of JMU alums, which includes her father Frank (’72, ‘77M), mother Gail (’73), and brother Ryan (‘02). Go Dukes!