- June 2021
Program Manager
CFR/FWRC
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Years in position: 17
Years at MSU: 25
Laura Andrews is the program manager for the College of Forest Resources and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center on campus.
She provides administrative support to the department and spends much of her time managing federally funded projects. She also coordinates support staff responsibilities, hiring, training, and assignment changes.
“My position in the department has evolved over time and has become a career that I really enjoy,” Andrews said. “I like that there is a lot of variety in our department. Although the work is similar, each project is different and interesting in its own way.”
Working in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture has given her the opportunity to get an up-close look at some of Mississippi’s creatures.
“One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to interact with all kinds of wildlife, from alligators to owls,” she said.
Program management may sound simple, but the job requires a lot of detail-oriented work.
“People don’t see the administrative minutiae -- from submission to reporting -- involved with each sponsored project and the work necessary to remain compliant,” Andrews said. “Organization and attention to detail are paramount in project management. Keeping track of what is completed, what is coming due, etc., is so important.
“In this position, it is critical to keep learning because project administration is constantly changing, and each day will bring new challenges,” she said.
Andrews and her husband, Brad, have been married for 24 years, and they have a very spoiled beagle. In her free time, she enjoys reading and fishing.
