About Laura

Former Dean and Professor Laura Burney Nissen is with the Portland State University School of Social Work.   With a  commitment to innovative and equity-centered systems change, Laura has worked with futures practice and lenses throughout her career.  She is a foresight practitioner and a Research Fellow with the Institute for the Future.  She is the PI and Director of the national Social Work Health Futures Lab funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal of this initiative is to bring futures thinking and frameworks to the social work profession. Laura is also a Presidential Futures Fellow at Portland State University where she has been a founder of the university-wide Futures Collaboratory. She is equally dedicated to supporting the successful evolution of public universities into a thriving future.

Laura’s passion is getting others excited and energized about their role in building a better future.

Laura’s CV

My Consultation Approach


“The start to a better world is to believe that it is possible.”

Lily Tomlin