Influential Woman · Education
Laurie Baker-Malungu, EdD
Educational Consultant / Author / Adjunct Associate Professor of Education, University of Saint Joseph
Burlington, VT 05401
Her Story
About Laurie
Laurie Baker-Malungu is an educational consultant, curriculum developer, and children’s author with over 40 years of experience in education. Based in Vermont, she has spent much of her career working across Asia—including Taiwan, Macau, China, Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia—in both tertiary and non-tertiary settings. She currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Education at the University of Saint Joseph in Macao SAR.
Laurie holds an EdD in Educational Administration from Durham University and completed graduate-level study in Switzerland. Throughout her career, she has held academic, administrative, and leadership roles focused on curriculum development, teacher training, research, and quality assurance. At the Macao University of Tourism, she served as Regent for Thesis/Project for more than 14 years, designing and managing the undergraduate research program and helping establish the Tourism Education Student Summit. She also contributed to academic quality assurance, professional development, English-language education, and research supervision.
Her work has been recognised with a PATA Gold Award and a Best Paper Award at the Canada International Conference on Education. Laurie’s professional philosophy is grounded in a commitment to meaningful, transformative education that encourages curiosity, creativity, lifelong learning, and human potential. In 2025, she established Rose Star Educational Solutions, expanding her work in educational consulting, curriculum development, educator training, and literacy. She has authored five children’s books designed to encourage independent reading through curiosity and observation of nature, and has completed a manuscript focused on a new educational paradigm.
Her areas of specialisation include curriculum design and development, literacy education, teacher training and professional development, educational consulting, educational administration, English-language education, and academic program development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laurie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my determination to overcome challenges. When someone tells me something is impossible or cannot be done, it motivates me to push harder, prove them wrong, and find a way to make it happen.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to never view failure as purely negative. Instead, I try to learn from every setback, shift my perspective, and recognize that a closed door may create an opportunity to discover a new and better path.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering education to recognize their ability to connect with and nurture each child’s unique strengths. By using empathy and understanding, we can help students discover their inherent gifts, develop their individuality, and support thriving in their own way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see tremendous opportunities to make a meaningful impact in education, particularly in developing regions where systems are more open to change. My experience working with education bureaus, higher education institutions, and quality assurance agencies in Asia showed me how transformative education can be. In more established systems, change can be challenging, but I remain committed to finding opportunities to contribute and make a difference.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
All experiences - whether perceived as positive or negative - are opportunities for growth and expansion.
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