Beverley Laubert, ’84, advocates for quality care.
Beverley Laubert, ’84, has spent decades improving access to quality care and in turn the lives of older adults. Beverley began her career at Kent State where she received a bachelor’s degree in gerontology. She went on to serve as an Ohio ombudsman for 33 years and the state long-term care ombudsman at the Ohio Department of Aging for 26 years. She was recently appointed as the National Ombudsman Program Coordinator at the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, allowing her to use her knowledge and experience at the federal level to help other ombudsmen. Beverley is not only an advocate within her field, but also for her alma mater. She is a board member for the Kent State Central Ohio Alumni Chapter, where she helps bring alumni together in the greater Columbus community, as well as an avid KSU sports fan. For her outstanding service to the university, her community and profession, she was recently awarded Kent State Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award - one of the university's highest alumni honors.
KSU: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
BL: That has evolved through the years. At this time in my life, I am happiest when our now adult children are home. Professionally, happiness is making a difference in an older adult’s life - solving a problem, advocating for quality improvement in long-term care and working with other advocates.
KSU: What is your favorite trait in others?
BL: I love spending time with people who care about other people and who are generous.
KSU: What trait about yourself do you like least?
BL: Internally, I am very grateful for everything I have and can do in life. I’m not very good about expressing that gratitude outwardly.
KSU: Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
BL: That is a tough question. My life is a product of 60 years of interactions. My parents taught me to work hard and gave me opportunities to care for and about other people, like my Great Aunt Hazel, and that inspired my studying gerontology at Kent State.
KSU: What is your favorite Kent State memory?
BL: I was a commuter student, so I loved the library where I could study between classes and spend time with friends. I also remember with fondness sitting in a spot in Nixson Hall with friends between classes. The walks across campus in the snow were “fun” too!
KSU: What is your favorite journey?
BL: My journey through life with my family is what life is about. More literally, when our daughter Libby, ’20, studied abroad in Florence, Italy, my husband and I got to visit her. I loved traveling through Italy by train.
KSU: What is your guilty pleasure?
BL: I watch mindless, nonsense reality TV, and everyone who knows me is surprised about that.
KSU: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
BL: My husband Mike and I are extremely proud to have sent both of our children through college without them having debt at the end.
KSU: If you could come back as one person, who would it be?
BL: Betty White. She is funny, generous and a positive example of aging.
KSU: What part of your college experience most formed who you are today?
BL: My degree in gerontology took me through many schools in the university, providing a broad education that I could apply throughout my career. The late Dorothy Fruit was an outstanding leader and professor who encouraged me to always pursue growth as an advocate.