Dr. Laurie Trautman is the Director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University. She engages in a range of research activities focused on the U.S. - Canada border, particularly in the region surrounding Washington State and British Columbia. Topics include trade, transportation, human mobility, and environmental management. In addition to working with faculty and students, she collaborates with the private sector and government agencies to advance policy solutions that balance the flow of goods and individuals with the need for efficiency and security at the border. Laurie participates in a number of working groups that analyze the U.S. – Canada relationship, including the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, the International Mobility and Trade Corridor Program, and the Canada - U.S. Transportation Border Working Group.
Laurie holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Oregon, and degrees from Montana State University (MS, Geography) and Western Washington University (BA, Economics).