Meet Laura Montgomery Peña, M.Ed., BCBA – Grant Halliburton Foundation’s community engagement manager.
Laura leads community engagement for the Foundation. She has a master’s degree in education specializing in early intervention and is a board-certified behavior analyst.
After a personal loss to suicide, she is dedicated to cultivating strong community involvement surrounding mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Here are 10 things to know about Laura!
1. What was your first job?
My first job out of college was as a graduate research assistant at the University of Texas. I worked primarily with third graders in school districts throughout the Austin area developing and testing interventions for students with math difficulties.
2. What’s your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is binging true crime podcasts and documentaries.
3. What advice would you give to your teenage self?
I think about the entire song “Vienna” by Billy Joel whenever I think of my younger self, specifically the lyric “Slow down, you crazy child and take the phone off the hook, disappear for a while. It’s alright, you can afford to lose a day or two. When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?”
4. What’s your favorite movie scene and why?
Any scene from the movie “Young Frankenstein.” My family and I watched that movie growing up together so many times that we can essentially quote the entire thing at the drop of a hat. Laughing with them is one of my favorite things in the world.
5. What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I play the violin, guitar, and piano. I started playing the violin at 12 years old and continued throughout my senior year of high school. I’ve even played in a few of my friends’ weddings!
“After the loss of my brother, I was determined to honor him by working for an organization committed to suicide prevention. Providing resources for the community at large and working to reduce the stigma of mental illness has been incredibly healing.”
6. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
This is a tough one! “Learning to Lean into Life.”
7. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I love being in the kitchen, either cooking or baking. I also love moving my body, specifically by doing yoga or Pilates.
8. What are your top three TV shows you’re streaming right now?
I’m rewatching “Arrested Development” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” I just started “The Old Man” with Jeff Bridges and it’s so good.
9. Where’s your favorite travel destination and why?
I’ve yet to travel to Europe, so until then, my favorite place that I’ve traveled to is Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.
10. Why is Grant Halliburton Foundation’s mission important to you?
After the loss of my brother, I was determined to honor him by working for an organization committed to suicide prevention. Providing resources for the community at large and working to reduce the stigma of mental illness has been incredibly healing. Not only is the Foundation providing vital resources, but we’re also working to change the culture around mental health.
