Dr. Laurie Trautman serves as one of top experts on the Canada – US border and associated border policies. While she focuses primarily on the ‘Cascadia’ region of Washington State and British Columbia, she also collaborates both binationally and internationally to advance policy relevant research to promote cross-border mobility and collaboration. In addition to partnering with faculty and students, she has working relationships with the private sector and government agencies. A regular contributor to the media, her latest (co-authored) book, “When the World Closed its Doors: The Covid-19 Tragedy and the Future of Borders,” explores the expanding use of international borders as a policy response to a growing range of crises – and the collateral damage that results.
Laurie participates in numerous working groups that are actively engaged in advancing the Canada – U.S. relationship and is a current board member of the Future Borders Coalition. She previously served as a Global Fellow with the Woodrow Wilson Center and a Fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Dr. Trautman holds a PhD in geography from the University of Oregon.