She received her M.F.A. in Dance Performance from Ohio State University in 2009. She has worked for a variety of artists/companies including: Chase Dance Theatre, Foreground Dance, Prospect Dance Group, X-Factor Dance Company, Annie Kloppenberg, Ashley Thorndike/Peter Swendsen, Jan Van Dyke, and Meghan Durham-Wall. In 2005 she received an M.A. in Community Counseling with an emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy from Appalachian State University, and her certification in Classical Pilates from the Appalachian Pilates Teacher Training Program. She worked as a massage and bodywork therapist from 2002-2009 and graduated from the University of Utah with a B.F.A. in Modern Dance in 2000. Laurie Atkins included Alfred University as part of her North-Eastern Tour.