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The Root online magazine listed Laurie Jean's memoir, Crave: Sojourn of a Hungry Soul, as one of the best nonfiction books by Black authors in 2015. Kirkus Reviews described Crave as a "bold, honest, and courageous memoir." Foreword Reviews listed Crave as an Indiefab Book of the Year 2015 finalist in the autobiography/memoir category. Additionally, Crave was named a finalist for the Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award for Nonfiction.

Laurie Jean has published personal essays on poverty, domestic violence, and military sexual trauma in a number of publications, including The Rumpus, Good Housekeeping, and Ink and Letters.  She has presented talks, lectures, and workshops at numerous organizations, including the KGB Literary Bar, Girls Write Now, The Women’s Initiative, and West Point Military Academy. 

Laurie Jean is also an award-winning, highly decorated  educator. She most recently served as the Dean of the School of the Arts and the School of Humanities at Susquehanna University and  as the Mellon Foundation Endowed Chair of English and Foreign Languages at Hampton University. During the Spring 2021 semester, she was awarded the Academic Excellence Award for outstanding faculty member at Hampton University.  

Laurie Jean is in the throes of completing her most recent memoir, Cadence: A Soldier's March.  Additionally, her craft book From the Trenches: Writing and Workshopping Race was published by Kendall Hunt publishing in Spring 2022. 

Laurie Jean currently spends her time in Virginia working as a higher education consultant, photographer, and author.