Dr. Vicki Lord Larson was born in Prentice, Wisconsin, on September 21, 1944. As a first-generation college student, Larson attended UW-Madison, eventually earning a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In her field, Dr. Larson published a large number of academic papers, furthering the research of many other academics.

Dr. Larson taught at three Wisconsin colleges, of which are UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Eau Claire. In 1973, Dr. Larson started as an assistant professor of communication disorders at UW-Eau Claire, later becoming the chair of the Department of Communication Disorders from 1978-1983. In 1984, she became the assistant dean for Graduate studies, as well as University Research in 1987, later being promoted to associate dean in 1989.

After leaving UW-Eau Claire, Larson served as Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at UW-Oshkosh, as well as consultant to the UW-System President concerning the understanding of women in the UW-System. Larson returned to UW-Eau Claire in 2005 as interim chancellor, in between the transition of Chancellor Donald Mash and Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich.

In February 2019, due to her long history with UW-Eau Claire, the Old Library was renamed Vicki Lord Larson Hall in memory of her dedication to the university. Dr. Larson passed away on January 31, 2019.

As of 2022, there are four scholarships available through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation in honor of Vicki Lord Larson. The James Larson and Vicki Lord Larson Blugold Promise Scholarship for $1,250 is awarded to an outstanding incoming freshman from a Wisconsin high school (preference for Northern Wisconsin around Tomahawk or Prentice), who demonstrates significant financial need. The James R. Larson and Vicki Lord Larson Local Blugold Scholarship has two scholarships available for $1,250 to incoming freshmen from a high school within a 30-mile radius of UW-Eau Claire. The James R. Larson and Vicki Lord Larson Undergraduate Research Fellowship has five scholarships available for $2,500 to an undergraduate student conducting outstanding collaborative research or demonstrated potential for outstanding research. The Vicki Lord & James Roy Larson CSD Research Award has one scholarship available for $1,000 for a second-year graduate student in Communication Sciences and Disorders, who is completing a research-based thesis.