What are one or two of your greatest business and/or community achievements?

I would say that one of my greatest community achievements has been helping individuals access the resources they need and narrowing the gap between challenges and solutions. Through my work, I have guided students and community members toward opportunities that support their academic, personal, and professional growth. This commitment to resource accessibility has allowed me to make a tangible difference in the lives of those I serve.

In particular, my leadership within the Louisiana Educate Program (LEP) has fostered a stronger sense of belonging among students. By creating supportive structures and programming, I have helped students feel connected, valued, and empowered to succeed. Building this inclusive environment has not only improved retention and performance but also strengthened the broader community. I consider this work a meaningful achievement because it reflects both my dedication to individuals finding their success and my passion for building supportive, equitable spaces.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do for a living?

I believe that my favorite part of my work is the opportunity to empower students and people of the community to grow both academically and personally. I enjoy helping them navigate challenges, celebrate their progress, and discover their potential. Every conversation, collaboration, or self improvement feels like an investment in their future. Seeing people gain confidence and take ownership of their success is the most rewarding aspect of what I do.

You lead a program supporting 150+ students with individualized coaching and support. What’s one barrier you see first-generation students face most often, and how do you help them overcome it?

One barrier that I’ve noticed with the students that I’m serving is a lot of times they don’t see themselves in the individuals, rooms, or spaces that they’re being served in. And that’s one of the reasons why I’m very passionate about the work I’m doing and the time I take with each and every student.

Many of them come from different walks of life. Some of them have adverse childhood experiences, and when you enter a space where not everyone may have had that experience, and you don’t know what the expected norm is, it could be very overwhelming, and you can get discouraged and want to leave.

In my line of work, I take my time to get to know each and every one of my students, meet them where they are, and do anything I can to kind of keep them and retain them at the university. Because the longer you can retain a student, eventually they will obtain their four year degree, and that’s the primary goal. While working in the Louisiana Educate Program, I’ve had a lot of students graduate over the years, and we still communicate to this day. Some of them are engineers. Some of them are teachers. They’re doing amazing things in the world. They’re serving their communities back in New Orleans, and some of them also remained in Lafayette and stayed after their degree programs. It’s really amazing work and amazing students.