Board of Directors

Inspired and driven by our love for Acadiana, Leadership Institute of Acadiana (LIA) is guided by the vision and leadership of our board of directors and staff made up of LIA advocates and members across programs and years. 

Together, we support the growth and success of LIA and its mission to be the point of convergence for informed leadership and actionable change for our community.

Lia Annual Meeting 28

2026 Board of Directors

Desiree' Provost

Desiree' Provost

AVP-HR Business Partner, Human Resources, Ochsner Health

Chair

Terry Dugas

Terry Dugas

DEI Consultant, CGI U.S. CSG

Incoming Chair

Shamika Boxie

Shamika Boxie

Executive Director, Lafayette Community Development Fund

Treasurer

Nancy Roy

Nancy Roy

Executive Director of Workforce Student Services & Operations, South Louisiana Community College | Owner, Pigeon Post Trivia

Secretary

Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith

Senior Manager, Enterprise Strategy & Delivery Office (ESDO), Cigna / Evernorth

Past Chair

Aleisha Johnson Cook

Aleisha Johnson Cook

Principal Consultant, AJC Business Solutions | Instructor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Business

VP of Programming

Murugan Ambalakannu

Murugan Ambalakannu

Director, Consulting Services, CGI

Faryal Atif

Faryal Atif

Assistant Director of Student Engagement, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association

Dr. Philip Auter

Dr. Philip Auter

Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Nicole Jones

Nicole Jones

Vice President of Philanthropy, Community Foundation of Acadiana

Karen King

Karen King

Senior Litigation Counsel, U.S. Attorney's Office

Diogo Tavares

Diogo Tavares

Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual

Sarah Lopez

Sarah Lopez

Co-Owner, Awardmaster

Grayson Stepanek

Grayson Stepanek

Director of Marketing & Communications, Goodwill Acadiana

Danielle Tassin

Danielle Tassin

Senior Sales Director, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission

Troy Wayman

Troy Wayman

President & CEO, One Acadiana