Stories

Rachel Holland is the Director of Development and Planning for the Lafayette Downtown Development Authority, where she oversees the organization's long-term planning, public space development, research and analysis, and policy initiatives. After having worked in both...

Mary Farmer-Kaiser is the Dean of the Graduate School and a Professor of History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She grew up in Kansas and moved to Louisiana in 2000 by way of Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio. When she moved to Lafayette she did expect...

Since 1987, the Leadership Institute of Acadiana (LIA) has distinguished itself as the region’s premier leadership organization. Connected by their commitment to serving the community, LIA’s graduates can be found taking action in board rooms, public office, corporate leadership, and area neighborhoods. LIA’s work to convene, build, and activate leaders has never been more urgent or critical to the region’s well-being than at the present.

We are thrilled to announce that the Leadership Institute of Acadiana is one of nine Community Leadership Programs serving as founding partners of the National Leadership Network (NLN).

Volunteer leadership has been the backbone of our Leadership Lafayette program since its inception in 1987. Each year, two program graduates join forces to help design the curriculum experience for the cohort. For 2021, we are excited to announce that the LL XXXIV co-chairs are Corey Jack (LL XXXI) and Lacey Maynor (LL XXXI). You can learn more about both volunteers below.

“The class of 2020–the BEST CLASS EVER–not because we said so, but because we HAD to be.”