Who We Are
We are changemakers. When we show up in communities, we make them better. We are teachers, social workers, doctors, librarians, archivists, human resource trainers, information analysts, military service, and so much more. Our two institutes, the Early Childhood Education Institute and the Leadership Development Institute, are the LSU flagship mission in action. Both units are dedicated to and passionate about serving practitioners across the entire state and beyond, ensuring that our most precious asset as a state – our people – remain healthy, energized, and dedicated to the jobs we rely on for our own quality of life.
What Will My Gift Support?
Your gift will go directly to the LSU Early Childhood Education Institute Annual Fund or LSU Leadership Development Institute Annual Fund , both of which provide unrestricted, flexible use for the ECEI and LDI. Your gifts to ECEI will support innovative ways to reach and serve teachers like podcasts, web series, and animated research, putting cutting-edge practices in the hands of teachers who will shape generations of young students. Gifts to LDI will support research and implementation of all forms of LADDER, the Leadership Alphabet of Disposition Development Engagement and Reflection. Found only at LSU LDI, LADDER is a professional development tool for teaching, law enforcement, and military; fields experiencing unprecedented burnout and individuals leaving the profession.
A one-time five percent Development Support Fee will be applied to each gift, to be shared by the LSU Foundation and the benefitted Institute.
Why Give?
As mission-driven institutes, we rely on generous contributions to the CHSE Dean's Fund from our supporters to attract the best staff, grow our membership and client base, and ultimately serve the most noble and important professionals in our state. You are critical to our success, providing the resources we need to be changemakers. Our goal is to make a positive impact in the state of Louisiana by serving the people who make our society educated, healthy, safe, and happy.
Thank You from Our Directors
“The ECEI links LSU’s expertise in early childhood education with the critical need for a highly educated workforce. We are committed to advancing the profession of early care and education. Investing in teachers is investing in the future economic and social prosperity of our communities. Thank you for supporting our important work.” - Cynthia DiCarlo, PhD, executive director of the LSU Early Childhood Education Institute
“At LSU LDI we offer evidence-based leadership development preparation, interventions, and coaching tailored to individuals and organizations in the education, youth advancement, government, non-profit and human services sectors. For more than two decades, I’ve devoted my professional life to improving workforce quality for social impact; I firmly believe that we are on to something here. Join me! Let’s make history!” - Leslie Blanchard, PhD, executive director of the LSU Leadership Development Institute