Wildcats open home season Saturday evening

After a stirring road win to begin Sooner Athletic Conference play last Saturday, the Louisiana Christian Wildcats football team plays host to Wayland Baptist Saturday evening at 6 in another SAC outing.

The Wildcats (1-1) host a Wayland Baptist squad that fell 49-7 in its season opener at 18th-ranked Ottawa University-Arizona in a SAC contest. Last year in Texas, Wayland outlasted LCU 49-44.

The Wildcats prevailed last week in Oklahoma at Langston, 31-24, in a game with six lead changes. LCU scored the game-winning TD with 1:38 remaining to cap a clutch 11-play, 77-yard drive, ended with a 2-yard plunge by Datlan Cunningham.

An interception in the red zone in the final minute by Wildcats’ defensive back Brandon Johnson clinched the road win.


Cheneyville Chief of Police arrested for illicit acts involving a juvenile

In September 2025, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP SVU) received a report of alleged sexual abuse involving a juvenile in the Cheneyville community. The allegations involved inappropriate contact between an adult male and the juvenile.

As part of the investigation, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP SVU) conducted interviews and identified the suspect as 37-year-old Charles A. Issac of Cheneyville. Based on the findings of the investigation, arrest warrants were obtained for Issac on the charges of molestation of a juvenile, sexual battery of a victim under the age of 13, and aggravated crimes against nature.

On Sept. 11, Issac was processed into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for the above charges. Issac is the current Chief of Police for the Cheneyville Police Department. All inquiries regarding his employment should be directed to the Office of the Mayor of Cheneyville. Issac was not on duty when this illicit act occurred. The investigation remains active and ongoing. No further information is available at this time.  

LSP SVU works to rescue and seek justice for the victims of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the trafficking of humans for sex or labor. The public plays a vital role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes and is urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available to the public through an anonymous reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators.

The form can be found by visiting http://la-safe.org/and clicking on the “Suspicious Activity” link.


Save the date to celebrate 75 years of Martin Library

As the Martin Library marks 75 years of service to the Pineville community, Rapides Parish Libraries has announced a celebration rooted in community, literacy , and local heritage on Thursday, Sept. 18, 5:30-7:30pm.

The 75th anniversary marks a diamond milestone, a testament to the library’s enduring impact, resilience, and commitment to knowledge-sharing across generations.

Join RPL for an evening of celebration as they honor this remarkable legacy and look ahead to the next chapter. The event will feature guest speakers and live music as well as a special presentation recognizing the contributions of the Martin family, whose vision and generosity helped make the library a cornerstone of the Pineville community.

A reception will follow, with light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with neighbors, friends, and supporters of the library.

RPL invites everyone to be part of this special moment as they turn the page to the future of the Martin Library. Contact 318-442-7575 for more information.


Save the date for National Hunting and Fishing Day in Woodworth

Join the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for a FREE event celebrational National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) on Saturday, Sept. 27, 8am to 1:30pm, that will include fun and informative exhibits on LDWF’s research and conservation efforts, as well as shooting and fishing demonstrations, and many other exhibits related to outdoor adventures!

The Woodworth event, being held at the LDWF Education Facility in Woodworth, will include:

▪ Fishing
▪ Outdoor Activities
▪ Dog Retrieval
▪ Baby Alligators
▪ Door Prizes
▪ Shooting Activities
▪ Outdoor Exhibitors
▪ Fish Identification
▪ Alligator Skinning
▪ Casting Inflatable
▪ LDWF Law Enforcement
▪ Free Youth T-Shirts
▪ Bottled Water
▪ Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office
▪ Grand Prize Drawing for Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License and Firearm

NHFD is held nationwide on the fourth Saturday of every September to recognize generations of sportsmen and women for their contributions to conservation.

Admission and parking are free. Come join the fun and celebrate the great outdoors. For more information, visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/nhfd.

Persons participating in LDWF-sponsored programs will not need to have a self-clearing permit nor the access-permit to participate. 


Notice of Death – September 11, 2025

Larry Hawthorne, Jr.
June 9, 1971 – September 10, 2025
Service: Friday, September 12, 2025, 12pm at Gallagher Funeral Home, Ball. 

Ken Golemon
July 14, 1955 – September 8, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 2pm at Camp Eight United Pentecostal Church, Otis.

Sandra Gale Jones Pantfoeder
August 6, 1965 – September 8, 2025
Service: Friday, September 12, 2025, 10am at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.

Herman David Martinez
August 2, 1939 – August 28, 2025
Service: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 4:30pm at Kramer & Son Funeral Home, Alexandria.

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)

Get the Rapides Parish Journal each Weekday morning at 6:55am to your inbox – It’s FREE!


2025 CENLA 4WARD nominations are now open

2025 CENLA 4WARD Nominations are NOW OPEN. Visit the website (below) to view requirements, how to nominate a member of the community, ways to sponsor, and past winners of this award.
 
CENLA 4WARD is dedicated to recognizing individuals who exhibit the 4 pillars that move communities 4WARD:
 
1. Community Involvement
2. Industry Impact
3. Leadership & Professional Distinction
4. Passion & Perseverance
 
Honored nominees will be officially announced and celebrated at an Awards Banquet this November. The deadline to nominate is closing soon – nominate a community member who best represents CENLA today -> ypgcenla.org/cenla-4ward

AEX reveals new masterpiece

The Community Center at England Airpark is now home to a beautiful Community Heart Project sculpture, painted by local artist Olivia DeRosa.
 
According to Explore Alexandria Pineville, the organization behind the project, these heart-shaped works of art are meant to “beautify our neighborhoods…[and] tell the unique story of Central Louisiana.”
 
The sculpture in England Airpark features a vibrant American flag, connecting the Airpark’s rich aviation history with modern aircraft and property amenities like the AEX Loop and OakWing Golf Club. It serves as a visual representation of the Airpark’s long-standing commitment to the community.

Kitchen Lithography with Madilyn Anderson at AMoA this weekend

Join printmaker Madilyn Anderson in an exploration of Kitchen Lithography this Saturday, Sept. 13, 10am to 3pm. 
 
Participants will be able to create their own fine art lithographs using everyday household items such as aluminum foil, sharpies, vegetable oil, and cola. All supplies are included in the class cost.
 
There will be a short break for lunch; please bring your own snack/lunch.
 
To register, visit this link

LCU science professor publishes book detailing order in Earth’s systems

Dr. David Elliott

A new book written by Louisiana Christian University Professor of Chemistry Dr. David Elliott examines the distinctive attributes of God’s Creation to illustrate the precision of Earth’s systems.

Air, Earth, Fire, and Water: A Glimpse of the Created Earth details the orderly structure and measurable processes found in all of creation, Elliott said.

Published in July by iUniverse, the book illustrates the character of God through the science of the Earth’s domains: Air (the heavens and the atmosphere), Earth (geosphere), Fire (energy), and Water (hydrosphere and biosphere). The four spheres collectively sustain life on Earth, converging at the soil, from which God made living beings, notably humans, Elliott said.

“These four domains and their interdependence guide the reader to see that the visible Creation was placed before us to help us perceive the invisible Kingdom of God,” Elliott said.

Elliott said the idea for this book began in 2005 when he began teaching at LCU, after a 25-year career in industry. He was teaching an introductory environmental science course for non-majors and using a secular textbook.

“I taught using it for two to three years but then began modifying the content because I got tired of arguing with the text,” he said.

In 2015, he began teaching a new course, Introduction to Earth Science, a course that covered all the natural components of Earth.

And in 2016, he began writing Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. The title comes from the sequence of the biblical account of Creation.

While it serves as a textbook for the introductory environmental science course, Elliott said it is also a book that can be read by anyone, and serves as a devotional.

“By studying the natural realm, we see the creator left His fingerprints on His creation,” Elliott said. “We see His fingerprint. We see the order in the natural realm.”

The underlying premise of the book is order. The order of Creation is evident through identifying separation, design, and measurement.

“God ordered his creation so we can measure it. Measurement is the basis for scientific investigation. We can take dominion of Earth as God commanded because of the natural order.” Elliott said.

The book is a comprehensive survey of all the different scientific aspects of Earth.

“What makes it unique,” Elliott said, “is that it begins with the biblical principle underlying each of Earth’s components and lets that flow into natural science. It’s an integration of faith and learning in the science realm.”


Teal season is around the corner

The 2025 teal season runs Sept. 20 through Sept. 28, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced.
 
Hunters may harvest blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal only during this special early season for more on teal regulations, visit this link). Bag limit is 6 daily/18 possession. Teal may also be harvested again during the regular duck season starting in November.
 
Needed licenses and permits for teal season are as follows.
Popular LDWF WMAs for teal hunting include Pass-a-Loutre, Atchafalaya Delta, Pointe-aux-Chenes, Sherburne, Dewey Wills, and Russell Sage. Be sure to have the right permits for LDWF WMAs.
 
Learn more about WMAs and teal hunting at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.

Warren Morris gets the call from the Hall, will be in LSHOF Class of 2026 next June

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Warren Morris is nationally known for one spine-tingling moment in time.

What he’s done since that stirring event on June 8, 1996 has earned the Alexandria native and resident his place in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Morris was announced Wednesday morning among nine state sports luminaries who will be enshrined next summer in the LSHOF Class of 2026.

The proud Bolton High graduate, a local banker, will be joined by a star-studded group: recent Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Sylvia Fowles, NFL stars Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, Major League Baseball All-Star Jonathan Lucroy and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and another inductee with Rapides Parish roots, former Plainview High School basketball player Dewain Strother, going in the Hall for his incredible career coaching the Florien High girls basketball team.

Morris will be inducted as he receives the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award, given only occasionally to a sports figure whose achievements and image bring immense credit to the state.  Morris’ outstanding baseball playing career will forever be remembered for his walk-off home run that won the 1996 College World Series for LSU. After some noteworthy success in the big leagues, that iconic CWS clout propelled Morris into national status as a lifelong spokesman for college baseball, the CWS and LSU.

The LSHOF Class of 2026 is headed by Fowles, a four-time USA Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) who helped LSU to four consecutive Final Fours from 2005-08. She was an eight-time WNBA All-Star in a 15-season pro career that included WNBA Finals MVP honors as she led the Minnesota Lynx to league crowns in 2015 and 2017. Fowles was chosen as one of the WNBA’s Top 25 Players of All-Time in 2021 and entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last weekend and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June.

Horn was a four-time Pro Bowl receiver (2000-02, 2004) and fan favorite in seven seasons (2000-06) with the New Orleans Saints in a 12-year NFL career. McClure, a Baton Rouge native and two-sport All-Stater at Central High School, was an All-Southeastern Conference and All-America center for LSU before 14 NFL seasons, all in Atlanta, that earned him a place in the Falcons Ring of Honor. Williams, a defensive tackle from Wossman High School in his hometown of Monroe, reached three straight Pro Bowls (2006-08) while with the Minnesota Vikings in a 14-season career that started with the Buffalo Bills.

Lucroy starred for three years at catcher for Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns and was a third-round 2007 MLB Draft pick by Milwaukee, where he earned a pair of All-Star Game appearances (2014, 2016) and was fourth in voting for the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player award as pinnacles of a 12-year big league career.

Brady won 402 games in 25 seasons of college basketball coaching at Samford, LSU and Arkansas State, with 190 victories in 10 seasons with the Tigers including three SEC regular-season championships (2000, 2005, 2006) and a run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four. That year’s March Madness was also a career highlight for Bossier City native McConathy, whose 14th seeded Northwestern State Demons stunned No. 3 seed and Big Ten Conference champion Iowa in one of three NCAA tourney trips (two wins) for NSU. The former Louisiana Tech star guard won a state-record 682 games as a college coach in 16 seasons at Bossier Parish Community College and 23 at Northwestern.

Strother is the nation’s second-winningest high school girls basketball coach, retiring in 2023 with a 1,235-395 (.758) record that includes 21 trips to the state semifinals and 11 championship game appearances, collecting five LHSAA titles for Florien High in southern Sabine Parish.

The new class will be enshrined next June 25-27 at the Hall of Fame’s home in Natchitoches to culminate the 67th Induction Celebration. Ticket information for the seven events over three days of festivities is available at the LaSportsHall.com website.

A 40-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association committee selected the 2026 inductees during an Aug. 23 meeting in Pineville, completing a three-week process. The panel considered 153 nominees from 27 different sport categories on a 34-page competitors ballot, with 61 reaching the final phase of deliberations.

Also spotlighted next summer will be three other Hall of Fame inductees from the contributors categories: a winner of the 2026 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award and two recipients of the 2026 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism presented by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, the parent organization of the Hall of Fame. Those inductees will be selected and announced later this year.

The complete 12-person Class of 2026 will swell the overall membership in the Hall of Fame to 515 men and women – athletes, coaches, administrators and sports media members — honored since its founding in 1958.

The 2026 Induction Class will be showcased in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. The facility is operated by the Louisiana State Museum system in a partnership with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

The striking two-story, 27,500-square foot structure faces Cane River Lake in the National Historic Landmark District of Natchitoches and has garnered worldwide architectural acclaim and rave reviews for its contents since its grand opening during the 2013 Hall of Fame induction weekend.           

The new competitive ballot inductees will raise the total of Hall of Fame members to 402 athletes and coaches honored since the first induction class — Baseball Hall of Famer Mel Ott, world champion boxer Tony Canzoneri and LSU football great Gaynell Tinsley — was enshrined in 1959 after their election a year earlier.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame already includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, 18 Olympic medalists (including 11 gold-medal winners), 15 members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, seven of the NBA’s 75 Greatest Players, seven National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 45 College Football Hall of Fame members, 11 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, 10 Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, 10 College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, nine National High School Hall of Fame members, five National Museum of (Thoroughbred) Racing and Hall of Fame inductees. The LSHOF showcases jockeys with a combined 16 Triple Crown victories, six world boxing champions, four NBA Finals MVPs, four winners of major professional golf championships, and five quarterbacks with a combined seven Super Bowl MVP awards.


BOM presents a check to the YWCA

BOM presented a check to the YWCA of Alexandria-Pineville benefitting the Pineville Girls on the Run of Central Louisiana. Pictured left to right: Morgan Melder (Program Director), Anita Aghomi, Emmalyn Crocker, Brehianna Flores, BOM’s Mandy Futrell, and Marle Chapman (Executive Director).

Pineville man faces $500K bail on fourth DWI offense; Alexandria woman hit with six-figure bail on drug, conspiracy charges

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

Sept. 10

Antonio Benhamin, 31, Cottonport – possession of marijuana, remaining after forbidden, resisting officer, contempt of court, $6,500 bail;

Joseph Anthony Desoto Jr, 36, Pineville – criminal conspiracy, theft, $1,000 bail;

John Connor Gallaspy, 28, Alexandria – OWI, reckless operation, $1,300 bail;

Tyler David Walls, 35, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery strangulation, domestic abuse battery with child present, $2,000 bail.

 

Sept. 9

Carlee Barr, 28, Alexandria – criminal conspiracy, create distribute or possess with intent counterfeit CDS, contempt of court, $225,000 bail;

James Delacerda, 81, Pineville – battery on officer, $1,000 bail;

Bridget Renee Gagnard, 41, Marksville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, criminal trespass, $3,500 bail;

Keithan Trevon Galberth, 26, Alexandria – violation of protective orders, simple robbery, no bail data;

Gregory Dayle Hattway, 65, Pineville – two counts contempt of court, $70,000 bail;

Terris Strong Jr, 20, Alexandria – second degree murder, possession of drug paraphernalia, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, illegal use of weapons, $100,000 bail.

 

Sept. 8

Antwon Demon Armstrong, 30, Bunkie – negligent homicide, reckless operation of a vehicle, OWI first offense, no driver’s license, $101,600 bail;

Richard Beard Jr, 31, Atlanta – OWI first offense, safety belt violation, unlawful refusal to submit to chemical test, operating a vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses, $1,770 bail;

Aubrey Ray Blue, 42, Lecompte – legend drug possession, paraphernalia, bicycle on sidewalk, resisting officer, theft, probation violation, $2,500 bail;

Denerick Demon Dorset, 43, Alexandria – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, probation violation, Louisiana fugitive, $5,000 bail;

Billy Dwayne Gaston Jr, 24, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, possession of CDS, operating an unsafe vehicle, parole violations, $6,100 bail

Roderick Edward Kirk, 61, Houston – burglary of an inhabited dwelling, $10,000 bail;

Anthony James Moore, 39, Pineville – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, producing manufacturing distributing with intent CDS, resisting an officer, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of stolen things, disturbing the peace, $47,000 bail;

Juquita Sue Morgan, 52, Alexandria – six counts contempt of court, $46,500 bail;

Renee Cornelia Nelson, 37, Pineville – theft, resisting an officer, 14 counts contempt of court, $161,500 bail;

Dalton Earl Phillips, 23, Pineville – five counts contempt of court, $20,500 bail;

Nancy Marie Rachal, 36, Pineville – simple burglary, two counts contempt of court, $7,500 bail;

Allison Ann Tillie, 23, Pineville – operating vehicle while intoxicated, reckless operation, $1,300 bail;

Lawrence Farrar West Jr, 49, Pineville – OWI fourth offense, unlawful refusal to submit to chemical test, operating a vehicle while under suspension, flight from an officer, resisting an officer, obstruction of highway, $502,500 bail.

Sept. 7

Gabrielle Laice Gonzales, 35, Deville – criminal mischief, domestic abuse battery with child present, battery on officer, resisting an officer, $4,000 bail;

Melvin Wayne Jones, 45, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS with intent, probation violation, two counts contempt of court, $30,000 bail;

Dontravius D McCant, 25, Alexandria – create distribute or possess counterfeit CDS with intent, three counts contempt of court, $63,000 bail;

Jesus J. Perez, 46, Pineville – OWI first offense, open container, running a red light, $1,200 bail.


Registration is now open for Dash & Splash 5K, 1-mile Fun Run

The City of Pineville has announced that registration is now open for the Dash & Splash 5K and 1-mile Fun Run and Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 27. 

Presented by The Broom Tree, the event will be held at 135 Riverfront St. in Pineville. The 5K will take place at 9am while the 1-mile Fun Run will start at 9:30am. The day will also feature vendors, games, food trucks, and fun for the whole family. 

For more information, call or text 318-419-1754 or scan the QR code in the image above. 


Notice of Death – September 10, 2025

Ken Golemon
July 14, 1955 – September 8, 2025
Service: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 2pm at Camp Eight United Pentecostal Church, Otis.

Sandra Gale Jones Pantfoeder
August 6, 1965 – September 8, 2025
Service: Friday, September 12, 2025, 10am at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.

Leonard “Tommy” Thomas Hyde
January 22, 1955 – September 7, 2025
Service: Thursday, September 11, 2025, 6pm at Gallagher Funeral Home, Ball. 

Donna Jean Baten Walker
January 6, 1958 – September 6, 2025
Service: Thursday, September 11, 2025, 10am at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.

CSM Fred Blaine Cole
January 13, 1952 – September 4, 2025
Service: Thursday, September 11, 2025, 11am at St. John the Baptist Church, Deville.

Herman David Martinez
August 2, 1939 – August 28, 2025
Service: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 4:30pm at Kramer & Son Funeral Home, Alexandria.

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)

Get the Rapides Parish Journal each Weekday morning at 6:55am to your inbox – It’s FREE!


What do we want from AI?

A student I know recently received a failing grade due to use of tech-provided answers to an assignment. Admittedly AI ignorant, I delved into the subject. 

Not long ago, artificial intelligence belonged to science fiction. Robots were movie villains, and talking computers lived only in novels. 

Yet here we are: AI now suggests what show we should watch, helps doctors read X-rays, and even writes news articles like this one. What once felt like a futuristic dream — or nightmare — is quietly woven into our daily lives.

The question we face today is not whether AI is coming. It’s already here. The real question is: what kind of role should it play in our world?

At its best, AI has enormous promise. It can help scientists discover new medicines, make cars safer, and even give teachers extra tools to support students.

 Artists and writers are experimenting with it, too — sometimes as a paintbrush, sometimes as a sparring partner for new ideas.

But the risks are just as real. Because AI learns from us — our conversations, our history, our habits — it can also pick up our flaws and biases. 

Left unchecked, it could spread unfairness or misinformation faster than we can catch it. And as companies and governments race to control this technology, the decisions about how it’s used may not always reflect the public’s best interests.

That’s why the conversation about AI cannot be left to scientists and tech companies alone. It belongs to all of us.

How do we want these systems to be used? What guardrails should exist? And most importantly: how do we ensure that the technology serves people, not the other way around?

AI is not a force of nature; it’s a human invention. Like the printing press or electricity, it will reshape society — but how it does so depends on the choices we make today. If we guide it wisely, AI could expand opportunity and creativity. If we don’t, it could deepen divides.

The future of AI is, in the end, a mirror. It reflects not just our intelligence, but our values. 

Deciding what we want to see in that reflection is one of the most important challenges of our time.

That’s all I’ve to say at this point. Actually from the second paragraph to this one I didn’t say it — AI did in a 70-seconds response to my question about its future. 

A marvel, yet makes me skittish. 


Rainbow Dr. to close TODAY for repairs

Beginning TODAY, Sept. 10, at 8:00am, Rainbow Drive will be closed to all traffic while necessary repairs are made.

The City of Pineville understands this may cause inconvenience and require adjustments to daily commutes. These repairs are essential, and the goal is to have the work completed as quickly as possible.

The work is expected to be completed no later than end of the day on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Pineville appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as they work to improve the roadway for everyone’s safety.


LCTCS announces Dr. Heather Spillers Poole as next chancellor of CLTCC

Dr. Heather Spillers Poole

Tim Hardy, chair of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors, and LCTCS President Monty Sullivan announced Dr. Heather Spillers Poole as the next chancellor of Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC), following the retirement announcement of longtime higher education leader Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle, who has served as chancellor for nearly a decade. In the days ahead, a coordinated transition plan will be implemented to ensure a smooth leadership handoff and maintain momentum for the college’s students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Final approval of Dr. Poole’s appointment will be considered by the LCTCS Board of Supervisors at its October 8, 2025, meeting.

As with every leadership search, the process began with conversations across the college and with community stakeholders. During these recent conversations, the people of Central Louisiana voiced strong pride in the comprehensive technical community college that has become a cornerstone of education and opportunity in the region. They urged the Board to sustain that momentum by selecting a leader who understands the institution, the region, and the community it serves.

After careful consideration, it became clear that Dr. Poole is the right leader at the right time for CLTCC. She has distinguished herself as a leader in many different venues, always touting the importance of the organization’s mission.

A Louisiana native and respected higher education leader, Dr. Poole brings more than 25 years of experience spanning statewide policy, campus administration, workforce development, and student success initiatives. She currently serves as executive vice chancellor of academic affairs and student services and director of foundation relations at CLTCC. Over the past decade, she has played a key role in advancing the college’s mission, expanding its reach across the region, and positioning CLTCC as a hub for innovation, workforce training, and economic development in Central Louisiana.

Before joining CLTCC, Dr. Poole held senior leadership roles as executive director and dean of the Learning Center for Rapides Parish, assistant vice chancellor of enrollment services at Louisiana State University of Alexandria, and assistant commissioner of assessment and economic development at the Louisiana Board of Regents. Over the course of her career, she has partnered with state and national organizations to develop policies that expanded college access, improved enrollment, and strengthened statewide completion goals along with dual-enrollment programs that have enabled thousands of high school students to earn college credit while preparing them for higher education and future careers.

At CLTCC, Dr. Poole has been instrumental in expanding academic programs aligned with Louisiana’s workforce needs, forging new industry partnerships, and improving student services to enhance retention and completion. Her leadership has strengthened CLTCC’s role as a vital contributor to the region’s economy while creating clear pathways for students to enter high-demand, high-wage careers.

Dr. Poole is widely recognized across Louisiana for her commitment to advancing educational opportunities. In 2024, she was elected chair of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), a leading nonpartisan organization shaping statewide policy in education, workforce development, and economic growth. Following the merger of CABL and the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, she now serves as co-chair of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, helping drive strategic priorities that strengthen the state’s workforce and expand opportunities for all Louisianans.

A dedicated community leader, Dr. Poole is actively involved with the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Rotary Club of Alexandria, and United Way of Central Louisiana. She is also a graduate of Leadership Louisiana and has been recognized as one of the Central Louisiana YMCA Decades of Women honorees for her impact on the region.

Dr. Poole holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Louisiana State University, as well as a doctorate in higher education administration from Louisiana Tech University. With nearly three decades of leadership experience, she has established herself as a respected voice in higher education and a champion for education, workforce alignment, and student success.