Driving Workforce Innovation, Leadership, and AI-Enabled Learning

a year in review

The School of Leadership & Human Resource Development (SLHRD) prepares leaders, develops talent, and advances solutions to workforce challenges that affect organizations, communities, and industries throughout Louisiana and beyond. Through nationally recognized programs, externally funded research, and strategic partnerships, SLHRD advances leadership development, workforce education, adult learning, organizational effectiveness, and workforce innovation while translating research into meaningful improvements in workplaces, educational systems, and communities.

Strategic Impact

As organizations, educational systems, and communities navigate rapid technological and workforce change, SLHRD is helping shape the future of leadership, learning, and work. Over the past year, the School expanded its national visibility through major research awards, internationally recognized scholarship, workforce-centered AI initiatives, and innovative student development programs. By integrating research, teaching, and community engagement, SLHRD translates research into practice, generating evidence-based solutions to pressing workforce challenges while preparing the next generation of leaders, educators, researchers, and organizational professionals to thrive in an increasingly complex and AI-enabled world.

The Challenge

Organizations and communities are navigating rapid AI-driven workforce transformation without enough prepared leaders

As AI reshapes workplaces, educational systems, and industries, the demand for leaders who can navigate complexity, develop talent, and drive organizational effectiveness has never been greater. Louisiana’s workforce needs leaders equipped to work in, evaluate, and shape AI-enabled environments.

The Solution

From NSF-funded AI educator prep to open-source research tools — SLHRD is leading workforce-centered AI innovation

A $559,893 NSF grant is preparing middle-school educators to teach AI and cybersecurity. A school-wide AI Workforce Transformation Initiative integrates AI competencies across programs. Faculty are developing open-source research tools and earning international recognition for scholarship that is shaping the future of human resource development globally.

Impact

18,000+ credit hours, 44 states reached, and a $5.9M research portfolio

The numbers reflect a school with national reach.

18,000+ student credit hours generated annually

44 states represented in online programs

$5.9 million in active research portfolio

75% online Master's enrollment growth over five years

LHRD by the Numbers

Degrees & Programs

Degrees Conferred

46

Bachelor's Degrees
In-person & online

161

Master's Degrees
In-person & online

2

Doctoral Degrees

2

Graduate Certificates

Areas of Study

3

Undergraduate Programs

4

Master's Programs

1

Master's Minor Program

1

Doctoral Program

18,000+

Student Credit Hours

- Generated Annually

44

States Represented

- in Online Programs

14%

Veteran Student Population

- in Online Programs

$100,000

AI Workforce Transformation Initiative

500+

Students Served

- Each Year

$5.9M

Active Research Portfolio

75%

Growth in Online Master's Enrollment

- Over the Past Five Years

$559,893

NSF Award Supporting AI & Cybersecurity Education

research, discovery, & innovation

Preparing Louisiana's AI-Enabled Workforce

The School launched a comprehensive effort to prepare students and professionals for rapidly changing workplaces shaped by artificial intelligence. Through a new AI Workforce Transformation Initiative, faculty are integrating AI competencies into leadership, workforce development, and adult learning programs while developing evidence-based approaches to preparing graduates for AI-enabled organizations.

image of petra robinson

Strengthening Louisiana's STEM Workforce

Robinson Secures NSF Grant

Petra A. Robinson is leading a $559,893 National Science Foundation initiative that prepares middle-school educators to teach artificial intelligence and cybersecurity concepts, strengthening Louisiana's future STEM workforce.

Oliver Corroco

Building the Future of AI-Enabled Scholarship

Oliver Crocco developed and released three open-source research tools that help scholars verify citations, identify peer reviewers, and validate statistical analyses. Freely available to researchers worldwide and supported by permanent DOIs, the tools demonstrate how AI can be used to improve research quality, transparency, and accessibility while creating new forms of scholarly impact.

Erin Richard

Advancing Neurodiversity Research

Erin Richard's research examines how workplace environments influence outcomes for employees with ADHD, contributing to national conversations about workforce inclusion and employee well-being.

Faculty & Student Excellence

Park Receives One of HRD's Highest International Honors

Sunyoung Park

Sunyoung Park earned the Academy of Human Resource Development's Outstanding HRD Scholar Award, one of the profession's most prestigious recognitions. The award honors scholars whose research has made a lasting and internationally recognized contribution to the field of human resource development.

Leading the Future of AI Literacy

Corina Caraccioli

Corina Caraccioli received the AAACE President's Appreciation Award for her leadership in adult education and AI literacy.

Building the Future Professoriate

SLHRD is intentionally preparing the next generation of faculty, scholars, and organizational leaders through a comprehensive ecosystem of mentoring, professional development, research engagement, and teaching opportunities. Graduate students gain experience as instructors of record, collaborate on research, present at conferences, and develop the leadership skills necessary to influence organizations and higher education institutions throughout their careers.

impact in louisiana

Supporting Those Who Served

SLHRD faculty are advancing research and specialized coursework designed to help veterans successfully transition into higher education and civilian careers, supporting a growing population of military-connected students.

national & Global reach

Study Abroad

Research Without Borders

SLHRD undergraduate students worked alongside faculty mentors to conduct and present original research at the University Forum for Human Resource Development (UFHRD) Conference in England. Their participation provided hands-on experience with the research process, expanded international perspectives, and showcased LSU scholarship on a global stage. Opportunities of this kind are typically reserved for graduate students, making undergraduate participation at an international research conference a distinctive feature of the SLHRD student experience.