Chandler LeBoeuf is the Vice President of Education for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and Executive Director of the LCTCS Foundation. In mid-February, he led a CASE-sponsored webinar, showcasing how innovative public-private partnerships drive workforce development and transform lives across Louisiana. Here, he shares insights on the power of collaboration and strategic investment in workforce education.
Your career path within LCTCS is impressive. Tell us about your career journey.
I began my career at South Louisiana Community College, working in student affairs and enrollment management, before moving to Delgado Community College in a similar capacity. After a brief transition into private education, I realized my heart was still with community colleges—where real impact happens. I returned to Fletcher Technical Community College in 2018, first as Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and later serving as Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and Workforce Development.
In 2023 I took on a larger role at the system level in government and public affairs, marketing, communications, and fundraising. In January 2024, following a leadership transition, I stepped into the Vice President of Education role. This position unites academics, workforce, student affairs, public affairs, and governmental advocacy under one umbrella, allowing me to drive a more integrated strategy for education, workforce training, and industry collaboration.
How did you transition from student affairs to institutional advancement?
At first, fundraising was a new territory for me. But I understood relationships, students’ needs, and what colleges require to serve communities effectively. I immersed myself in advancement best practices and connected with experts across the country—especially through CASE. The key was to align institutional advancement with workforce development, ensuring that industry partners saw the value of investing in our students and programs.
When did workforce development become your passion?
In 2020, we merged our workforce development and institutional advancement divisions—a game-changer. Our biggest investors weren’t just donors; they were businesses looking for a skilled workforce. They saw that investing in our institutions was an investment in their own future success.
In 2023, I transitioned to a statewide leadership role, expanding my focus to policy, advocacy, and industry-wide workforce development initiatives. This role positioned me to bridge the gap between education and economic growth, ensuring that our programs align with the needs of Louisiana’s industries.
How are your workforce programs making an impact? What’s the secret to their success?
A challenge became an opportunity. Our former governor at the time challenged LCTCS to tackle Louisiana’s labor force participation crisis: 40% of working-age adults were not engaged in the economy. We built a performance-based funding model, leveraging $10 million in state funding and matching investments from industry partners, quickly exceeding the initial goal.
Instead of simply distributing funds, we reward colleges based on outcomes—credentialing, job placement, and long-term workforce engagement. This model fuels high-wage, high-demand careers in construction, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and information technology. The results speak for themselves: in 2023-2024, we credentialed 35,000 individuals, pushing toward our goal of 50,000 by 2030.
What’s your advice for other colleges or systems looking to expand workforce development initiatives?
First, break down silos. Workforce development and institutional advancement should not operate in isolation. Your fundraising efforts should be tied to workforce goals.
Second, engage industry partners early. Businesses want to invest in training programs, if they see a clear return on investment. Build relationships, identify shared goals, and structure partnerships accordingly.
Second, expand your leadership role. Workforce development leaders should have a seat at the table in institutional advancement and policy discussions—ensuring that workforce priorities drive funding and strategic planning.
What drives your commitment to this work?
At the heart of everything we do [at LCTCS] is a commitment to changing lives and transforming communities. We help students break cycles of poverty, secure better jobs, and create a stable future for their families. One critical statistic keeps me up at night: Over 30,000 adults annually in Louisiana are working toward a high school diploma. Without that credential, they can’t take the next step toward an industry-based certification or a higher credential towards a career.
We don’t receive state support for this work—but our foundation partners with private industry to fill the gaps, covering literacy training, transportation, and other barriers to education.
How do you describe the power of a community college?
The word “community” in many of our colleges’ names is not just a label—it’s our mission. In 2021, I witnessed this firsthand at Fletcher Technical Community College, when Hurricane Ida devastated our region. Recovery wasn’t just about reopening classrooms, it was about helping our entire community rebuild. Thanks to collaboration across institutions and partners nationwide, we provided critical resources and support for students, families, and businesses. That’s the power of a community college. That’s why public-private partnerships matter. That’s how we change lives.
Community colleges are more than schools—they are lifelines.
