Staff | LSU Leadership Development Institute

Contact	Biography
Lacy Dicharry, MS, MBA, Director ldicha3@lsu.edu	Bringing 20 years of government and organizational consulting and 10 years of leadership development experience across industries, Lacy offers an insightful combination of tried and true, research-based leadership development practices and innovative approaches to transformational and healing-centered leadership. She has 3 master's degrees, is a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, an ICF Trained Coach, SHRM-SCP, and is currently finishing her dissertation in Leadership and Human Resource Development at LSU. As a member of Executive Teams in startup businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, Lacy brings with her lived experience of running organizations as well as coaching other executives to improve performance of leaders, teams, and organizations. Lacy leads the implementation of strategies for the LDI, including supporting the team, operations, business development, strategic partnerships, and client delivery.
Deana Losavio Meredith, MS, Assistant Director deana@lsu.edu	Deana Meredith serves as Assistant Director of the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) at LSU where she creates solutions that help individuals and organizations realize their full potential through evidence-based best practices in leadership development. Deana is a certified LSU Leadership Development Institute coach, a Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach and Dare to Lead™ trained, with a master's degree in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Louisiana State University. She brings a strong background in leadership and human resource development, project and client relationship management, and business development to this role. In her role as Assistant Director, Deana oversees large-scale programming and provides strategic oversight for LDI’s operations. This includes collaborating with the LDI team on program and content creation, managing systems and processes to ensure exceptional client experiences, and ensuring that LDI’s projects and programs are executed with precision and fidelity. In addition, Deana continues her work as a certified LDI leadership coach, supporting clients across various sectors, with a particular focus on strengths-based best practices in leadership development. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Deana is deeply committed to serving the community she calls home. She is proud to contribute to LDI’s mission of transformation while pursuing her personal and professional growth. Deana remains passionate about being part of an organization that empowers individuals and communities and is honored to be a part of the team shaping LDI’s vision as it grows to serve Louisiana communities and beyond into the global workforce.
Natasha Simoneaux, Program and Business Manager Natasha.Simoneaux@lsu.edu	Natasha is an experienced people leader and workforce development professional with more than 24 years of management experience across multiple industries, including B2B, retail, and government. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Human Resource Development from LSU and is known for her ability to strengthen businesses and teams through thoughtful strategy and leadership. At LSU’s Leadership Development Institute, Natasha leads program logistics, financial management, and business strategy, ensuring that initiatives run efficiently and align with the Institute’s mission to develop leaders across Louisiana and beyond. Her leadership style pairs operational know-how with a steady focus on people, and she finds energy in collaborating, exchanging ideas, and seeing others build confidence in their own abilities. Throughout her career, Natasha has specialized in recruiting, training, sales, and customer service, with a focus on building inclusive workplaces where individuals feel valued and supported. She is passionate about fostering ethical, servant leadership and believes that consistency, accountability, and purpose are the foundations of meaningful impact. Her guiding principle remains simple: Do what you say, do it well, and the returns are plentiful.
Lee Napier, Administrative Assistant lnapier@lsu.edu	Lee has been an administrative assistant and related positions at four universities over the past 20-plus years, as he has followed his wife through graduate school and her career. Most recently he was Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Education at Mississippi State University. In his current position, Lee assists the Director of the Leadership Development Institute with travel, purchasing, scheduling, and other related functions. Lee's extensive background and experience in administration makes him a jack of all trades as he keeps the LDI team on track by managing resources, schedules, and tasks. Lee married his wife in the highlands of Scotland and is father to two kids, two dogs, and a rabbit.

Contact

Biography

Lacy Dicharry, MS, MBA, Director

Bringing 20 years of government and organizational consulting and 10 years of leadership development experience across industries, Lacy offers an insightful combination of tried and true, research-based leadership development practices and innovative approaches to transformational and healing-centered leadership. She has 3 master's degrees, is a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, an ICF Trained Coach, SHRM-SCP, and is currently finishing her dissertation in Leadership and Human Resource Development at LSU. As a member of Executive Teams in startup businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, Lacy brings with her lived experience of running organizations as well as coaching other executives to improve performance of leaders, teams, and organizations. Lacy leads the implementation of strategies for the LDI, including supporting the team, operations, business development, strategic partnerships, and client delivery.

Deana Meredith Deana Losavio Meredith, MS, Assistant Director

deana@lsu.edu

Deana Meredith serves as Assistant Director of the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) at LSU where she creates solutions that help individuals and organizations realize their full potential through evidence-based best practices in leadership development. Deana is a certified LSU Leadership Development Institute coach, a Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach and Dare to Lead™ trained, with a master's degree in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Louisiana State University. She brings a strong background in leadership and human resource development, project and client relationship management, and business development to this role. In her role as Assistant Director, Deana oversees large-scale programming and provides strategic oversight for LDI’s operations. This includes collaborating with the LDI team on program and content creation, managing systems and processes to ensure exceptional client experiences, and ensuring that LDI’s projects and programs are executed with precision and fidelity. In addition, Deana continues her work as a certified LDI leadership coach, supporting clients across various sectors, with a particular focus on strengths-based best practices in leadership development. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Deana is deeply committed to serving the community she calls home. She is proud to contribute to LDI’s mission of transformation while pursuing her personal and professional growth. Deana remains passionate about being part of an organization that empowers individuals and communities and is honored to be a part of the team shaping LDI’s vision as it grows to serve Louisiana communities and beyond into the global workforce.

Natasha Simoneaux, Program and Business Manager

Natasha.Simoneaux@lsu.edu

Natasha is an experienced people leader and workforce development professional with more than 24 years of management experience across multiple industries, including B2B, retail, and government. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Human Resource Development from LSU and is known for her ability to strengthen businesses and teams through thoughtful strategy and leadership.

At LSU’s Leadership Development Institute, Natasha leads program logistics, financial management, and business strategy, ensuring that initiatives run efficiently and align with the Institute’s mission to develop leaders across Louisiana and beyond. Her leadership style pairs operational know-how with a steady focus on people, and she finds energy in collaborating, exchanging ideas, and seeing others build confidence in their own abilities.

Throughout her career, Natasha has specialized in recruiting, training, sales, and customer service, with a focus on building inclusive workplaces where individuals feel valued and supported. She is passionate about fostering ethical, servant leadership and believes that consistency, accountability, and purpose are the foundations of meaningful impact.

Her guiding principle remains simple: Do what you say, do it well, and the returns are plentiful.

Lee Napier, Administrative Assistant

lnapier@lsu.edu

Lee has been an administrative assistant and related positions at four universities over the past 20-plus years, as he has followed his wife through graduate school and her career. Most recently he was Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Education at Mississippi State University.

In his current position, Lee assists the Director of the Leadership Development Institute with travel, purchasing, scheduling, and other related functions. Lee's extensive background and experience in administration makes him a jack of all trades as he keeps the LDI team on track by managing resources, schedules, and tasks.

Lee married his wife in the highlands of Scotland and is father to two kids, two dogs, and a rabbit.