Community LSU

Mrs. Leanora and Mrs. Sarah had a great few days in New Orleans at the Southeast Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) conference last week!! Here they are with leaders from other Louisiana certified transition programs. What a great few days of learning and meeting with programs across the southeast US!

Happy birthday to our Career Coach, Mrs. Sarah!

At Louisiana State University, the Integrative Community Studies (ICS) program is committed to preparing students with intellectual disabilities for meaningful, competitive employment, and we know that work experience is where that transformation truly happens.

We are actively building partnerships with local businesses and organizations to expand work-based learning opportunities for our students.

Through these partnerships, employers have the opportunity to:
✨ Support a more inclusive workforce
✨ Connect with motivated, capable students
✨ Contribute to a program that is making a real impact across Louisiana

Our students bring dedication, a strong desire to learn, and valuable contributions to the workplace. We work closely with our partners to ensure a supported, successful experience for everyone involved.

If your organization is interested in hosting a student for a work experience, collaborating on a short-term project, or simply learning more about ICS, we would love to connect.

📩 Feel free to reach out or email our career coach at [email protected] to start the conversation.

Together, we can continue building pathways to employment and making inclusion matter at LSU and beyond. 💛

BEST DAY EVER

Another special moment from our ICS Awards Ceremony ✨

We are thrilled to celebrate our Outstanding Independent Living Assistant of the Year, Arianna Lee! 💛

Arianna has made an incredible impact through her dedication, patience, and genuine care for our students. She consistently shows up with a positive attitude, supports students in building independence, and helps create a home environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Arianna, thank you for the compassion, leadership, and energy you bring to this role each and every day. Your work truly makes a difference, and we are so lucky to have you as part of the ICS community! 🌟

Another unforgettable moment from our ICS Awards Ceremony ✨

We are so proud to recognize our Outstanding Peer Mentor of the Year, Kylah Butts-Prada! 💛

Over the past two semesters, Kylah has shown unwavering dedication, compassion, and leadership in her work with our students. She consistently goes above and beyond to build meaningful connections, support independence, and create a sense of belonging within our community.

Kylah, your impact does not go unnoticed—thank you for the heart, energy, and commitment you’ve poured into ICS. We are so grateful for you and can’t wait to see all that you do next!

We’re growing—and we’re looking for male Independent Living Assistants (ILAs) to join our team for Fall 2026!

Our next cohort of 13 students is on the way, and we’re building a strong, supportive team of ILAs who are ready to make a meaningful impact.

If you’re passionate about mentorship, independence, and supporting young adults in a college setting, we’d love to hear from you.

Send your resume and cover letter to:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Share this post!

Celebrating a major milestone ✨

At this year’s Integrative Community Studies Awards Ceremony, we had the honor of recognizing three incredible students who have completed our two-year Foundations Track: Kage, Quinton, and Maxx.

One of the most meaningful moments of the night was seeing them walk to the front of the ballroom as their names were announced by Dr. Doug Waddell, Assistant Dean to take a photo with Dr. Roland Mitchell, Dean of A moment of recognition that was powerful, well-earned, and long overdue. 👏🏻

We are so proud of all they’ve accomplished and even more grateful that they’ve chosen to continue their journey with us in the Advanced Track for the next two years.

The future is bright, and we’re lucky to be part of it 💛

Last night was truly something special ✨

We celebrated our second annual Integrative Community Studies Awards Ceremony—an evening dedicated to the students, mentors, ILAs, faculty, and staff who make this community so meaningful.

We’re incredibly grateful for each person who shows up, supports, and believes in this work. 💛

More highlights from the night coming soon—stay tuned!

🎄✨ Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the ICS Team! ✨🎄

As we wrap up 2025, we want to send our warmest holiday wishes to our incredible students, families, faculty, campus partners, and supporters. This season, we’re especially grateful for the community that makes Integrative Community Studies such a welcoming, inclusive, and empowering program.

We hope your break is filled with rest, joy, and meaningful moments with those you love. We can’t wait to see what the new year holds and look forward to welcoming everyone back soon.

❤️❄️ Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and best wishes for a bright New Year! ❄️❤️