Lucien “Luke” Laborde Jr. Named Interim LSU Vice President for Agriculture and Dean of the College of Agriculture

LSU President William F. Tate IV has named Lucien Laborde Jr., an Avoyelles Parish native, as interim vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. Laborde replaces Bill Richardson, who recently stepped down from his administrative position to return to faculty in the College of Agriculture.

“With lifelong ties to Louisiana agriculture, including teaching, researching and holding leadership positions within the LSU College of Agriculture, along with a 30-year track record in the private sector, Luke Laborde Jr. is the right person to lead both the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture at this time,” Tate said. “Having a presence in every parish in Louisiana is vitally important for LSU, and we look forward to working with Luke to enhance the relationships we have throughout the state related to agriculture.”

Growing up in a farming family, Laborde was active in both 4-H and FFA, representing Louisiana at 4-H Club Congress, and serving as State Secretary of Louisiana FFA. He proudly holds the American Farmer degree.  

Laborde holds three degrees from LSU, earning a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 1976, an MBA in 1978, and 36 years later, his Ph.D. in wildlife management. While an undergraduate, he was elected president of the LSU College of Agriculture.

Laborde had a successful 30-year career with Willis Group, plc., a global insurance brokerage and risk adviser. He started on a second career in wildlife management at the LSU School of Renewable Resources in 2008. He earned his Ph.D. in wildlife management in 2014, and joined the faculty of the School of Renewable Natural Resources in 2015. His scholarly and research interests include waterfowl ecology and management, human dimensions of wildlife, and natural resource policy.

 “The greatest privilege of my life has been the opportunity to help mentor and develop undergraduate and graduate students at the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources,” Laborde said. “The school is preparing them for the many challenges that lie ahead, and I am proud to be associated with them.”

Laborde returned to leadership in the college in 2014, when he became president of the College of Agriculture Alumni Association. He was named the LSU College of Agriculture Outstanding Alumnus in 2019.  Additionally, Laborde has held leadership positions in four chapters of the LSU Alumni Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the Burden Foundation, and is advisor to the student-led Tiger Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.  He has held multiple volunteer positions with Ducks Unlimited Inc. and is an active fundraiser for the LSU College of Agriculture, the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, and the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Foundation.  He is also a member of the Forever LSU Society and has worked to increase endowed scholarships and professorships in the LSU College of Agriculture. 

The Laborde family has strong ties to the LSU College of Agriculture and to agriculture in Louisiana. Laborde’s parents and his three siblings are all graduates of the LSU College of Agriculture. They have served in leadership roles in the LSU Alumni Association, LSU Foundation, LSUA Foundation, LSU Ag Leadership Council, and LSU College of Agriculture Alumni Association, and five family members have been named LSU College of Agriculture Alumnus of the Year. In addition, Laborde is still active in production agriculture as co-owner, along with his siblings, of a large beef and row crop farm in Avoyelles Parish. He is and avid birder and waterfowl hunter. 

For more information on the LSU AgCenter, please visit lsuagcenter.com. For more information on the LSU College of Agriculture, please visit lsu.edu/agriculture.