Dr. David LaFargue is the Executive Director for Workforce Solutions at SOWELA Technical Community College. He is charged with customized training, talent development, and creating solutions to meet the needs for Louisiana’s workforce. Dr. LaFargue previously served as the LaSTEM and Cybersecurity Program Administrator at the Louisiana Board of Regents. He was responsible for day-to-day operations of the LaSTEM Advisory Council and the Cybersecurity Education Management Council along with Louisiana’s STEM and Cybersecurity alignment, fundraising, marketing, and strategic planning.
Dr. LaFargue began his career in the industrial field spanning ten years while advancing within petrochemical operations, project management, analytics, quality control, and training. He later transitioned to Louisiana’s higher education system and taught as a faculty member for approximately six years. Dr. LaFargue later served in administrative roles as Department Chair and Dean for industrial programs spread over multiple districts in southwest Louisiana. This role led to responsibilities serving areas of supervision, curriculum oversight, program creation, facility design and workflow, training equipment procurement, creating and sustaining stakeholder partnerships, and fundraising. He now serves at the Executive Director for Workforce Solutions at SOWELA Technical Community College. Dr. LaFargue’s work experience spans approximately 22 years building relationships and partnerships among businesses, educational stakeholders, and community-minded citizens throughout Louisiana and beyond.
Dr. LaFargue earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology, a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in higher education. His research focuses on post-secondary students in STEM fields using augmented and virtual reality as tools for learning.