LDCC Honors Employees

Recognition of Outstanding Professional Staff, Support Staff, and Faculty

BY DARIAN ATKINS

WHAT AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR outstanding accomplishments. That acknowledgment is even sweeter when it comes from your peers.

The Outstanding Employee Award was created in an effort to recognize outstanding LDCC employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide excellent service to students, colleagues, and the college. This award focuses on individual achievements that have exceeded the expectations in job descriptions. This award is given in three categories: Outstanding Professional Staff, Outstanding Support Staff, and Outstanding Faculty.

This year’s honorees are Kendra Hough, Outstanding Professional Staff; Jodie Cooper, Outstanding Support Staff; and Deborah Cooper, Outstanding Faculty.

Kendra Hough, Outstanding Professional Staff, is the Executive Director of Human Resources and the Co-Title IX Coordinator at Louisiana Delta Community College. Additionally, Hough has been an adjunct faculty member since 2020, teaching Business Office Administration courses. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Hough’s extensive finance background has been invaluable in her role as she deals with budgetary issues, statistical information, and employee compensation and relations. Her attention to detail, time management skills, respect for deadlines, and her willingness to communicate on behalf of LDCC’s employees during deliberation sessions are a testament to her commitment and work ethic. “She is an authentic supervisor who genuinely cares for the well-being of her subordinate staff and believes in training for the next level,” shares Laurie McGuffee, Senior Payroll Specialist. “She has been vital to the overall success and growth of LDCC, and her commitment to this college is apparent due to her tenure as an LDCC employee.”

Jodie Cooper, Outstanding Support Staff, has worked in Enrollment Services at Louisiana Delta Community College in Winnsboro for fifteen years. She graduated with an associate degree in Information Communication Technology from the former Louisiana Technical College in 2009.

Cooper believes helping people gain skills and knowledge through academic or technical training is vital to grow communities and is integral to improving lives. Toward this goal, she has fostered relationships with local high schools and has worked to increase the number of dualenrollment students at LDCC’s Winnsboro Campus.

She received the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award in 2018 and has been nominated for the Outstanding Support Staff Award for four consecutive years. She serves on both the DEI committee and the Behavioral Intervention/Violence Prevention Team at Louisiana Delta Community College.

In her spare time, Jodie is a homebody who prioritizes spending time with her family. When she isn’t spoiling her niece and nephew and her animals, she’s reading a book or watching a favorite TV show.

“Jodie Cooper is always on top of her duties. She works hard to help students and visitors onsite at Winnsboro Campus and even harder to assist those who call. Jodie attends campus meetings. She listens to what others have to say and offers valuable input,” says co-worker Alicia Rogers. As a result, Cooper has a positive impact on student and employee morale. She helps plan events and attends those on her home campus and other campuses as well,” says Alicia. “There were six criteria under Outstanding Support Staff. Jodie nails them all.”

Deborah Cooper, Outstanding Faculty, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology who introduces students to psychological studies covering basic and higher-level concepts at LDCC. Cooper says teaching psychology is fascinating because it gives insights into people’s motivation, perspectives, and behaviors as to why they react the way they do.

Cooper holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a MAT in Psychology from Grambling State University. She taught in the public school system for nine years and has taught at LDCC for eighteen years. Spending time with family is her greatest joy, and she loves planning group trips.

Cooper’s supervisor, Chresancio Jackson, says she has been very instrumental in implementing the Behavioral Science Department’s course curriculum and advising students to reach their full potential here at LDCC. “Professor Cooper was recommended for this award for her determination and effort for our students, but also her longevity and dedication to LDCC and its mission to our community,” explains Jackson.” She has always shown a willingness to lead and compassion to all the students she encounters here on campus and in our community.”

The 2023 Outstanding Employee recipients will also be honored at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System’s annual conference this fall. Congratulations to each of these ladies. LDCC commends the “outstanding” work you do!