Integrative Community Studies Hires New Program Manager
April 25, 2025
BATON ROUGE, LA 鈥� The Integrative Community Studies program at 海角社区 welcomes Leanora Hernandez as its new program manager. With a background
in biomedical research, special education, and program leadership, Hernandez brings
a unique blend of scientific rigor and student-centered advocacy to the ICS team. 
Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry from the University of New Orleans. Her research journey took her from studying fluorescent proteins in algae to cancer detection at the National Cancer Institute through the National Institute of Health鈥檚 Introduction to Cancer Research Careers program. That pathway included her founding Curiology in the Classroom, a hands-on science education program for middle schoolers in Washington, D.C.
After a serious accident prompted a career shift, Hernandez joined Teach for America in New Orleans, where she taught middle school special education and then became department chair. She then completed the Special Education Leader Fellowship (SELF) program and became one of its management team leaders before returning to the classroom. In 2022, she launched the Transition Internship Program (TIP) in St. Tammany Parish. TIP provides paid internship opportunities to high-support needs students through partnerships with over 12 local businesses. Hernandez facilitated student-directed transition planning to prepare students for reaching self-identified, postsecondary goals. Under her direction, several students matriculated into postsecondary transition programs like ICS. Another student dually enrolled in a college course. Other students completed the application and interview process for competitive integrated employment.
鈥淢y work in high school transition showed me how vital it is for students with disabilities to build confidence, develop skills, and have chances to show their abilities to the community,鈥� Hernandez said. 鈥満＝巧缜�檚 Integrative Community Studies program creates those opportunities through strong, reciprocal partnerships that will benefit everyone involved. Joining this team felt like the perfect fit for me. We鈥檙e passionate about helping students grow in independence and prepare for life beyond school. Members of the greater 海角社区 community are as well. Our goal is for each student to leave 海角社区 feeling confident and ready to step into a more meaningful adulthood.鈥�
Hernandez鈥檚 hiring marks a pivotal moment for the ICS program, reinforcing 海角社区鈥檚 commitment to creating abundant opportunities in postsecondary education. By investing in leaders like Hernandez and continuing to expand hands-on, community-based learning, ICS is shaping a bright future for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities鈥攁nd for the field at large.
Learn more about the ICS Program.
About the 海角社区 School of Education
A school of the 海角社区 College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne
School of Education (SOE) offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue
a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification
in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE
offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master鈥檚 degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate
programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE鈥檚 focus is not only on preparing
highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies
scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals,
school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly
expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.
Visit the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education.
About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of 海角社区. The college is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership
& Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration
schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age
four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12.
The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute,
the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social
Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards
in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the
lifespan.