Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center

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Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center

The Blanco Center at UL advances public policy to make Louisiana a better place to live and work.

08/17/2026

📱 Summer Research Spotlight: Communications Team

Graduate students play an important role in the Blanco Center's research, and this summer we're highlighting the work they're doing behind the scenes.

🎓 Graduate research assistants Tabitha LeMaire and Tiwalade Faesan have been creating social media content, designing graphics, producing and editing video, supporting website updates, and developing communication materials that help make the Blanco Center's research accessible to a broader audience.

From highlighting research projects to creating educational resources and digital content, their work helps connect research with communities, partners, and policymakers across Louisiana.

08/14/2026

🌊 Summer Research Spotlight: NSF EPSCoR
Graduate students and undergraduate students play an important role in the Blanco Center's research, and this summer we're highlighting the work they're doing behind the scenes.

🎓 Graduate research assistant Gannon Bourque and undergraduate researchers Odette Garcia Valencia, Robin Dupuis, and Andrew Courville are supporting the NSF EPSCoR project by helping process planner interviews focused on regional differences in water hazards and mitigation efforts.

Their work helps organize qualitative research that will contribute to a better understanding of how communities across Louisiana prepare for and respond to water-related challenges.

We're proud to see our students contributing to research that supports more resilient communities.

08/12/2026

Observed each year on August 12, International Youth Day recognizes the important role young people play in shaping the future of their communities.

At the Blanco Center, research helps inform policies and programs that support Louisiana's youth. From education and workforce development to child welfare and public health, our work aims to provide data and insights that help communities create opportunities for future generations.

08/05/2026

🌊 Sharing research, building connections.
Over the past few weeks, Dr. Liz Skilton represented the Blanco Center at two conferences, presenting findings from the NSF EPSCoR HydroRise research project.

At GulfCon 2026 in Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Skilton co-presented "Community Narratives as Data: Using History Harvests to Inform Water Hazard Planning" with Dr. Heather Stone. She also presented "From Water Stories to Research Insights: Lessons Gathered from Community Knowledge of Water Hazards" at the NSF EPSCoR Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

These presentations highlighted how community stories and lived experiences can strengthen our understanding of water hazards and help inform resilience planning. It was a valuable opportunity to engage with researchers and practitioners while sharing the Blanco Center's ongoing work to support resilient communities across the Gulf South.

07/30/2026

📬 Missed our latest Newsletter?

Stay up to date on the Blanco Center's latest research, policy updates, events, and community initiatives by subscribing to our Newsletter.

To subscribe, email [email protected] with "Subscribe" in the subject line.

07/28/2026

🌱 Today is World Nature Conservation Day.
Observed each year on July 28, World Nature Conservation Day highlights the importance of protecting natural resources and promoting sustainable practices that support healthy communities and ecosystems.

From wetlands and waterways to forests and wildlife habitats, Louisiana's natural landscapes play a vital role in our environment, economy, and quality of life. Through research and collaboration, we can better understand these systems and help build more resilient communities.

07/26/2026

♿ Today marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

The ADA is a landmark civil rights law that helps protect equal access and opportunities for people with disabilities in employment, education, transportation, public accommodations, and government services.

Today, we recognize the importance of accessibility and inclusive communities for all. Learn how you can be involved by visiting adaanniversary.org.

07/21/2026

Team Tuesday Spotlight: Truc Bui, Research Scientist at LA FIRST Dr. Bui co-leads the Launch Louisiana annual report on educational transitions, with a focus on students’ progression through the K-12 system, transitions to higher education, and career pathways in Louisiana.

Her research examines the relationship of academic engagement and persistence with long-term outcomes, including academic achievement and employment.

Her work mainly uses restricted administrative data on education and labor from multiple state agencies in Louisiana. Dr. Bui also investigates the effects of state policies or economic crises on the labor market outcomes of older workers.

Prior to joining Blanco Center, Dr. Bui earned a M.A. in Public Affairs at Indiana University and a Ph.D. in Economics at Tulane University.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys crafting and playing pickleball. 🏓

07/08/2026

As part of a multi-university NOAA project, the Blanco Center examines how South Louisiana communities develop plans to prepare for and recover from environmental events. These findings guide long-term resilience planning at local, city, and state levels.

07/04/2026

Today, we celebrate the Fourth of July and commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...”

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday as we celebrate our nation's history and spend time with family, friends, and our communities.

Happy Fourth of July!

Address

Edith Garland Dupré Library, Room 390, 400 E St Mary Boulevard
Lafayette, LA
70503

Website

https://blancocenter.louisiana.edu/

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