Dianne Olivier

Dianne Olivier is Professor of Educational Foundations and Leadership at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's College of Education, currently serving as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Previously Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Administration, she oversees critical units including Global Engagement and Student Success while maintaining active faculty status since 2007.

Her educational background spans five degrees from Louisiana institutions:

• PhD in Educational Administration (Psychology minor), Louisiana State University, 2001
• Educational Specialist in Administration, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1980
• Masters+30 in Guidance and Counseling, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1978
• Masters of Education in Secondary Education, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1975
• Bachelor of Science in Education, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1972

Dr. Olivier's research centers on professional learning communities and educational leadership, with 30 years of domestic collaboration through PLC Associates and international work via PLC Global Network across 14 languages. Her scholarship examines organizational change, school culture, and collective efficacy in K-12 and higher education contexts through mixed-methods approaches.

Recent publications (2020-2022) reveal three key trends: (1) Leadership analysis of women university presidents using phenomenological methods, (2) Pandemic impact studies on student-parents, and (3) Continued refinement of change readiness frameworks for educational systems. Her work consistently bridges theoretical research with practical implementation through social media collaboration tools.

Accolades include:

• University Eminent Scholar Award
• Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award (2020)
• Two-time University Research Excellence Award
• Four-time University Outstanding Doctoral Mentor Award
• Joan D. & Alexander S. Haig/BORSF Endowed Professorship (2013-present)

As doctoral chair for nearly 80 graduates, she co-publishes with students and develops undergraduate research opportunities across the College. Her SREB Master Trainer certification drives national leadership development, while the PLC Global Network facilitates international research partnerships. Current work focuses on post-pandemic educational recovery through her change readiness frameworks.

She co-leads the PLC Associates domestic research team and PLC Global Network international consortium, developing assessment instruments translated into 14 languages that measure professional learning community effectiveness across diverse educational systems.