Jessica Leger

Dr. Jessica Leger, the Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, has been a member of the Louisiana’s Department of Athletics staff since Summer 2007, when she became the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance.

In 2012, Leger added oversight of the Student-Athlete Academic Center and was promoted to Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). Her role grew with the Ragin’ Cajuns in July 2016, as she ascended to the position of Deputy Director of Athletics.

Additionally, Leger was named Interim Director of Athletics in November 2016 to assist in the department’s transition in leadership. During that time, she has developed strong relationships with a variety of external groups that impact the University campus, including: the Sun Belt Conference, the NCAA and other national organizations. 

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Ragin’ Cajuns, Leger oversees the department of Compliance, Student-Athlete Academic Services, the Geaux Cajuns Student-Athlete Success program, the Athletic Performance department, and the Sports Medicine department. She also serves as the sport program administrator for the softball program, and is the Title IX Coordinator for Louisiana Athletics.

Leger joined the Department of Athletics staff after spending three years in the teaching profession. A former member of the Ragin' Cajuns softball team, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in marketing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2003. She later earned her Master’s of Education in education administration with a supervision concentration from the University in May 2006. She received her Ph.D. in higher education administration in 2010 from Louisiana State University.

As a student, she was an active member of the University’s academic community and student body, serving as the Student Government Association President and Homecoming Queen in 2002. Leger was also the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Outstanding Graduate in the Spring 2003.

Leger and her husband, Lance, reside in Lafayette with their daughter, Estelle, and son, Landon.

Louisiana State University

• Ph.D., Educational Leadership – Higher Education Concentration (2010)

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

• M.Ed., Education Administration and Supervision (2006)
• Teacher Certification Requirements (2005)
• Non-Master’s Alternate Teacher Certification Program (2005)
• Bachelor of Science, Marketing (2003)

Dr. Leger's research interests are in student-athlete success

• Selected as Sun Belt Conference SWA Committee Chair 2014-2017, 2022-2025
• Serve as Sun Belt Conference SWA Liaison to Men’s Golf Head Coaches’ Committee 2021-Present
• Selected as member for the University of Louisiana’s Strategic Planning Committee 2021 - Present
• Selected by Sun Belt Conference and NCAA to serve on NCAA Division I Softball 2022-2025
• Committee 
• Served as dissertation committee member for Ph.D. student, University of New Orleans 2019-2022
• Served as Institution’s NCAA Voting Delegate during monumental vote 2018
• Appointed as member to UL Lafayette Council for the Accreditation of Educator 2016-Present
• Preparation Advisory Committee
• Selected by Sun Belt Conference and NCAA to serve on NCAA Awards, Benefits, 2013-2014 
• Expenses, and Financial Aid Committee 
• Honors:
• University of Louisiana System Management and Leadership Institute Participant 2019-2020
• Advised Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; won 1st place award for community 2020-21, 2021-22
• service participation in the Sun Belt Conference
• Selected to attend LEAD1 Executive Training Institute 2017
• Selected to attend NACDA Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute 2016, 2022
• Student-athlete on the Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Team 2000-2001