District Winners

2018 District 2 Pacesetter

Dr. Natalie Harder
Chancellor
South Louisiana Community College
Lafayette, LA

A Louisiana transplant, Dr. Harder assumed the top post at South Louisiana Community College in February 2012. Within a few short months she led the historic merger of the college with multiple campuses of Acadiana Technical College. This merger included melding two distinct cultures, systems, processes, programs and students.

The comprehensive community college that emerged included a new culture focused on student service, student outcomes and student success. Dr. Harder's team led a revitalization of seven rural campuses in south Louisiana, and graduation rates under her leadership increased 375 percent. In 2016, enrollment grew 12 percent.

Dr. Harder's background in advancement and fundraising resulted in the college raising more than $10 million in five years and $32 million in new facilities, in addition to increasing foundation assets nearly 5,000 percent and quadrupling SLCC’s endowment portfolio.

Since her arrival at SLCC, Dr. Harder has dedicated significant college resources to grow public relations from a department of one to a department of five. She has supported the Office of Communications and Marketing through their numerous activities in NCMPR. She not only has supported the organization financially through annual membership but has dedicated professional development dollars for six straight years to ensure that communications and marketing personnel can travel to district and national NCMPR conferences to learn best practices and network with fellow colleagues. She graciously allows staff to dedicate work time to serve on NCMPR boards, councils and other committees to continue advancing the practice of public relations.

A native of New York, Dr. Harder earned a bachelor's degree at University at Buffalo and a master's degree at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her doctorate at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Prior to moving south and becoming South Louisiana's Chancellor, Dr. Harder served as  Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Patrick Henry Community College.  

« Return to District Winners