Lafayette, LA – Keith and Daniella Poirrier have established the Poirrier Group, LLC Founder’s Partner Investment Fund in Sales at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, creating a pathway for business students to bridge the gap between academic preparation and professional sales careers. The Fund supports students at the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration through mentorship, applied learning opportunities, and exposure to executive sales careers.
The gift honors Keith’s parents, Dr. Gail and Mr. Steven Poirrier, whose connection to the University stretches back to 1964, when they became part of what was then the University of Southwestern Louisiana family. Steven, a football player and business graduate from USL, built a career in retail business and wealth management grounded in integrity, hard work, and resilience. Gail, Dean Emerita of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, served as Dean for 21 years, during which the college became nationally recognized for one of the Top 4 BSN programs and Top 10 Nursing Colleges in the United States.
“This Fund is deeply personal to Daniella and me,” Keith said. “My parents built their lives around this University and the belief that hard work, integrity, and service to others are the cornerstones of a life well lived. Establishing this Fund felt like the natural next step – investing in future generations of students the way this University once invested in us.”
Keith and Daniella are themselves University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates, having completed degrees through the former College of Applied Life Sciences, the College of Agriculture and Human Resources, and the MBA program. For the Poirrier family, this Fund is not simply a gift; it’s a continuation of everything Steven and Gail built, a legacy that doesn’t fade but multiplies.
To learn more about the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration or other University initiatives, contact the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation at (337) 482-0700, email ulfoundation@louisiana.edu, or visit give.louisiana.edu.
About the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public research university with an enrollment of approximately 19,000 students. The University is a national leader in research and innovation, committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community.
About the Gratitude in Action Series
Gratitude in Action is a recurring storytelling series through the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Office of Development, which publicly recognizes and celebrates major gift donors, by showcasing the transformative power of their philanthropy at the University.