Louisiana State University has announced a $5 million gift from alumna Diane Goyette and her husband, Henry, in support of the LSU Early Childhood Education Institute.

Announced in 2021 and housed in the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, the institute aims to connect early childhood research, education, and advocacy of recommended practices, with a focus on children from birth through age 3—a pivotal timeframe for establishing a strong educational foundation, increasing cognitive development, and narrowing the achievement gap. The gift will establish the Diane Toups Goyette Research & Engagement Fund in Early Childhood Education, which will fund research programs, community outreach and engagement to advance the research-to-practice pipeline, and professional development opportunities; the Diane Toups Goyette Professorship in Early Childhood Development, to be held by the ECE Institute executive director; and the Diane Toups Goyette Graduate Student Scholarship.

“Developmentally sound practices in early childhood education require an ongoing cycle of rigorous research, synthesis of evidence, and novel strategies to implement findings in a variety of learning settings,” said LSU president William F. Tate IV. “Our community benefits as the Goyette family’s gift provides resources to support this cycle as it prioritizes evidence-based health and education practices with children in the state of Louisiana and beyond. I am grateful for their support.”

Diane Goyette is founder and owner of Early Childhood Specialties, which provides teacher training as well as tools and toys that build teaching and caregiving skills, expand knowledge of child development and early childhood education, and boost emotional intelligence and social skills of both adults and children. “My mission through Early Childhood Specialties to support young children, their teachers, and their families coincides with the work and mission of the LSU Early Childhood Education Institute,” she said. “Making a financial contribution to the institute is the perfect complement to my professional efforts to further the field of early childhood education, as it will help to ensure that Louisiana’s youngest children have a strong foundation for their future development.”

(Photo credit: Louisiana State University)