MEET OUR SPEAKERS
SEC TAILGATE
At this opening event, SEC ALDP participants will come together for the official kickoff of the conference and a warm welcome to LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge. The brief program will feature opening remarks from the SEC’s Whitney Tarpy, the introduction of the 2026–2027 SEC ALDP Fellows, and remarks from legendary former LSU Gymnastics Coach D-D Breaux. Afterward, conference attendees can enjoy elevated tailgate fare, a networking activity, and lawn games - all part of the tailgating tradition shared and loved across the SEC.
Whitney Tarpy
Associate Director, SEC Academic Relations
Whitney Tarpy has served as an associate director at the SEC since June 2022 where she oversees academic programming and initiatives across the Conference’s 16 member universities. She works with campus leaders and partners to develop programs, communications and collaborative initiatives that advance the SEC’s academic missions and highlight the impact of its universities.
D-D Breaux
Former LSU Gymnastics Head Coach
D-D Breaux led the LSU gymnastics program for 43 seasons, building it into a national powerhouse before retiring in 2020 as the longest-tenured head coach in Southeastern Conference history. Under her leadership, the Tigers won six SEC championships, made eight NCAA Championship Finals appearances and earned 15 individual national titles. A pioneer in collegiate gymnastics and women’s sports, Breaux received nine SEC Coach of the Year honors and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. The LSU alumna continues to serve the university and the Baton Rouge community as a volunteer and LSU ambassador.
Jane Cassidy
Senior Vice Provost
Dr. Jane Cassidy currently serves as Senior Vice Provost at Louisiana State University and holds the Roy and Margaret Gianelloni Alumni Professorship in Music. Her responsibilities include advising the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost on faculty matters, academic space utilization and allocation, academic policy, institutional accreditation, and budget. The LSU Rural Life Museum, LSU Museum of Art, Brookshire LSU Military Museum, and LSU Press & The Southern Review report to her office.
Previously she served as the Director of the School of Music and Interim Associate Dean of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts. She holds an undergraduate degree in music from the University of Hartford and a masters and PhD in music education from Florida State University. Dr. Cassidy’s field of expertise is music education and her research interests center around music therapy for premature infants, musical development of children, and teacher effectiveness.