Take 5 with Dr. Raylea Rideau

2/1/2021

Baton Rouge - Dr. Raylea Rideau is a three-time graduate of LSU. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2014. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration in 2016. Most recently, she completed her PhD in Educational Leadership & Research in 2020.

Dr. Rideau is from Sugar Land, Texas, and joined the staff of the Center for Career Development at Rice University in July of 2019. She took some time to share her experiences at LSU and how they helped to shape who she is today.

About Rideau’s Career

Dr. Rideau has a long history with LSU. While working toward her master’s degree, she worked as a graduate assistant for the LSU Student Financial Management Center. After that, she worked as a career coach at the LSU Olinde Career Center for two years. In this position, Dr. Rideau coached students in areas such as networking, job search strategies, and resume creation. She is currently focusing her research interests on career development, underrepresented student populations and college student employment.

Memories from LSU

During her time at LSU, Baton Rouge quickly became Dr. Rideau’s second home. A few of her favorite memories are working as a resident assistant in Laville Hall, serving as president of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, meeting new students through the Bridge Campus Ministry, attending tailgates and football games, and learning from the CHSE faculty.

Career Preparation

According to Dr. Rideau, the College of Human Sciences & Education did a phenomenal job of preparing her for her career. As a junior in mass communications, she was still unsure as to what her career path may entail. She joined the Student Affairs Undergraduate Career Exploration Program where she had the opportunity to learn about higher education and shadow professionals. She then met with Dr. Roland Mitchell to talk about the possibility of pursuing her masters in higher education. The faculty in the Higher Education program worked to challenge Dr. Rideau through their interesting and diverse coursework.

Advice to Current Students

When asked what advice she could give to current LSU students, Dr. Rideau said, “I know many people say this but time in college really does fly by in the blink of an eye.” She suggests taking advantage of the many resources that LSU and the College of Human Sciences & Education have to offer. Be open to learn more about yourself and your passions through different experiences even if you fail. She also encourages students to take advantage of internships, shadowing opportunities and leadership development, even though they may be virtual.

Dr. Raylea Rideau offers her experience to those who may want to learn more about her path in higher education.