Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord | Moderator
Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord, is the LYS Executive Director with over 30 years of dedicated service to the youth of Louisiana. In her non-LYS life, Sonja and her family live in San Diego, CA where Sonja is the Vice Provost at San Diego State University.
She first attended LYS as a delegate in 1995 from New Orleans' Riverdale High School, where she was named the 1995 Most Outstanding Delegate. She continued her involvement as a Junior Counselor in 1996, followed by roles as a Counselor, member of head table, and Program Director from 2000-2003. Sonja is a member of the LYS 5-year club and LYS Hall of Fame. She currently serves on the LYS Board of Directors in addition to her role as Executive Director.
Dr. Pruitt-Lord earned her Bachelors, Master’s and PhD. from Louisiana State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduation, she joined the faculty at San Diego State University. A Professor in the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University, she has held several leadership roles, including Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs in the College of Health and Human Services and Director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders.
Dr. Pruitt-Lord’s research centers on advancing assessment and intervention practices for children from minoritized backgrounds, with the goal of preventing the misdiagnosis of language disorders and reducing health and educational disparities. Dr. Pruitt-Lord’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs, and local community agencies.
Dr. Pruitt-Lord has been recognized for her dedication to service, teaching, and high impact educational experiences with the prestigious California State University Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award, the SDSU Alumni Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions, and more than twenty student-nominated mentoring awards. Dr. Pruitt-Lord is a fellow of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Academies of Practice.
Through her work at her adopted home in California or her home in Louisiana, Dr. Pruitt-Lord is passionate about tapping into the potential of young people and their ability to make a difference in the world. She’s excited to bring this passion to the Dream State panel at this year’s seminar!
Dr. Annie Spell | Panelist
Dr. Annie Spell is a successful business owner, accomplished professional, engaged community leader, and a dedicated wife and mother who is committed to moving Louisiana forward as the State Representative serving District 45 in Lafayette Parish.
Elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, without opposition in the spring of 2025 Dr. Annie Spell serves on the Health & Welfare, Transportation, and Retirement Committees in addition to her work on Governor Jeff Landry’s Children’s Cabinet, Louisiana’s Sexual Assault Oversight Commission, and the Board of Trustees for the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana. She has been recently appointed as a member of the Acadiana Delegation’s Executive Committee and the Executive Board of the Council of State Governments for the Southern Region.
Since joining the Louisiana Legislature, Representative Annie Spell has quickly emerged as a respected leader on issues impacting the health, safety, and well-being of Louisiana families. She has championed legislation to strengthen mental and behavioral health services, improve outcomes for children and families, enhance public safety, and expand access to quality healthcare. Through her work on critical policy initiatives and bipartisan collaborations, Rep. Spell has built a reputation for bringing practical, evidence-based solutions to some of Louisiana’s most pressing challenges. Her leadership reflects a steadfast commitment to improving lives, strengthening communities, and creating a healthier future for all Louisianans.
For her work in the Legislature, she has been recognized by the Louisiana Psychological Association, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, as well as a Business Champion by the Southwest Louisiana Chamber, a Family Advocate by Family Forum, and has been a recipient of the Louisiana Hospital Association's Legislative Leadership Award. She has been accepted as a member of the Millbank Emerging Leaders Program and the Melissa Hartman Emerging Leaders Program.
Rep. Spell grew up in Lafayette, LA and is a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Louisiana State University. She is a clinical psychologist who has worked with the most vulnerable people throughout Acadiana as they navigate life’s toughest challenges and work to build a stable future. Annie has also been a driving force in her family’s Lafayette-based biotechnology company specializing in skin substitutes, helping to expand Tides Medical’s reach to all 50 states.
Annie’s passion for public service is driven by her experiences as a survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which fostered her commitment to give back to our community. Her leadership has supported the American Cancer Society, the Miles Perret Cancer Center, the Autism Society of Acadiana, the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Hearts of Hope Center for Sexual Trauma, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, the United Way of Acadiana, and countless other organizations.
Annie was a 1996 LYS delegate, and a 2024 recipient of the No Man Is An Island Award. She lives in Lafayette with her husband, Joe, and their two sons, Foster, aged 13, and Tagg, aged 9, where she can often be found cheering them on one soccer field at a time across the Gulf Coast.
Will Warner | Panelist
Will Warner serves as Deputy and Business Excellence Leader for Boeing Defense, Space & Security Quality and Lean, based in New Orleans. In this role, he helps develop and implement strategies that strengthen quality, consistency, and operational excellence across Boeing’s global defense, space, and security programs.
During nearly two decades with Boeing, Will has held leadership roles in software engineering, program management, manufacturing, and quality. He began his career in Houston as a software engineer supporting the International Space Station before advancing into positions responsible for integrating visiting spacecraft, delivering flight hardware, and supporting ISS program leadership.
Will later returned home to Louisiana to support NASA’s Space Launch System at the Michoud Assembly Facility. He held several leadership positions on the program, including overseeing teams responsible for manufacturing and delivering portions of the SLS core stage. As Quality Program Manager during the historic Artemis I mission, he led a multidisciplinary organization working across Michoud Assembly Facility, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center.
He later oversaw more than 200 engineers, inspectors, managers, and specialists responsible for design-to-launch quality across Boeing’s human spaceflight programs. His career has allowed him to contribute to some of the nation’s most ambitious aerospace projects while developing teams equipped to solve complex problems with precision, collaboration, and purpose.
A Louisiana native and graduate of Hammond High School, Will earned a degree in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston–Clear Lake. At LSU, he served in Student Government, represented the College of Engineering as a senator, and was elected president of the Engineering College Council.
Will’s leadership journey began at the Louisiana Youth Seminar, where he attended as a delegate from 1999 through 2002. During his final year, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer and named Most Spirited Delegate. He received the 2022 No Man Is an Island Award and now serves on the LYS Board of Directors.
Will lives in New Orleans with his wife, Denelle, and their two dogs. When he is not helping build rockets, fighter jets, and helicopters, he enjoys traveling, cheering for LSU and the Saints, and spending time with friends—many of whom he first met at LYS.
Emily Hester | Panelist
Emily Hester serves as Student Affairs Chief of Staff at Louisiana State University, where she helps advance the Division of Student Affairs’ work to create meaningful, supportive, and transformative experiences for LSU students. In her leadership role, she supports the Student Affairs central office and Parent & Family Programs while helping coordinate priorities that reach students across the university.
Emily’s connection to LSU began when she arrived as a freshman in the fall of 2002 from Franklinton, Louisiana. As a self-described small-town student discovering the opportunities of a major university, she quickly fell in love with LSU and the experiences that helped shape her confidence, independence, and sense of purpose. That personal journey continues to motivate her commitment to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to find belonging, grow as a leader, and make the most of the college experience.
Before building her career at LSU, Emily worked professionally for Delta Gamma, traveling to a different college campus nearly every week. The experience challenged her to adapt quickly, think creatively, solve problems, and build relationships with people and communities across the country. She credits that work with developing the independence and resourcefulness that continue to influence her approach to leadership today.
Emily earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Louisiana State University. Her deep pride in her alma mater is evident in the energy she brings to campus traditions, student engagement, and even the campus tours she gives—often beginning with words from the LSU Alma Mater about the stately oaks and broad magnolias that shade its inspiring halls.
At the heart of Emily’s work is a belief that student affairs can influence lives for years to come. She brings to the Louisiana Youth Seminar’s Dream State panel the perspective of a Louisiana student who discovered new possibilities at LSU and built a career helping others do the same. Her story reflects the power of embracing opportunity, remaining connected to one’s roots, and using personal experiences to open doors for the next generation of Louisiana leaders.