Richard Nelson serves as President of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System,
leading twelve colleges across the state in advancing workforce development, economic growth,
and student success. A native of Mandeville, he earned degrees in Biological Engineering and
Law from Louisiana State University.
Nelson previously served seven years in the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service, with
assignments in Washington, D.C., Germany, and the Republic of Georgia. After returning to
Louisiana, he worked in the private sector and was elected to the Louisiana House of
Representatives, where he championed initiatives to improve early literacy and reduce public
debt.
Governor Jeff Landry later appointed Nelson as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of
Revenue, where he helped lead the state’s historic 2024–2025 tax reforms, supporting major new
investment and job creation across Louisiana.
Nelson is committed to expanding workforce pathways and economic opportunity for all
Louisianans