Louisiana’s IDD Director and NASDDDS Secretary/Treasurer Retires

Julie Foster Hagan has served as Assistant Secretary for the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) within the Louisiana Department of Health, most recently holding this role since July 2018. Over the course of more than 25 years with OCDD, she provided steady and effective leadership across a range of senior positions, including Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administrator of the North Lake Supports and Services Center, and Program Manager of the statewide OCDD Resource Centers.

Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Foster Hagan demonstrated a deep commitment to strengthening Louisiana’s intellectual and developmental disabilities service delivery system. Her leadership consistently emphasized quality improvement, system innovation, and person-centered supports, with a focus on ensuring individuals with developmental disabilities have meaningful opportunities to live, work, and thrive in their communities.

Ms. Foster Hagan’s contributions to the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) have been significant. She joined the NASDDDS National Policy Workgroup in 2019 and has served on the NASDDDS Board of Directors as a Member-At-Large since 2022. In 2024, she assumed additional leadership roles as Treasurer and Secretary of the Board. Outside of NASDDDS and in recognition of her expertise and leadership, she was also appointed in 2022 as a voting member of the National Advisory Council for Individuals with Disabilities in Disasters.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education in Speech/Language Pathology, as well as a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Administration, from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana.

As she retires from public service, Ms. Foster Hagan is recognized for her unwavering dedication, thoughtful leadership, and lasting impact on the I/DD field. “Her leadership, vision, and collaborative approach have made a lasting impact on Louisiana’s service system and on the many individuals, families, and professionals she has worked alongside throughout her career,” said NASDDDS Executive Director Mary P. Sowers. “We are deeply grateful for her many contributions.”

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