Te'Erra Davis, CLA, CSSYB
Te’Erra Davis, CLA, CSSYB (she/her) is a higher education professional based in Shreveport, Louisiana, currently serving as Associate Director of Financial Aid at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport. Her journey into financial aid began in March 2020, when she relocated from Longview, Texas—where she worked as an escrow specialist with a mortgage company—to return home to Shreveport to support family needs as her partner and she cared for aging parents. She transitioned into higher education at a proprietary institution in a dual role supporting the campus director and onboarding incoming students, an experience that quickly sparked her passion for financial aid and student success.
Entering the field during the onset of COVID-19, Te’Erra found meaning in working directly with students despite challenging circumstances. She valued the opportunity to sit with students, understand their “why,” and help them pursue meaningful career and life changes for themselves and their families. Within a year, she joined LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport, where she has steadily advanced from Associate Coordinator to Financial Aid Counselor and ultimately to Associate Director. In her current role, she oversees federal financial aid processing to ensure timely disbursement of funds, supervises a team of three financial aid counselors, and delegates responsibilities in a way that promotes growth, accountability, and empowerment.
At LSU Health Shreveport, Te’Erra has led and contributed to numerous student engagement and process improvement initiatives, including the creation of the Student Oasis Lounge and the development of the Annual Fall Festival, which she designed and led in its early years before transitioning it to team ownership as a leadership development opportunity. The Fall Festival reflects her commitment to meeting students where they are by combining engagement, education, and fun, including interactive activities focused on topics such as financial literacy and credit awareness. Her work in student engagement also led to her appointment as the 40 Under 40 Chair for the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Initiative Board, where she continues to expand her impact. In addition, she facilitates financial literacy sessions focused on budgeting, financial confidence, and long-term stability. She is completing her Bachelor of Business Administration at LSU Shreveport, graduating on May 15, and has further strengthened her expertise by integrating Lean Six Sigma principles to streamline processes, reduce barriers, and improve access and efficiency in student services.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification
• Professional Judgment Certification (in progress)
• LSU Shreveport - Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bossier Parish Community College - AAS
• We See You Award (2023)
• Going the Extra Mile Award from Louisiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• Elected as 40 Under 40 Chair for Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Initiative (December 2024)
• Louisiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (LASFAA)
• Southwestern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
• Young Professionals Initiative Executive Board (40 Under 40 Chair)
• Reading is Fundamental (reading to children with disabilities)
• Common Ground Food Pantry
• Go Bald (GEAUX Bald) hair donation program for Shriners Hospital
• Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Initiative community service
• Financial literacy education sessions
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my support system - my family, friends, and the people around me who have groomed me to be who I am today. I've drawn so many different elements from different places and different people that continue in me today. My family has been instrumental in shaping how I communicate and interact with others. We are a unique group of people - everybody is kind of goofy and loud and rambunctious, one more so than the other - and I've absorbed how they communicated through anybody that was there, whether it was a family function with all types of ages or interacting in a store. Being able to see how to give that level of service, to be polite, or even to be funny and to be humble, came from my upbringing. They've all groomed me to be the person I am, and that foundation has carried me through every role I've taken on.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To never give up.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep learning and growing.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges right now are all the changes happening that are making things harder for everybody. Things are so difficult now with all of these changes. That's why I'm trying to do my part in making sure I'm easing that stress, whether it's through financial freedom or creating an avenue so that somebody can have their own career. I'm being intentional about strengthening the foundation for others and making it easier, because if you cut out the complexities, it makes it more accessible to everybody.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are captured in what I call the LAST principle, which I learned early in my career in the service industry. L stands for Listen - listen to the person and their needs, see what the issue could be. A is Apologize if they're experiencing something difficult. S is Solution - see how you can provide a solution to whatever is going on. And T is Thank them for even bringing that to your attention. I've learned that it's not about what you say to someone, it's how you say it. This principle is embedded in me today and guides how I interact with students, colleagues, and everyone in my community. I also believe strongly in the Lagniappe hospitality principle - doing a little something extra, going a little bit further to assist somebody beyond the basic book-written principles. These values of listening, empathy, problem-solving, gratitude, and going above and beyond shape everything I do.