Scott Hebert – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a public Carnegie R1 research university, is the largest institution within the nine-campus University of Louisiana System and the second largest in the state, trailing only Louisiana State University. The university is situated on over 1,300+ acres with 331 buildings totaling 7,651,239 square feet and is crucial in educating thousands of students across its main campus and satellite locations. As director of facility management, Scott Hebert oversees all the university’s maintenance, repairs, and construction projects, ensuring that this vast and dynamic environment remains operational, safe, and conducive to learning.

“From what we see on our campus and hear from the students, the campus facilities set the stage and the backdrop for the college experience. The students really want to see campus facilities that are inviting, open and airy and have as much natural light as possible. They want spaces to relax in between classes, social spaces where they can mingle with others in a casual setting, and places where they can study comfortably. Of course, access to the latest technology is always a plus,” Hebert explains.

Hebert manages a team of almost 100 employees to maintain the university’s infrastructure. His responsibilities go beyond daily repairs and maintenance; he also oversees major capital improvements and renovations. With $600 million in ongoing projects and a pipeline of over $1 billion in future plans, Hebert’s role is central to the university’s growth and modernization. His leadership has been instrumental in key projects, including a $65 million renovation of the Ragin’ Cajun football stadium. This project transforms the fan experience with enhanced seating, private suites, loge seating, and upgraded chairback seats. The design was fan-centric, offering luxury suites, self-serve concession markets, and premium catering. The stadium renovation includes hidden design features that reflect the university’s unique culture.

Progress on the stadium is going well, and the fan feedback has been positive so far, Hebert says. With the outer walls taking shape now, the enormity of the interior building space is apparent to all. The lower bowl and upper premium seating risers and treads are all in place, showing how the seats will be positioned and how they will hug the field.

“I hear from fans all the time on how great the overall design is and how smoothly and quickly the project is being constructed. They say that seeing the construction progress firsthand at each home game this year provides a unique opportunity to feel as if the fans are part of the building process,” Hebert notes.

Innovating campus spaces

Another significant project on the horizon is the construction of a new kinesiology, hospitality, and athletic administration building on the stadium’s east side. This facility will house administrative offices, classrooms, labs, and a full training table for student-athletes, which will also serve as a premium gameday experience for the general student population.

Hebert’s projects extend beyond athletics, including renovating the 100,000-square-foot Madison Hall engineering building, a new 65,000-square-foot engineering facility, and a brand-new Health Sciences campus on 25 acres of recently acquired land. His department is also overseeing the renovations of several academic buildings, such as Foster Hall (student aid services) and DeClouet Hall (University College of General Studies), alongside constructing a BSL3 facility at the New Iberia Research Center. He says future plans include building a new University Lab School and a new Science Lab/Classroom building, among other campus upgrades.

Hebert is responsible for executing these projects and for financing them. He serves as the university seat director on the board of Ragin’ Cajun Facilities, Inc. (RCFI ), a private nonprofit explicitly created to raise bond proceeds and facilitate large-scale capital improvements. This role allows him to manage major developments’ design, engineering, construction, and financial sides, making him a key figure in the university’s strategic growth.

“Whether it’s the new kinesiology and hospitality building or expanding our health sciences campus, each project is about improving the student experience and pushing the university forward. Balancing the construction side with the financial planning isn’t easy, but it’s what makes these projects possible, and it’s exciting to be part of something that will make a lasting difference,” Hebert says.

Creating a culture of flexibility and dedication

One of Hebert’s most notable achievements has been building a team that thrives on flexibility, efficiency, and productivity. With 94 employees spread across clerical, managerial, and technical positions, recruiting and retention have been a challenge and a priority. The team’s exceptional work ethic and dedication are rare within state agencies, where salaries can’t always match the private sector. To overcome these challenges, Hebert has developed a thorough vetting process involving supervisors and team members in the hiring process to ensure new hires fit into the culture and bring value to the team. His method has proven successful, creating a cohesive group that often works beyond traditional hours to ensure the university operates at its best without disrupting daily operations.

Despite these successes, Hebert acknowledges that the most challenging part of his job is accepting that the workload is never-ending.

“The demands on our department are constant, and while it’s impossible to please everyone, my team’s consistent problem-solving approach has earned them a reputation for excellence across the university,” Hebert says proudly.

In a role that blends construction expertise with strategic leadership, Hebert has significantly impacted UL Lafayette’s infrastructure and community. His problem-solving skills and his passion for building and growing teams have been crucial to his success and the university’s continued growth.

From carpenter to campus leader

Growing up, Hebert was exposed to construction through his father, an architect, and began working on spec houses at a young age. He put himself through college by working as a carpenter and cabinet maker, eventually earning a degree in civil engineering from UL Lafayette.

After graduation, Hebert spent eight years working for a siteworks contractor as an estimator and project manager. His roles expanded to managing projects, securing permits, and setting up a concrete recycling operation. He then became operations manager for a general contractor, turning a struggling business into a multi-million-dollar success. During this time, Hebert earned his general contractor license across various residential and public works sectors.

Hebert’s relationship with UL Lafayette deepened after completing key projects for the university, leading to his recruitment for a role in facility management. In 2017, after two years in the department, he was promoted to director of facility management. His unique experience as a contractor, architect’s son, and engineer makes him a standout leader.

Today, Hebert continues to give back to his alma mater, where he has been leading facility planning and construction since 2017. He and his wife, also a UL Lafayette graduate, live blocks away from the university with their two children. The family enjoys attending football, soccer, and volleyball games and are die-hard Ragin’ Cajun fans, making the campus their workplace and community.