Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast EpisodesLa. State Representative Annie Wingate Spell – District 45
Annie Wingate Spell, Louisiana State Representative for District 45, joins Discover Lafayette to share the journey that led her to public service. Annie’s story is one of unwavering determination, professional excellence, and personal resilience.
A licensed clinical child psychologist, Annie holds degrees from UL Lafayette and LSU. In 2024, she was honored with the Angel Award by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation for her long-standing advocacy on behalf of Hearts of Hope, which supports survivors of sexual assault victims in Acadiana.
A lifelong learner and self-starter, Annie recounted the early days of her path to becoming a psychologist. While studying at USL, she pivoted from business to psychology after realizing her passion for understanding human behavior. She reached out to 16 local psychologists listed in the Yellow Pages, offering to pay for their time to learn more about the profession. “They didn’t charge me.” One of those who answered her call, Dr. Kenneth Bouillion, became an influential mentor, helping her determine that child psychology was her calling: “I always thought it was easier to build up a child than build up an adult. There’s so much flexibility in a child’s development and fluidity that if we can affect change on their environment, we could have better outcomes for them. ”
A Lafayette native, Annie credits her parents, Joan Babineaux Wingate and Keith Wingate, with instilling a deep sense of faith, gratitude, and service. “God will provide. But don’t act as if He will. Don’t take anything for granted.” Her mother, she said, is “the epitome of a servant leader. My father was one of those dads that was ever involved. Having three girls, he learned that shopping malls could be fun. He learned that cheer camps are the best thing ever.”
Annie’s grandfather, Judge Allen Babineaux, was also a defining influence in her lif
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