Methodist Children’s Home Announces Luke Allen as President and CEO
Ruston, Louisiana – Luke Allen has recently been named the new President and CEO of Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) by its Board of Directors, effective October 27, 2026.
Methodist Children’s Home, a leading nonprofit provider of child and family services in Louisiana, first announced its leadership transition in January 2026 when former CEO Rick Wheat stepped down. Mr. Allen was appointed Interim CEO while the Board of Directors completed a nationwide search for the organization’s new President and CEO.
After the months-long search, the Board of Directors announced at its regular Fall Board Meeting that Luke Allen, currently serving as Interim CEO, would step into the role permanently.
MCH Board Chair Billy James shared, “Luke enjoys broad support from our Board and represents continued steady leadership for the Children’s Home. It was important that we diligently searched for the most qualified candidate available, and I can confidently tell you that the most qualified candidate available was here all along. I welcome this opportunity for Luke and the Home.”
Pictured: Newly appointed President & CEO of Methodist Children’s Home, Luke Allen (left), and Methodist Children’s Home Board Chair, Billy James (right).
Before the transition, Luke Allen served as Chief Operating Officer for Methodist Children’s Home for 14 years, working closely with Mr. Wheat, senior leadership, and the Board of Directors through every step of the organization’s remarkable statewide growth.
A Ruston native, Mr. Allen has a professional background in nursing home administration. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech.
His connection to Methodist Children’s Home is, in fact, lifelong: as a child, he spent countless hours on the campus of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, where his father served as Vice President of Operations and his mother as a teacher at Howard School. In college, he worked at both the MCH campus in Ruston and the OWL Center. From his earliest days, the mission of Methodist Children’s Home has been a part of Mr. Allen’s life.
“I am humbled and honored to serve as the next President and CEO of the Methodist Children’s Home,” Mr. Allen says, sharing his vision for MCH. “For 125 years, the Methodist Children’s Home has been a community of hope and healing. Looking ahead, I want to continue building on its longstanding commitment to strengthening the lives of children and families throughout our state. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated staff, community partners, and supporters to expand our impact and ensure children and families have the opportunity to thrive.”
About Methodist Children’s Home
Since 1902, Louisiana nonprofit Methodist Children’s Home has been dedicated to the well-being of children and families in the state. MCH programs include the state’s most intensive and comprehensive therapeutic residential treatment in its three Methodist Children’s Homes; the OWL Center’s equine and outdoor therapeutic services for children; Methodist Foster Care’s therapeutic foster care program, the Kinship Navigator program, and the Louisiana Foster Care Support Organization; and the Center for Child Well-being. In 2027, Methodist Children’s Home will celebrate its 125th anniversary. For more information, visit www.LUMCFS.org.