PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Summer 2012 Dear Xavier Alumni & Friends There is a great deal of excitement taking place on the Xavier University campus as evidenced by this Summer 2012 issue of Xavier Gold. For our alumni and friends who live in or recently visited the city of New Orleans, you know first-hand the new campus construction projects that continue to transform the city skyline. These improvements and building upgrades have been well documented in recent months and we are pleased in this issue of Xavier Gold to share with you a reprint of a Times-Picayune article entitled Xavier University Building Boom. Our cover story features the accomplishments of Xavier art grad Terrance Osborne. I have always been personally impressed by the beauty of his work, the vibrancy of his selected colors, and the emotion of joy and happiness that are evoked in each of his paintings. As you will learn after reading the Osborne story, the Xavier campus will soon be featured in a very special painting that he is creating. The accomplishments, aspirations, and commitment of the current Xavier University students continue to make us all very proud. As you will see, Xavier led the nation in terms of undergraduate institutions who graduated AfricanAmerican students from medical school for 2011. This issue also looks back at our 2012 Commencement exercises. A special treat that we hope you enjoy are excerpts of the commencement address that was delivered by Ursula Burns, President and CEO of Xerox Corporation. Her words were insightful, timely, and truly inspiring. As is customary, we are pleased to include our annual Honor Roll of Donors which lists those alumni and friends who made a financial contribution during the 2011 calendar year. I assure you that our students, faculty, and staff are forever grateful for your generosity and belief in our educational mission. If you have not made a recent gift to the University, remember that all gifts are important regardless of the amount. Deserving students are depending on you. Finally, this issue of Xavier Gold documents many of the activities and events that alumni participated in during Reunion and Homecoming Week. These events continue to grow in popularity and I encourage everyone to plan to attend Homecoming 2012. We have included something for everyone; a complete schedule appears on the back cover. The future is bright for Xavier University of Louisiana and I fully expect the upcoming years to be as fruitful and exciting as this past year. With your unwavering support, commitment, and prayers, together we will continue to ensure that Xavier University remains a great institution.
Sincerely,mi XG Summer 2012
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Norman C. Francis President