2016-2017 Annual Impact Report

Annual Diversity REPORT

IMPACT A YEAR IN REVIEW 2016-2017

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS | www.lsu.edu/academicaffairs Richard “Rick” Koubek, Ph.D. Executive Vice President & Provost

OFFICE OF DIVERSITY (OOD) | www.lsu.edu/diversity Dereck Rovaris, Sr., Ph.D. Vice Provost for Diversity & Chief Diversity Officer Kenya LeNoir Messer, Ed.D. Associate Vice Provost for Diversity Emmy M. Hicks Assistant Director of Development Services Tarchia Rankins-Lollis, M.S. Business Operations Coordinator

OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS | www.lsu.edu/oma Andrea Grant, M.S. Director

WOMEN’S CENTER | www.lsu.edu/wc Summer Steib, M.A. Director This annual impact report highlights diversity and inclusion efforts across the university. The report does not capture all of the outstanding work carried out by our students, faculty, and staff. We invite you to visit the LSU homepage, the websites of each college and program featured in the diversity report, and the LSU Office of Diversity website to explore why “Diversity is Good for Everyone.” Some reprints and photos included in this report are courtesy of the The Daily Reveille, the LSU Division of Strategic Communications, Cornerstone Magazine, and The LSU Alumni Magazine.

The LSU Office of Diversity Impact Report is published annually in cooperation with the Office of Academic Affairs by LSU. Do not duplicate or redistribute without the permission from the LSU Office of Diversity.

Editor: Kenya LeNoir Messer, Ed.D. Assistant Editor and Art Director: Ariana M. Vargas, M.Ed.

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Messages

College of Agriculture

F. King Alexander, Ph.D. President

College of Art & Design

Richard Koubek, Ph.D. Executive Vice President & Provost

E.J. Ourso College of Business

Dereck Rovaris Sr., Ph.D. Vice Provost for Diversity & Chief Diversity Officer

CONTENTS

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College & Academic Highlights

College of the Coast & Environment

Commitment to Diversity

College of Engineering

LSU Diversity Statement

College of Human Sciences & Education College of Humanities & Social Sciences

OoD Strategic Plan Overview

Manship School of Mass Communication

Diversity Overview & Statistics

College of Music & Dramatic Arts

Diversity Highlights

College of Science Moment or Movement?: A National Dialogue on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All

School of Veterinary Medicine

A.P. Tureaud Sr. Portrait Unveiling

LSU Paul M. Herbert Law Center

2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award

LSU Libraries

LGBTQ Resource Center

Office of Strategic Initiatives

Annual Unity Dinner

Office of Academic Affairs

26th Annual Association of Black Culture Centers National Conference

Division of Student Affairs University Council on Gender Equity

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Office of Diversity Spotlights Office of Diversity

President’s Millennial Scholars Program (PMSP)

Office of Multicultural Affairs

Philanthropy = Transformation

African American Cultural Center

National Diversity Advisory Board

Women's Center

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A Message from the President F. King Alexander, Ph.D. President

While the past year has marked many challenges for our state and nation, LSU has also celebrated many landmark achievements during this period. As Louisiana’s flagship university, we remain committed not only to increasing and celebrating diversity, but also to maintaining an engaging and welcoming educational atmosphere on campus.

When events, both local and national, created tension and divisiveness, LSU responded with Moment or Movement: a National Dialogue on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All. This two-day public symposium brought 1,400 visitors together with scholars, citizen-activists, students, journalists, and civil rights legends for more than 25 events ranging from film screenings and musical performances to keynote speeches and academic forums.

Moment or Movement allowed our community to come together and chart a path toward healing and understanding.

Events are important, but outcomes speak louder than anything. We believe our accomplishments demonstrate the dedication of LSU faculty and staff, the talent of our students, and the generosity of our community. This year, we received our fifth annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine. This award acknowledges universities where diversity and inclusion are interwoven into the very core of operations, and we are proud to be counted among those schools.

Additionally, in May we celebrated our largest, most diverse graduating class in the university’s history – yet another outstanding step in our never-ending quest for improvement.

In every sense of the word, diversity is core to our university community. I hope you’ll enjoy reading the details of our progress in this annual report. Thank you for your interest in and commitment to LSU.

Sincerely, F. King Alexander LSU President

“As Louisiana’s flagship university, we remain committed not only to increasing and celebrating diversity, but also to maintaining an engaging and welcoming educational atmosphere on campus.”

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A Message from the provost Richard Koubek, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President & Provost Over the past two years, the university community has worked diligently to craft LSU's next strategic plan, built upon the tenets of discovery, learning, engagement, and diversity.

Building off of the success of Flagship 2020, LSU has matured its goals to reflect contemporary times. In doing so, we hone with greater definition what diversity means to LSU and, in particular, to each of us.

I believe, thanks to the architecture of the plan, diversity assumes an even more prominent role in our responsibilities to educate the leaders of tomorrow.

Two of the six key values defining the “LSU graduate” focus on diversity: culturally adept and collaborative.

Culturally adept is an appreciation of our own uniqueness combined with an awareness and respect of local and global values and beliefs which will help strengthen our intellectual environment and support our commitment to diversity and inclusion. The key value collaborative inculcates a culture that values and rewards collaboration at all levels of the university: across disciplines; among faculty, staff, and students; with other universities and institutions; and those we serve. Each of these values will permeate all of our work as an institution from teaching to discovery to engagement.

Second, we realize the significant challenge that revolves around the rhetoric of diversity and inclusion.

Tackling it substantively so that we are building bridges rather than perpetuate silos is essential to moving forward as an institution, a state, and a nation. While this has enormous aspirations for our community, at its core is an understanding of our own perceptions of each other. By establishing the Institute for Dialogue, Diversity, and Culture, LSU will have significant impact on how we educate, counsel, articulate, and perform by focusing on how we communicate with each other, and how we can do this more effectively.

At LSU, we are committed to expanding both the diversity and inclusivity of our campus community. I personally believe that the new strategic plan provides a strong architectural framework to explore and adopt new initiatives that enable us, both individually and collectively, to advance the notion, that “Diversity Is Good for Everyone.” I look forward to helping advance the good work yet to come.

“Two of the six key values defining the “LSU graduate” focus on diversity: culturally adept and collaborative.”

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A Message From the Vice Provost of Diversity The 2016-2017 academic school year will go down as one of the most challenging years in recent memory for our diverse populations. This year was filled with horrific and catastrophic events starting with the tragic shooting in June 2016 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando where Latinx members of the LGBTQ communities were targeted and killed. This was followed by the Baton Rouge police shooting of Alton Sterling which resulted in an outcry for racial justice. That incident was followed by the killing of three local police officers which further strained an exhausted local community. A highly divisive presidential election occurred in November which had many excited about the possibility of the first woman president while simultaneously making others quite nervous about issues of immigration. This was followed in January by an executive order banning travel from several predominantly Muslim nations. And for added stress on an already struggling local community, Baton Rouge experienced a “1000-year flood” just as school was beginning last fall, the aftermath of which many are still reeling.

Through it all, LSU and the Office of Diversity persisted. So did our students, faculty, staff, and local community. In an ongoing litany of town halls, community meetings, and proactive programming, we were able to assail fears, calm nerves, begin healing and move our university toward a unified space for learning. We met with student leaders and concerned faculty. We implemented new programs like Chat & Chew and Diversity Den to bring people together. With the OoD’s support and the Office of the President’s leadership, the university launched its inaugural Moment or Movement. This was a powerful three-day summit held in venues across campus that featured panels, speakers, and reflections about many of the challenges mentioned above. With the help of our many partners in colleges and units throughout the university, we were able to withstand this onslaught of challenges and to continue our pursuit of diversity and inclusion at LSU.

As a result of ongoing strategic planning and with the addition of several key staff and advisory board members, the Office of Diversity has been able to foster a community of diverse learners who work towards the full support and inclusion of everyone at our institution. We were able to complete a Campus Climate Survey, open an LGBTQ resource room, welcome our second cohort of PMSP scholars, and so much more despite the many challenges of the year. With unrelenting support from our many colleagues, friends, and benefactors we continue to push and we continue to strive to make sure that at LSU, Diversity is Good for Everyone!

Dereck Rovaris, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Diversity & Chief Diversity Officer

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Commitment to Diversity O F F I C E

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OFFICE OF DIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS

LEAD: Demonstrate leadership and support of the LSU mission and strategic plan

IMPACT: Impact the academic mission of the university and increase the diversity of faculty and administration

TRANSFORM: Infuse diversity into the LSU campus culture and

establish a reputation of inclusive excellence regionally, nationally, and globally

SUSTAIN: Increase leadership and support of the advancement of diversity initiatives and priorities at LSU

Diversity is fundamental to LSU’s mission; the university is committed to creating and maintaining a living and learning environment that embraces individual differences. Cultural inclusion is of highest priority. LSU recognizes that achieving national prominence depends on the human spirit, participation, and dedicated work of the entire University community. Flagship: 2020 will be realized by bringing together diverse ideas, perspectives, skills, and talents of the nation’s preeminent scholars, brightest students, and leading higher education professionals.

Through its Commitment to Community, LSU strives to create an inclusive, respectful, intellectually challenging climate that embraces individual differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, spirituality, socio-economic status, disability, family status, experiences, opinions, and ideas. LSU proactively cultivates and sustains a campus environment that values open dialogue, cooperation, shared responsibility, mutual respect, cultural competence, the driving forces that enrich and enhance cuttingedge research, first-rate teaching, and engaging outreach activities.

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Diversity Overview & Statistics 2016-2017 Graduation Quick Facts

FALL 2016 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT 72%

White/Caucasian

6,562 LSU SET RECORD OF 6,562 DEGREES AWARDED DURING ACADEMIC YEAR.

African-American/Black

THE OVERALL CLASS OF 2016-2017 INCLUDED THE MOST DEGREES AWARDED TO WOMEN,

AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS.

THE MAY 2017 GRADUATING CLASS REPRESENTED

53 48 50

12.1%

Hispanic/Latinx

6.2%

Native American/American Indian

0.3%

Asian/Asian American

4.1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%

Multiracial

2.1%

International

2.4%

Unknown/Other

0.5%

FALL 2016 FULL-TIME GRADUATE ENROLLMENT LOUISIANA PARISHES

U.S. S TAT E S

White/Caucasian

56.2%

African-American/Black

8.30%

Hispanic/Latinx

4.64%

Native American/American Indian Asian/Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

COUNTRIES

Multiracial

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2% 0.2% 1.41% 25.52%

International Unknown/Other

THE OLDEST GRADUATE WAS 66, AND THE YOUNGEST WAS 19.

0.2%

1.8%

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LSU Hosts National Dialogue on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All Photo Credit: John Marcell

On October 3-4, 2016, LSU hosted “Moment or Movement: A National Dialogue on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for A l l ,” a t w o - d a y s y m p o s i u m discussing the tensions and tragedies that took place in Baton Rouge and across the nation during the summer of 2016 and exploring the intersection of p o l i t i c s , i d e n t i t y, a n d t h e democratic process.

Signature events included “A Moment” with Don Lemon, CNN host, which explored the events of Baton Rouge in summer 2016 and the media and community response that ensued and culminated in “A Movement,” a keynote by civil rights pioneer and Xavier University President Emeritus, Dr. Norman Francis, which explored “where we stand now as a society – and where our next steps might take us.”

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A.P. Tureaud Sr. portrait unveiling When referring to the Civil Rights Movement and those responsible for bringing about change in one of the most pivotal times in U.S. history, names often mentioned are the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. However, for Louisiana natives – especially those central to New Orleans and Baton Rouge – A.P. Tureaud, Sr., is a name that resonates with equal esteem.

LSU and the A.P. Tureaud, Sr. Black Alumni Chapter paid tribute to Tureaud and his legacy with a portrait unveiling.

In attendance were LSU President F. King Alexander, Vice Provost for Diversity Dereck Rovaris, Sr., A.P. Tureaud, Jr., and President of the A.P. Tureaud, Sr. Black Alumni Chapter Gary Huntley.

Photo Credit: LSU Alumni Magazine

The portrait, painted by New Orleans based Haitian artist Ulrick Jean-Pierre, was dedicated to LSU. The first portrait

hangs in the African American Cultural Center.

“Placing the portrait in the Student Union continues to highlight the life and legacy of this humble but productive man,” said Tureaud, Jr. “He valued the power of education and worked tirelessly to end racially segregated education in Louisiana.” LSU has honored his accomplishments, and hopefully his portrait will challenge students to discover what he achieved and that one person can make significant contributions to our state and country.”

As the local attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc., Tureaud, Sr. handled the majority of desegregation and other civil rights cases filed in Louisiana from the early 1940s through the 1960s. This included suits filed to allow Black students to attend LSU. In 1953, his son, Tureaud, Jr., became the first African-American undergraduate student to enroll at LSU. In addition, Tureaud, Sr. successfully obtained equal pay for Louisiana’s Black teachers, fought to end segregation on the state’s city buses and successfully defended one of the first sit-in cases to go before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Source: The Daily Reveille & Office of Diversity

LSU Receives Higher Education: Excellence in Diversity Award 5th Year In Row Enhancing diversity at LSU is a core institutional value. LSU received the 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine – the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education – making it the fifth year in a row that the university was named a HEED Award recipient.

As a recipient of the annual HEED Award, a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, LSU was featured along with 83 other recipients in INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s November 2016 issue.

Lea r n m o re : w w w. i n s i g h tt o d i v e r s i t y. c o m

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HIGHER EDUCATION

Excellence in diversity

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New Space Affirms Inclusion LGBTQ RESOURCE ROOM Nestled behind the University Women’s Center lies a room faculty and students have been pushing to establish.

“The LGBTQ Resource Room, which opened February 22, 2017 acts as a safe space for students to come together, be themselves, and seek support on campus,” said graduate assistant and coordinator of the LGBTQ Project, Karie Holton.

“I think the term ‘safe space’ has been twisted to mean that you will be shut down if you are saying something that not everyone agrees with, but what safe spaces really mean...is that everyone can relax and be themselves, no matter who they are.” -Karie Holton

While there has long been a push to create a space for LGBTQ students on campus, the resource room came together rather quickly.

The Office of Diversity helped to gather furniture, a TV, and decorations for the room in the Women’s Center to be established. The resource room was supported by LSU President F. King Alexander’s office and the Provost’s office, with Provost Richard Koubek attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Wes Heath, Assistant Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said the room’s resources are minimal right now as the funding is primarily through donations. Inside, students will find pride flags and a banner detailing the history of LGBTQ people in the United States. Soon, Heath said, he hopes the shelves will be filled with books, movies, and TV shows about LGBTQ people. Additionally, Heath hopes the room will have a computer and free printing services.

Summer Steib, director of the Women’s Center, said establishing the resource room is an important step in the direction of establishing an entire LGBTQ center, much like the African American Cultural Center or the Women’s Center, on campus. Steib notes that such places began as small rooms and grew into larger centers as students’ needs were assessed.

Heath said there are a number of individuals within the Women’s Center who will be “safe space trained” by the end of February.

Holton said that having a safe space for marginalized groups like LGBTQ students is important because it helps those students feel welcomed and valued.

The LGBTQ Resource Room is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Source: Dena Winegeart | The Daily Reveille

Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted the 2017 MLK Unity Reception MLK Unity Reception The on January 17, 2017. The MLK Unity Reception is a time honored joining together LSU, Southern University, and Baton Rouge held to bring together tradition Community College for a celebration and appreciation event. During Unity Reception, we proudly recognized the contributions of our baton rouge community the leaders with a keynote address, encouraged our student leaders to reflect on their role in resolving critical community issues, and to take initiative in enhancing unity among diverse groups within our community. The City of Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome was among many distinguished guests present at the Unity Reception.

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The 26th Annual Association of Black Culture Centers National Conference Held at LSU Louisiana State University’s African American Cultural Center (AACC) and Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosted the 26th Annual Association of Black Culture Centers National Conference on October 27 – 30, 2016. The Association of Black Culture Centers (ABCC) is an organization that seeks to create, promote, and provide opportunities for critical cultural dialogue surrounding African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American ethnic groups. ABCC strives to accomplish this goal through the increased understanding of history and culture of ethnic groups and building upon the historical and contemporary connections that these groups share with the Africana people.

The 26th ABCC National Conference evolved into an experience like no other in which every participant gained a renewed enthusiasm to carry back to their respective campuses. Themed “Culture Center: Campus and Community Organizing to Make Lives Matter”, the conference provided a serendipitous opportunity to open dialogue and reflection from the challenging 2016 summer. The conference’s focus stimulated presentations and round table discussions centered around building relationships with the various internal and external university communities, strengthening ethnic group peer support, mental health, and the integration of minority experiences into education. The conference was highlighted by an esteemed group of keynote speakers including Dr. Antonio

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Tillis, Dean of the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs, at the College of Charleston; Dr. Mari Fuentes-Martin, the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students, at Louisiana State University; Dr. Mary Hicks, Assistant Professor of Black Studies and History, at Amherst College; Tyehimba Jess, Poet and Poetry Editor at the African American Review; A.P. Tureaud Jr., the first Black Undergraduate to attend Louisiana State University, and Dr. Eddie Glaude, a William S. Tod, Professor of Religion and African American Studies and Chair of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University.

Concurrently, LSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted the 10th Annual Multicultural Student Leadership Conference (MSLC).

This conference was hosted on the Saturday of the ABCC National Conference, and allowed LSU students an opportunity to present their research to a national audience. Furthermore, this experience introduced LSU students, faculty, and staff, to the national discourse on race, gender, oppression, and the importance of cultural centers on campus. MSLC ended with a poetry social, allowing students from ABCC and MSLC an opportunity to display their talents while continuing to further the critical cultural dialogue that began earlier in the day.

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Office of Diversity The Office of Diversity (OoD) is a division of the Office of Academic Affairs committed to fostering inclusive educational opportunities and an equitable workforce environment at LSU. OoD provides leadership to ensure that diversity is a vital component in all decision-making processes on all administrative, academic, budgetary, and strategic planning fronts. To that end, OoD ensures that LSU as a whole is actively recruiting and supporting a diverse student body while simultaneously recruiting and supporting faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.

BLACK MALE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (BMLI)

OoD is also responsible for supervising and guiding professional units whose purpose and mission is to promote understanding and respect for difference. These units include the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the African American Cultural Center, and the Women’s Center. Similarly, OoD works closely with university committees, commissions, task forces, and affinity groups whose charge is to support underrepresented LSU community members.

The purpose of the Louisiana State University Black Male Leadership Initiative (BMLI) is to help improve the retention, graduation and participation rates for male students of color through mentoring, leadership development and academic support, while connecting these students with faculty, staff and the campus community. The program targets the Sophomore and Junior collegiate years of males of color at LSU. In 2011, the LSU-BMLI retention rate of the 14 fellows participating in the program was 92 percent. The following year, LSU-BMLI retained 100 percent of the 13 Fellows participating in the program for their first year. Respectfully, the five-year graduation rate for LSU-BMLI Fellows who enrolled as freshman in 2008 was 76 percent. The five-year graduation rate for LSU-BMLI Fellows enrolled as freshmen in 2009 and graduating in May 2014 was 71 percent. In a recent pilot study conducted by LSU-BMLI of current cohort members, most Fellows cited their participation in the program as their reason for returning to LSU.

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CHAT AND CHEW The Office of Diversity launched the Chat and Chew initiative to encourage faculty and staff to interact across disciplines and engage in challenging discussions in a safe space.

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On March 17, the Office of Diversity partnered with the Cox Communication Center for Student-Athletes to celebrate the rich diversity of the LSU community by hosting Rep Your Flag. Over 300 students, faculty, and staff were in attendance to represent various cultures.

REP YOUR flag

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Office of Multicultural Affairs SHAUN KING SPEAKS AT ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM

“Human beings can be amazing, cooperative and peaceful and there are pockets of peace throughout history, but there are times of decline as well,” he said.

Each year, the MLK Commemorative Program brings the foremost authors, scholars, and activists to our campus for critical discussion on diversity, education, and issues of social justice. The 2017 MLK Commemorative Keynote Speaker was Shaun King, Senior Justice Writer for the New York Daily News and #BLACKLIVESMATTER Activist.

The Daily Reveille wrote, “Shaun King is known for his activism involving police brutality and justice. While he wasn’t always a justice writer, after seeing a video of [Eric Garner, a Black man] being choked to death by a White police officer in July of 2014, it inspired him to begin speaking out publicly against police violence and advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement. “Looking at history,” King said, “the nation can foresee much of what will happen in the future”. The premise of his speech was based on a key lesson King stated helped him understand where the nation is right now.

King discussed that humanity undergoes a “dip” after experiencing innovation – such as the first Black president, and he said his theory was built upon the thoughts of Leopold von Ranke, a historian and father of the study of [modern-source based] history.

‘We keep saying it feels like we’re in the sixties because it’s hard to understand a moment in history when we’re living in it,’ King said.

His speech was supported with informational slides of the “dip” theory and several videos of police brutality and social injustice. King reminded the audience that the deadliest hate crime of the past 80 years against Black people did not happen in the Civil Rights Movement, but just two summers ago when Dylann Roof killed nine Black worshipers who had invited him to study the Bible with them at a South Carolina church in 2015.

The speech concluded with King asking every person in the room to help get the nation out of the beginning of the “dip.” He says, “Outrage and action have to be on the same level, and I am not asking to take your outrage down, I am asking you to bring your action up.” The speech ended with a standing ovation.

The MLK Commemorative Program continues to effectuate the mind with critical analysis, celebration, and social action in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Louisiana Queer Conference (LAQC) The LGBTQ Project is proud of the successful 2016-2017 academic year which included the Louisiana Queer Conference (LAQC) and an updated Safe Spaces Program. The 2017 conference was held on March 25, 2017 and was the 7th LAQC held at LSU. With attendance at 250 individuals, it maintained its precedence as one of the largest student-ran conferences in the south. The LAQC provides leadership development, networking opportunities, and social support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) college students and their allies in Louisiana. This past year, the conference showcased student growth and positive experiences in college. LAQC is an example of the many ways that the university discusses ideas and collaborates on projects, while building a statewide network to advance the LGBTQ movement. Research in higher education illustrates that the more students are involved, the more likely they are to thrive and achieve success. Students who are involved devote more time and energy to academics, spend more time on campus, and participate in student organizations, which creates more positive interactions with faculty and staff.

The 2017 keynote was Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL draftee. Michael’s message to conference attendees was to see beyond labels and to look at an intersectional world of multiple identities. He discussed his own background of being raised in a lower socioeconomic class, family struggles, being a person of color, and navigating a closeted gay identity for most of his life.

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African American Cultural Center (AACC) AACC HOSTS ANNUAL JAZZ BRUNCH The AACC Annual Jazz Brunch is a dynamic event presented by the Black History Month Committee under the leadership of African American Cultural Center (AACC).

The Jazz Brunch is an occasion that celebrated the rich history of the AACC. It also honored some very special individuals who have invested their time and interest into the center’s programs and initiatives and upholds its purpose when it was founded 24 years ago.

During the Jazz Brunch, the AACC is highlighted, which was dedicated and opened on January 17, 1993. A concept that was over 50 years in the making, the AACC has served students, faculty, and staff of LSU and the Baton Rouge community for over 20 years. Originally a space of 1,200 sq. ft., the AACC continues to serve as the cultural, social, and academic “hub” of black student life here at LSU. The center currently boasts six signature programs: Umoja, the Multicultural Student Leadership Conference (MSLC), the Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, the Black History Month Celebration, Robing Ceremony, and the annual Juneteenth Celebration, all of which have continued to grow and expand over the years. These programs have allowed students the opportunity to develop into some of the university’s strongest leaders by helping to plan and conceptualize these and numerous other events. Additionally, the center promotes and spearheads programs that are designed to support our students of color academically, socially, and culturally. Some of the specific programs and initiatives include the AACC Ambassadors, the Black Student Union, and the Black Male Leadership Initiative. These programs would not be possible without the support and hard work of student leaders and professionals across campus.

It is important to honor the individuals who devote their time and energy to advancing diversity across campus through working with the AACC. This year, we honored LSU graduate student, Vanitra Brand, four faculty members, Dr. Joyce Jackson, Dr. Stephen Finley, Dr. Dari Green, Dr. Roland Mitchell, and one staff member, Ms. Linda Smith-Griffin.

Furthermore, we were able to partner with various campus departments and community partners for sponsorship, which highlights a continued support for diversity and inclusion at LSU. Partnerships included, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana, the LSU College of Science, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, and Flare Event Design. Our celebration was accompanied by a special performance by a very talented musical guest, Mr. George Bell.

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ESPRIT DE FEMME Established in 2009, the Esprit de Femme award is an annual acknowledgement of a person who has made exceptional efforts toward the advancement of women in Louisiana. This award honors individuals who elevate the status of women in the community through their contributions to the arts, education, healthcare, business and industry, charity, and civic engagement.

Beginning in 2013, the Esprit de Femme award was presented at the annual Sunrise Celebration and this year we celebrated our fifth event. The Esprit de Femme Awards Sunrise Celebration is the capstone event for the Women’s Center’s Women’s History Celebration. Funds raised through the Sunrise Celebration are used to support and advance the mission of the Women’s Center and to provide direct support to LSU students.

The event was held on March 30 and recognized the contributions of eight phenomenal women and one man who have made outstanding contributions to advancing women in Louisiana. Honorees included Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome, celebrated educator and author, Dr. Sandra McGuire, and Bengal Belle’s founder, Aimee Simon.

In addition to recognizing trailblazing honorees, the 2017 Esprit de Femme Awards Sunrise Celebration saw two outstanding student leaders recognized as Esprit de Femme Student Leader Award Recipients. The two recipients were: Camille Faircloth, a junior majoring in Kinesiology and student director of LSU’s “We’re Committed” campaign; and Lacey Sanchez, a graduate student dually enrolled in the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the Manship School of Mass Communications and former Miss Louisiana. These outstanding students were honored at the Sunrise Celebration and received a monetary award to assist with continuing their education at LSU.

Women’s Center

To learn more about the Esprit de Femme award, Women’s History Month programs, and other initiatives of the Women’s Center, visit us at http://www.lsu.edu/ diversity/womens_center/ or via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. w w w. l s u . e d u / d i v e r s i t y / w o m e n s _ c e n t e r 19

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COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

DIVERSITY IN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS The LSU Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization is the premier organization to provide support for all racial and ethnic underrepresented minorities in the college and broader LSU community. The organization has been a part of the college in the past but under the leadership of the current dean, it was reestablished in 2013 with the goal of providing networking opportunities for students with professionals, providing professional development opportunities, and promoting scholarly achievement in a nurturing environment.

During the fall, the LSU MANRRS chapter hosted the MANRRS Region 4 Cluster meeting on campus. Students and advisors from five universities attended and participated in workshops, experiential learning activities, and contests in preparation for the national conference.

Additionally, one of the highlights of the organization’s year was the attendance of five students to the national conference in Pittsburgh, PA. At the conference, the students networked with professionals in their career area and interviewed for internships, scholarships, and employment.

Four of the five students competed in the National Quiz Bowl contest and two students were named elite scholars.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH SERVICE-LEARNING MANRRS partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to perform outreach activities targeting underrepresented minorities, minority agricultural producers, and landowners. Outreach is an integral part of the overall delivery of NRCS programs and services to customers and potential beneficiaries to inform the public about what NRCS can provide to the public.

Students have also volunteered at Sankofa Market to learn about conservation efforts. This market is in a food desert, which is a place where resources for fresh fruits and vegetables are scarce or nonexistent, so it is valuable to the community. At the market, the students helped set up the fresh fruit and vegetables stands for the public to buy. The students were able to talk to locals who visit the market regularly and see how important it is to the community. After leaving the market, the students visited a wind tunnel where some of the fresh produce for the market and some local restaurants are grown. Students also learned some of the advantages associated with wind tunnels and growing locally.

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COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN too much screen-time, and an elderly woman who uses a walker.

The interior design seniors each selected at least three of these typologies to consider while developing their capstone projects.

SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN | Universal Design: Accessibility for All

Wesley Bellan, senior in the School of Interior Design, completed a capstone project, titled “900 Camp.” It was inspired by his personal connection with the LGBTQIA+ community. He sought to use design to promote tolerance and acceptance and combat the stigmatization of marginalized communities. “I wanted to celebrate the progress that has been made,” he stated. “I know that with progress comes change, and change of any kind is a hard concept to cope with for many.”

“Our concept and approach to universal design emerged from designing for disability, but our approach differs in that we expanded the focus on function to include health and social participation,” noted renowned universal design expert Edward Steinfeld, who served as the LSU College of Art & Design’s Nadine Carter Russell Chair in spring 2017. “Usability is not sufficient. We design for active living, to reduce accidents, and increase safety from aspects that can cause disease, for quality of life.”

Bellan set out to accomplish a few goals. He wanted to show the importance of interior design and how a space can be manipulated to elicit the most positive response in its users. “I also wanted to show how essential steps of progress can be integrated into the built environment to better the community and destigmatize issues like gender neutral facilities. Overall, I was inspired to make a difference.”

As the Nadine Carter Russell Chair at LSU, Steinfeld worked with the School of Interior Design throughout the spring 2017 semester, visiting the school a total of three times and spending a several days in Baton Rouge each trip. The entire school met and worked with Steinfeld, and students were encouraged to consider and apply universal design principles when working on their studio projects. Steinfeld also led a faculty workshop on the principles of universal design and presented a public lecture at the college.

With Nadine Carter Russell Chair Edward Steinfeld’s guidance, Bellan concentrated on eight principles of universal design: cultural appropriateness, personalization, wellness, social interaction, comfort, understanding, awareness, and body fit.

Interior Design seniors working on their capstone projects were required to incorporate universal design principles in their final projects, and not only did Steinfeld attend their final reviews, he worked with them throughout the semester, offering his guidance and expertise as their projects evolved.

Steinfeld noted how much he learned about the School’s capstone projects, in particular. “That’s a well-designed exercise, and the students all found ways to generate programmatic aspects of universal design. It’s a good fit.” He discussed the lag that often occurs between what students are studying in education and in professional practice. “That will change as the population ages, but these students will be far ahead of the curve.”

During his first visit, Steinfeld asked students to come up with several unique user typologies to reflect the variety of disabilities, limitations, and needs of the public as a whole—such as a veteran amputee with PTSD, a morbidly obese woman recovering from

school of architecture | National organization of minority architecture (NOMAS)

The NOMAS chapter hosted their Annual Art Gala. It is a silent auction of art that raises awareness and funding for the NOMAS initiatives.

NOMAS also conducted their Light a Fire Program for the fourth year in a row. Students and faculty visited three local high schools and gave presentations and workshops for the students there.

NOMAS President and LSU School of Architecture May 2017 graduate ,Thomas Woodard ,recently served as a mentor to Louisiana’s 2017 Future City winning team, Scotlandville Middle School.

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E. J. OURSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

LSU Finishes Third for Second Straight Year at National Diversity Case Competition On its second visit to the National Diversity Case Competition, the LSU’s presentation was a strategy to help publicize and market E. J. Ourso College of Business Diversity Diplomats team finished Target’s role in gender-neutral toys. third among 35 schools, repeating their showing at last year’s event.

“What an amazing accomplishment,” said Angela Guidry, director

of the Office of Diversity for the E. J. Ourso College. “This year’s The LSU team – dubbed Tiger Paw Solutions (TPS) – finished only Tiger Paw Solutions team had great expectations placed upon behind the University of Cincinnati and Indiana University, whose them. This team pushed themselves, endured the process, stuck Kelley School of Business hosts the event each year. with the plan and made the necessary improvements to compete

at a high level. They had big shoes to fill, they were determined “Competing was an amazing experience, overall,” said team and passionate, and ultimately, they showed their LSU pride and member Brianna Price. “It was an honor to represent the E. J. fulfilled the university motto of ‘Love Purple and Live Gold.’”

Ourso College of Business and I learned so many skills that I will be able to carry with me as I enter the professional world. My The Kelley School of Business National Diversity Case teammates were all extremely hard-working and bright and we Competition, or NDCC, is a premier event that brings together meshed so well together, which clearly benefited us in the end.” top-level, diverse talent from colleges and universities across the

country. The competition is held annually over the Martin Luther The team members were Carmen Calderon, a sophomore King Jr. holiday weekend and is aimed at educating students international trade & finance major from Cecilia, La.; Teja Dabney, about the importance of diversity in business. It also acts as a a junior accounting major from New Orleans; Price, a sophomore networking and recruiting event for corporate partners who are marketing major from Ocean Springs, Miss.; and Irielle on hand to judge the case competition, present workshops, and Washington, a senior marketing major from New Orleans. participate in the networking reception and dinner.

TPS took home $3,000 from the $20,000 prize pool. Only the top seven teams placed, with the University of Michigan, University of Washington, Purdue University, and the University of Southern California rounding out that group.

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COLLEGE OF THE COAST & ENVIRONMENT

CC&E Strategic plan highlights diversity

STRATEGIC GOALS

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Within the CC&E Strategic Plan, they h a v e i d e n t i fi e d t h r e e d i v e r s i t y initiatives that they want to emphasize within their academic programs (i.e., Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences [DOCS] and the Department of Environmental Sciences [DES], and their undergraduate program in Coastal Environmental Science [CES]), faculty, and undergraduate and graduate student population.

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Increase diversity within the College’s student population

Increase diversity within the College of Coast & Environment’s faculty

Continue to nurture the EnvironMentors diversity outreach and recruitment program for underprivileged high school students

EnvironMentors The EnvironMentors program (initiative 3), hosted14 Scotlandville High School students.

All were African-American and 60% were female. Of the 28 graduate student mentors involved in that program, 18 were Caucasian, 4 were African-American, 4 were Asian, 1 was Hispanic, 1 was Other Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 50% were female.

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Vision 2020 The College of Engineering’s new strategic plan “Vision 2020” is committed to realizing the remarkable potential of our students, staff, faculty, and alumni to improve the quality of life for Louisiana and beyond. At the center of the “Vision 2020” is a commitment to building a culture of diversity and inclusive excellence. The Office of Student Services and Diversity Initiatives along with the Dean’s Office spearheads several programs highlighted below in building the culture of inclusive excellence among students, faculty, and alumni in the College.

Women Impacting Style (WISE) The WISE dinner and professional dress show is an event for Society of Women Engineers at LSU and the LSU College of Engineering Diversity Initiatives, and it allows students to develop professionally. The event benefits LSU students by providing an opportunity to meet and network with women engineering professionals and demonstrating how to dress appropriately at a variety of professional work environments and events. WISE 2017 was held at the Lod Cook Alumni and Conference Center on March 22, 2017, and 142 LSU engineering students, 41 female engineers, and 8 LSU faculty/staff participated. Chevron, the major sponsor, selected Katie Pelliccio, Reliability Team Lead, to deliver the keynote speech entitled “Empowering Women in the Energy Industry.” It is a truly impactful evening for female engineering students.

Alumni Engagement & Recognition 1.

In 2016-2017, LSU College of Engineering inducted two outstanding alumni/ae into the College's Hall of Distinction. Of the two new inductees, one is an African American woman.

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In 2016, the LSU College of Engineering increased the number of women on its Dean's Advisory Council, adding a distinguished alumna of LSU's Electrical Engineering Department.

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Every year the LSU College of Business honors the top 100 fastest-growing companies in which LSU alumni serve executive roles. In 2016, the highest honor went to a business in which the executive was an African-American alumna of the College of Engineering.

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For the May 2017 College of Engineering diploma ceremony, the College invited, as its featured speaker, an accomplished LSU Mechanical Engineering alumna who is an African-American.

Earlier in 2017, the College spotlighted her in a feature story posted to its website, which attracted lots of readership.

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COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES & EDUCATION

She Geauxs Women’s Leadership Conference She Geauxs Women’s Leadership Conference, organized by Kristie Galy, CHSE Director of Sponsored Research, Rachel Henry, the Director of Event Management and Marketing with LSU Auxiliary Services, Mary Ethel Baxter Lipscomb Memorial Endowed Professor and Associate Director of the LSU School of Human Resource Education, and Workforce Development Tracey Rizzuto in partnership with international speaker Dima Ghawi, brought together professional women from across Baton Rouge to create a community of support and encouragement dedicated to the advancement of all women. The full-day event featured in-depth breakout sessions, inspiring general sessions, and thought-provoking panel discussions that provided tools, resources, and networking opportunities for empowering women of all professional and personal paths on their journeys inward, outward, and onward.

Choose Hope Associate Director’s Research Addresses Chronic Crime The Hope Zone Baton Rouge Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (Hope Zone BR-BCJI) initiative responds to crime activity and socio-economic drivers of crime with strategic initiatives developed by the City of Baton Rouge and LSU researchers. Dr. Tracey Rizzuto was a key re s e a rc h e r i n d e v e l o p i n g t h e S t rat e g i c Compatibility Assessment Instrument, a novel measurement tool for identifying opportunities for strategic partnering toward identifying patterns of crime and high-crime neighborhoods, improving relationships between communities and law enforcement, and implementing longlasting positive change in public safety and health.

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COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Studies, Jewish Studies, Linguistics, and Women’s and Gender Studies. All of these programs emphasize diversity in their courses, bring in outside speakers on various forms of cultural identity, and support and recruit a diverse student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Diversity highlights at home & abroad The College of Humanities & Social Sciences supports the PreDoctoral Scholars Institute, which provides a summer research e x p e r i e n c e f o r u n d e rg ra d u a t e s f ro m t ra d i t i o n a l l y underrepresented groups who are non-LSU students. Students work with LSU faculty on a research project, usually funded, and gain experience in labs and using original data and source material. In 2016, the undergraduates who participated in the program came from Morehouse, Spelman, Rust, Clark Atlanta, Georgia State, and Xavier. In 2017, they came from Spelman, Beloit, Southern Nazarene, Morehouse, Bowie State, Cornell, and Clark Atlanta. Their research ranged from “African American Women and the Incumbency Advantage” to “RaceBased Stress and Treatment” and “Black Women’s Hair as a Performance of Racial Identity.”

In 2016, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders established the only chapter of the National Black Speech Language Hearing Association (NBSHA) in Louisiana and the 4-state region in cooperation with Southern University. The first Chairperson, LSU doctoral student, Cara Tyson, was selected for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP), a premier program of our national organization.

The Department of French Studies obtained a Partner University Fund grant that enabled five graduate students from the Université des Antilles to travel to Louisiana to collaborate with four LSU graduate students in researching "Slavery in the Caribbean Basin" at Whitney Plantation. In April 2017, those four LSU graduate students went to the French Caribbean to conduct research on a similar topic. Using the same grant, the French department hosted an international conference with some 30 foreign visitors on Louisiane/French Antilles: A Shared Space/ Time.

In 2014-15, the College signed a memorandum of understanding with Spelman College for a 1-1 student exchange, and in 2016-17 we sent two students to Spelman and hosted two at LSU. We offer an “exchange plus,” whereby Spelman students will take regular classes, but also have forcredit research experiences that they would not get at their home institution.

The College supports diversity through its interdisciplinary programs: African and African American Studies, Asian Studies, Comparative Literature, Film and Media Arts, International

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MANSHIP SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATION

The “Summer of 2016” project

THE ANNUAL BREAUX SYMPOSIUM

The goal of the Manship School is to teach and conduct research at the intersection of media and public affairs. The violence in Baton Rouge last summer of 2016 touched both of those subjects. As a result, an email was sent three days after the shooting of Alton Sterling to faculty and staff members, students, and members of Manship’s advisory boards.

The e-mail asked for advice about how Manship could shed light on the tragedy. The same approach was followed after the shooting of the three officers.

Results of the Project: A study by two professors and a graduate student about which sources of information are trusted by students at LSU and at Southern University.

Dr. Lance Porter’s interdisciplinary CREATE Lab guided Dialogue on Race Louisiana through the digital world.

A groundbreaking study about race relations in Louisiana by Manship’s Public Policy Lab. The discouraging results were front-page news.

The Annual John Breaux Symposium, themed “Blurred Boundaries, Real Consequences: The Intersection of Public Policy and Race”, was based almost completely on the studies that came out of the Summer of 2016 event. City of Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome was the featured keynote speaker who was introduced by President King F. Alexander.

Every student in the introductory media-writing course reported on something outside of his or her comfort area.

The faculty voted to require our elective “Multiculturalism and the Media” course.

Professors Andrea Miller and Jinx Broussard completed a book about crisis communication—and included Baton Rouge’s summer of 2016. w w w. m a n s h i p. l s u . e d u

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COLLEGE OF MUSIC & DRAMATIC ARTS

Love & Justice: A Reflection on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All through Music and the Spoken Word On October 4, 2016, the College of Music & Dramatic Arts presented Love & Justice: A Reflection on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All through Music and the Spoken Word as a centerpiece activity during the LSU President’s symposium, “Moment or Movement: A National Dialogue on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All”. The program, which was held in the Rotunda of the Coast and Environment Building, featured musical selections interwoven with dramatic readings of texts by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others performed by students and faculty from the LSU School of Music and the LSU School of Theatre.

Musical highlights from the event included “Songs of Love and Justice” by Adolphus Hailstork, featuring student soloists Monica Music, Miranda Natera, McKenzie Miller, and DeAundre’ Woods accompanied by LSU faculty member Dianne Frazer; “Mother and Child” from Violin Suite by William Grant Still performed by LSU School of Music faculty members Espen Lilleslatten and Dianne Frazer; and “Fix Me Jesus” performed by School of Music undergraduate student Prentiss Mouton. Additional performers included School of Theatre undergraduate students Maja Dupas, performing an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “Our God is Marching On!”;

Jeremiah Turner

reading from a Facebook post by slain Baton Rouge police officer Montrell Jackson, and Alexandra Abney reciting “The

LOVE & JUSTICE: MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS “SONGS OF LOVE AND JUSTICE” BY ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK

Featuring student soloists Monica Music, Miranda Natera, McKenzie Miller, and DeAundre’ Woods accompanied by LSU faculty member Dianne Frazer

“MOTHER AND CHILD” FROM VIOLIN SUITE

BY WILLIAM GRANT STILL Performed by LSU School of Music faculty members Espen Lilleslatten and Dianne Frazer

“FIX ME JESUS”

Performed by School of Music undergraduate student Prentiss Mouton.

Fruit of Silence” by Mother Teresa. The event ended with the LSU A Cappella Choir surrounding the audience for a stirring musical rendition of “The Fruit of Silence” by Latvian composer Pēteris Vask. The program was created by former CMDA Assistant Dean for Recruitment and Diversity, Frederick Peterbark.

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COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Office of Diversity and Inclusion The College of Science Office of Diversity and Inclusion collaborated with campus partners to lead several initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion during the 2016-17 academic year. These included professional development workshops for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Hidden Figures Revealed The Office co-led the Hidden Figures Revealed event. In celebration of Women’s History month, the LSU College of Science and College of Engineering co-hosted this outreach activity for the greater Baton Rouge Area. Herein, the Hidden Figures feature film served as a bases to facilitate discussions about the experiences of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, to expose high school girls to academic opportunities in STEM, connect high school girls to women STEM professionals, and to share academic, professional, and personal advice and guidance to young girls as they begin to consider their academic and career options. For this event, we offered dual showings of the film to over 400 high school girls during the day and nearly 900 community members during the evening. Both groups participated in discussions with LSU women scientists and engineering faculty and students, as well as representatives from local industry including IBM.

COACh Workshop - Power of Persuasion Many young scientists feel competent and powerful in their area of expertise. However, when entering into a meeting or negotiation, some begin to feel as if they are playing in a game where they don’t know the rules. This workshop provides participants with skills to succeed in accomplishing their goals in difficult interpersonal situations. Herein, participants are introduced to techniques synthesized from both theater and leadership training to help them be more effective. They learn how to articulate a clear purpose, land their message, be heard, enhance personal presence, manage hot moments, and think strategically about alliances and tactics.

The LSU College of Science and College of Engineering co-hosted workshops for S&E graduate students during spring 2017. Over 75 students registered for the event, of which 15% identified as an underrepresented minority, and of which over 40% identified as a female scientist or engineer. Herein, this workshop provided participants with skills to succeed in accomplishing their goals in difficult interpersonal situations. Participants were introduced to techniques synthesized from both theater and leadership training to help them be more effective. They learned how to articulate a clear purpose, land their message, be heard, enhance their personal presence, manage hot moments, and think strategically about alliances and tactics.

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SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Diversity Matters at the School of Veterinary Medicine The LSU SVM Diversity Committee is made up of faculty and students and meets monthly. The school’s mission is to improve and promote diversity and inclusivity and create a welcoming environment for everyone.

School of Veterinary Medicine Diversity Matters Seminar Series

2016-2017 Student Recruitment Initiatives

Hispanic Heritage Month, October 2016, was celebrated with invited speaker Dr. Carlos Campos for Dean’s Grand Rounds. Dr. Campos’ message focused on how being inclusive of all types of people and languages improves market share in a veterinary practice compared to noninclusive competitors.

A recruiting weekend during the SVM open house was initiated with personalized email invitations to URM applicants. Additionally, recruiting trips to Southern University, Xavier University, and Grambling State University were carried out to speak to pre-professional, Agriculture, and/or biology students about veterinary medicine and to invite them to the Vet Med open house.

As a result, a group of students from Xavier came to LSU for a tour and talk. Also, a portal to download names and contact information of URM students who take the GRE and indicate Animal Science or Veterinary Medicine as their primary area of interest to actively recruit these students was introduced.

Dr. Jessie Bridges spoke at Dean’s Grand Rounds in November 2016. She is a Muslim veterinarian practicing in food animal medicine and discussed aspects of practicing her religion, its challenges, and how she navigated working in a male dominated field.

In celebration of Black History Month, invited speaker George Robinson, LSU DVM Class of 1981, and one of the first African American veterinarians at LSU, spoke to the faculty and students on the topic of “My Path in Veterinary Medicine”.

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Two national veterinary medicine career expos with a high representation of URM students attended to promote the LSU SVM; one at UC Davis and one in Washington D.C. While in D.C., we participated in the Iverson Bell Symposium which is devoted to topics of diversity in the veterinary profession.

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PAUL M. HERBERT LAW CENTER

LSU Law Center Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives In its second year of existence, the Law Center Diversity & Professionalism Committee focused on diversity and inclusiveness programming which was open to both the general LSU and greater Baton Rouge communities. The Committee planned and held a panel entitled “Learning in a Cross-Cultural Society” as part of First Year Orientation. The Committee developed a series entitled “Civil Discourse in the Law Center Community” and over the course of the academic year held three panels as part of the series: “Civil Discourse in the Law Center Community: Talking about Race and Gender”; “Civil Discourse in the Law Center Community: Talking about Gender”; and “Civil Discourse in the Law Center Community: Inclusion of LGBTQ as Members of Community.”

In addition, the Committee held a screening of the Netflix documentary, 13th, and sponsored a panel discussion following the screening (13th: Mapping the Road from Slavery to Mass Incarceration: A Film Screening and Panel Discussion of Ava Duvernay’s Film 13th). The Committee also held a panel entitled the LSU Law Center Forum: The Executive Order Travel Ban discussing President Trump’s travel ban executive order.

Moreover, the Committee worked with the President’s Office to help plan the LSU Presidential Symposium, “Moment or Movement: A National Dialogue on Identity, Empowerment, and Justice for All,” a portion of which was held at the Law Center. The Committee co-sponsored LSU Law Professor Chris Tyson’s presentation during the Symposium, which was

entitled, The Racial and Spatial Dimensions of Baton Rouge’s Summer of 2016: A Historical Perspective.

In addition to the foregoing events, several Law Center faculty members presented Civil Discourse in the University Community: Talking About Race and Ethnicity as part of the Office of Diversity’s Chat & Chew series.

The Law Center continued to actively recruit law students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. The recruiting team continued its annual visits to HBCUs this year and also focused recruiting efforts on institutions that have large concentrations of students that identify as racial or ethnic underrepresented minorities. In addition, the Law Center attended the National HBCU Pre Law Summit, which is advertised as the nation’s only pre-law conference created especially to address the unique issues and concerns of HBCU students and graduates.

As in years past, the Law Center co-sponsored (along with Southern University Law Center), “High School Day,” where high school students from around the region are invited to attend. The purpose of “High School Day” is to establish a pipeline for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to become familiar with and interested in the legal profession.

Finally, the Law Center continued its membership in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO) Consortium on Diversity in Legal Education and will be a “Sustaining Institution” for the upcoming year.

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LSU LIBRARIES

LSU Libraries Joins ACRL Diversity Alliance The LSU Libraries Diversity Committee was established to foster a positive attitude toward diversity and inclusion within the Libraries. The Diversity Committee has spearheaded several initiatives to maintain a welcoming and respectful environment for all library employees and patrons.

The Libraries became a member of the ACRL Diversity Alliance in February 2017. This  program unites academic libraries that share a commitment to increase the hiring pipeline of qualified, talented individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. As part of a separate initiative, Diversity Committee members prepared an internal proposal to provide a career pathway from more diverse paraprofessional positions into less diverse professional positions within the Libraries by supporting and providing funding for staff in pursuit of a Master in Library and Information Science.  The committee has also initiated efforts to establish a Reflection Room in Middleton Library dedicated to quiet reflection, mindfulness, or prayer. The development of the reflection room is ongoing. When it opens, it will be a comfortable and accepting place for reflection, meditation, and prayer for students and staff of all beliefs.

Library staff have also shown a commitment to diversity by attending conferences dedicated to diversity within libraries. One staff member, Shaleesa Bynum, received a travel grant to attend the Identity, Agency, and Culture in Academic Libraries conference at the University of Southern California. The conference was aimed at understanding how issues of identity and agency contribute to access, inclusivity, and diversity in academic libraries. Additionally, Bynum received a travel grant to attend in recognition of her demonstrated efforts to foster diversity at the Libraries. Â Finally, the LSU Libraries Diversity Committee has formed a strong partnership with the LSU Office of Multicultural Affairs. This partnership has allowed members of the diversity committee to volunteer with various campus events and projects including the MLK Commemorative Celebration and the LGBTQ Resource Room.

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OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellows Program The Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) has been awarded an eighth cohort of Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellows to begin Fall 2017. Funded through an activity of the National Science Foundation’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program, LSU BD employs a multifaceted model that integrates research, education, and mentoring to address challenges underrepresented students face in doctoral programs.

THE GOALS OF THE LSU BD PROJECT ARE TO: • Recruit a cohort of twelve highly qualified Fellows from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds in all BD-eligible STEM disciplines • Retain and support Fellows through doctoral candidacy, and prepare them for successful completion of the Ph.D. and professional research careers • Expand and institutionalize best mentoring strategies for underrepresented Ph.D. students

Louisiana Broadening Resources for Increasing Diversity in Graduate Education (LA-BRIDGE Program The overall effort at LSU, Louisiana Broadening Resources for Increasing Diversity in Graduate Education (LA-BRIDGE), began in 2005 and represents a strategic institutional approach as a model for the production of underrepresented scientists and engineers with doctoral degrees in STEM. These awards have supported dramatic increase in the overall

TO DATE,

32 DOCTORAL &

diversity of LSU’s STEM doctoral programs and number of doctoral degrees conferred to persons from groups underrepresented in STEM.

15 MASTER’S

As the only bridge institution in the Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LAMP), LSU BD has drawn 55% of its 99 fellows from Louisiana institutions. These fellows represent 19 LSU STEM departments with the majority of fellows being African American (88%), although the number of Hispanic/Latino Fellows is growing. Sixty-two percent (61%) of fellows have been women. To date, 32 doctoral and 15 master’s degrees have been conferred to LS-LAMP BD Fellows, and 26 are currently matriculating.

DEGREES HAVE BEEN TO

CONFERRED

LS-LAMP BD FELLOWS

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OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for several units on campus that play a key role in the promotion of diversity, cultural awareness, and respect. These units include the Office of International Programs, University College, and the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.

University College In an effort to increase the recruitment and retention of students from under-represented populations, specific programs have been incorporated within the University College that emphasize diversity. These programs include:

McNair Research Scholars

Summer Scholars Program

This U.S. Department of Education TRIO grant provides programming to motivate, assist, and inspire students who come from disadvantaged or disenfranchised backgrounds to acclimate to the institutional climate at LSU so that they reach their full potential, obtain a college degree, and pursue a career in their field of interest. The goals are to have at least 85% of these students retained to the second year of college and to have minimally 57% of these students graduate within 6 years.

This program regularly enrolls high achieving 35-40 minority students in a summer bridge program to introduce newly admitted students to the college experience and the LSU campus environment. The goal is to recruit and enroll students with a 90% or higher firstto second-year retention rate and a 70% or higher sixyear graduation rate.

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Office of International Programs

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International Programs, through international student recruitment and immersion, adds global diversity to LSU. The office also targets underrepresented groups for participation in study abroad programs and creates and promotes international partnerships that expand research and study abroad opportunities for underrepresented students. Additionally, International Programs created the LSU Study Abroad Scholarship Program that enables domestic LSU students to meaningfully interact with international students through a variety of peer activities. The peer activities are designed to facilitate the immersion of international students into campus life and culture as well as LSU’s academic culture. At the same time, it offers domestic students the opportunity to have a cross-cultural experience that enhances their knowledge about other countries and cultures and, when possible, enables them to enhance their foreign language training. Domestic students can earn points for the successful completion of these activities. The points translate into funds for LSU Study Abroad Programs for undergraduate students. Graduate students can use the funds for international research-related activities

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OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes (CCACSA) Total Team Commitment The Cox Communications Academic Center for StudentAthletes (CCACSA) strives to celebrate, highlight, affirm, and embrace the diversity of our student-athletes. We provide an environment that is respectful of cultural, identity, racial, and ethnic differences by acknowledging individuality and uniqueness. This is a safe space for all students to come and have open dialogue about their experiences regardless of sexual orientation, religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, or interest. We pride ourselves on being a conduit for diversity and inclusion. Along with our diverse staff and various partnerships with c a m p u s a n d c o m m u n i t y, w e p u r s u e u n i q u e opportunities to engage our student-athletes in educational programming and open dialogue.

The CCACSA encourages cross-cultural leadership to enrich and enhance our CCACSA team and student-athlete experiences at LSU. Our programming instills the very values of our strategic plan, entitled the Total Team Commitment which are: ACCOUNTABILITY: Exhibiting the willingness to accept responsibility for your actions COMMITMENT: Pledging excellence every day, every meeting, every situation, every time SUCCESS: Achieving excellence in all that is desired, planned, or attempted INTEGRITY: Adhering to a strict moral and ethical code of behavior and action by consistently upholding rules, regulations, and values DIVERSITY: Embracing and valuing the differences we all bring to the table TEAMWORK: Valuing each other as members of our team and working together to achieve common, agreed upon goals SERVICE: Individually and collectively, creating an environment of social awareness, establishing an appetite for helpfulness, and discovering a world with issues greater than our own EDUCATION: Fostering a thirst for knowledge and promoting the discipline to pursue life-long learning.

We’ve Got Game Initiative

Our partnerships have created great opportunities to showcase the impact of diversity and inclusion. This year, our office partnered with the LSU Women’s Center as part of the We’ve Got Game Initiative, which brings awareness to the impact that women have had and These values are infused into the daily practices of those who continue to have within the world of sports. As part of work in the CCACSA and in the lives of the student-athletes we this initiative, we supported the LSU Softball team versus serve with the ultimate goal of developing cultural competencies the University of South Alabama by hosting a pre-game in order to flourish in all aspects of life. Additionally, many reception that had over 50 attendees. In addition to this members from the CCACSA participated in the National initiative, we supported the LSU Women’s Center by Coalition Building Institutes’ (NCBI) Diversity training as a part of sponsoring a table at their annual Esprit de Femme our professional development commitment, which is Sunrise Celebration that recognizes individuals that acknowledged within our values and goals. strive to improve the lives of women within the state of Louisiana. w w w. a c s a . l s u . e d u 36 O F F I C E

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DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS LSU Food Pantry Combats Food Insecurity Office of the Dean of Students – Campus Life Facts from the USDA support that nationwide food insecurity is a significant problem, estimating that 14.5% of US households are food insecure. The percentage of those in need increases in the South (16%) and Louisiana (16.6%).

Estimates may indicate the number in need on campus is much lower due to higher levels of educational attainment, knowledge of and access to resources, and higher socioeconomic status than the general population. Even if this is the case and our campus need is 75% lower than others in the state in need, 1,263 students (out of 30,451 enrolled) are in need of food assistance at least once during the academic year.

The LSU Food Pantry opened its doors on August 22, 2013. Housed in a closet on the 3rd floor of the LSU Student Union in the Office of the Dean of Students, it was able to serve a small number of students from the start. By May 2016, LSU Campus Life had a grand vision of larger square footage and a grocery store feel. By the time it opened in July 2016, the pantry had a new location, larger donations, and retooled policies and processes to meet a larger population’s needs for relief.

When the 2016 Flood hit Baton Rouge in August, the pantry was well-positioned to serve faculty, staff, and students experiencing temporary food insecurity, as the community focused on rebuilding their lives after the flood. During this time, the LSU Food Pantry experienced tremendous growth, with an average of 120 visits per week, nearly 100 unique visitors per week, an average of 1,200 pounds of donated food per week, and approximately $1,400/week in monetary donations (August 18–October 14, 2016).

THE LSU FOOD PANTRY HAD

2500+ TOTAL

USES IN 2016- 2017

In April 2017, the LSU Food Pantry became officially affiliated with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, providing the ability to receive food from both Trader Joes and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

Under the leadership of Kitchens on the Geaux and graduate assistant advisor, Natacha Rivera-Ruiz, the LSU Food Pantry continued to grow in participation, donations, volunteer shifts and monetary support. To learn more, visit www.lsu.edu/ foodpantry.

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MLK Candlelight Vigil Office of the Dean of Students – Greek Life Sponsored by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), the MLK Candlelight Vigil was held on January 16, 2017 to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event brought together many campus partners for an evening of remembrance with musical and spoken word tributes in the LSU Student Union Ballroom. Following a keynote speaker, candles were lit in honor of Dr. King. Approximately 300 faculty, staff, and students attended.

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DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Tom W. Dutton Scholarship Award

Love Purple Live Gold Awards Office of the Dean of Students – Campus Life Each year, Campus Life recognizes individuals and groups for excellence in leadership and inclusion. Three awards are related to diversity and inclusion initiatives and individuals.

The ADVOCACY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR is presented to the registered student organization with the best program that exemplifies dedication towards the welfare of a cause, global topic, or existing social issue. The program selected for this award will have engaged students through creating awareness, providing solutions, and promoting social change. The 2016 – 2017 Advocacy Program of the Year was Educational Healthcare Series by Planned Parenthood Generation Action.

The Tom W. Dutton Scholarship Award is presented to a female undergraduate or graduate student for outstanding service to the University community through participation and leadership in community service activities while attending LSU. Tom Dutton was a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors from 1940-1967.

He also served as the Vice-Chair from 1940-1944 and the Chairman from 1950-1952.

2016-2017 Tom W. Dutton Scholarship Award Recipients LILY LAGRANGE Baton Rouge, LA (Economics) SAMANTHA LANJEWAR Valhalla, NY (Animal/Dairy/Poultry Sciences) AMANDA FONTENOT Houston, TX (Coastal Environmental Science)

The AGENT OF CHANGE AWARD is presented to a student who best demonstrates strong leadership skills while generating campus wide awareness of existing social issues. The student chosen for this award advocates for change through programs or

DANIELLE KELLEY Baton Rouge, LA (Mass Communications)

service opportunities that educate and engage the LSU community.

The 2016-2017 Agent of Change was Monturious Howard.

FLORENCIA SCAGLIA DRUSINI from Broussard, LA (Biochemistry)

The MULTICULTURAL/DIVERSITY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR is presented to the organization with the best program aiming to build positive interactions among different cultures and promotes awareness of cultural and global issues. The Multicultural/Diversity Program of the Year was Ustav 2016, planned by the Indian Students Association.

LATRISSA TORRES Slidell, LA (Mass Communications)

CAMILLE PREJEAN from Lafayette, LA (Biology) JILLIAN DAVIS Bellaire, TX (Communication Disorders) CHLOE RIVIERE New Orleans, LA (International Studies / Political Science) VICTORIA SMORODINOVA Lake Arthur, LA (Finance) Learn how to get involved in registered student organizations at lsu.edu/tigerlink.

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UNIVERSITY COUNCIL ON GENDER EQUITY

Closing the Gaps

UCGE HOSTED TWO CLOSING THE GAP PANELS IN 2016-2017 FEBRUARY 2017 Closing the Gaps: Exploring the Political Climate for Women

MARCH 2017 Closing the Gaps: Exploring the Climate for LGBTQ Students, Faculty, and Staff

The University Council on Gender Equity (UCGE) is comprised of faculty, staff, and students, and its mission is to leverage the knowledge, expertise, and resources of council members to develop and revise policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure gender equity at LSU. We advise the Provost and LSU community on issues of gender equity and advocate for positive change. For the 2016- 2017 year, the UCGE continued to explore various gender-based gaps that exist on campus and in the community and ways to close those gaps.

The UCGE partnered with the Office of Diversity and the Women’s Center to host two Closing the Gaps panels with networking receptions to encourage dialogue around closing gender-based gaps on campus and in the community. Our focus areas were women in politics and the campus climate for LGBTQIA+ members.

In February, we hosted Closing the Gaps: Exploring the Political Climate for Women. Dean Stacia Haynie of the College of Humanities & Social Sciences served as the moderator and panelists included, Alex de Gravelle (LSU Student Government), Erika Greene (East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council- District 5), Dr. Kathleen Searles (Manship School for Mass Communication & LSU Department of Political Science), Dr. Jenee Slocum (Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs ), and the second panel took place in March and explored the campus climate for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff.

In March, we hosted Closing the Gaps: Exploring the Climate for LGBTQ Students, Faculty, and Staff. Laurie Braden, Executive Director of University Recreation and member of UGCE, served as moderator and panelists included, Dr. Michael Bibler (Department of English), Camille Boechler (Ogden Honors College & Discover LSU), Dr. Johanna Broussard (Department of Communication Studies), Damien Hill (Engineering, Louisiana Trans Advocates-LSU Chapter), and Joseph Eaglin (Sociology and Women’s & Gender Studies).

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IMPACT

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Hometown: Denham Springs, La. Major: Mechanical Engineering Graduation Year: 2019

Incoming first year students are a competitive process. To apply, considered a full-time undergrad an underrepresented population an application and essays prior t What did your selection as a President’s Millennial Scholar mean to Participants are selected by a com you and your family? and administrators under the gu No words can describe how proud they are that a member of the family of Diversity. They will be notifie is representing a voice in our community. From a personal perspective, if start of their freshman year. The PRESIDENT’S MILLENNIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM (PMSP) you search my name up Google, the first image that pops up is me in a of this program will enroll 60 stu The Millennialthis Scholars Program (PMSP) is to a four designed to suitPresident’s and tie representing program.

That means a lot me. year retention and professional preparation initiative students in each classification. provide support for high achieving undergraduate students from underrepresented populations. Made possible through a gift by

Philanthropy at work

What impact does this scholarship have for you?

From a financial standpoint, the program certainly delivers, but the experience and developmental may otherwise them has fromtosuccessfully earning college degrees. The program facilitates academic, cognitive, personal, knowledge thatprevent the program offer multiplies its value tenfold. an alumni benefactor, PMSP aims to provide the services and opportunities that these students need to overcome barriers that

HOW TO SUPPO

career and professional development, plus mentorship from faculty and staff. Increasing access and support is key in ensuring that

How do you promote diversity?

President’s Millennial Scho the next generation of diverse leaders scholars are positioned catalysts change an impact at LSU The only way to overcome adversity is toand succeed.

Achieving my goalsto is become a great way to showfor that peopleand make The clear demonstration of the powe and beyond.

Meet two of thecan PMSP students below. from different backgrounds represent their passions and beliefs in society. to transform lives. Your gifts to P immediate impact by providing Learn more about PMSP at www.lsu.edu/diversity/pmsp and programmatic support. The in partnership with the LSU Fo private support from individuals foundations while balancing the Why did you choose to attend LSU? working capital and long-term s I was raised Hometown: Vidalia, La. in a very small rural town, and I was not challenged during school. At LSU, I will be challenged and required to think critically. I want to To show learnyounger more about how you ca Major: Biochemistry students from Vidalia that is possible to succeed in a large university after contact Dr. high Kenya LeNoir Mess Graduation Year: 2019 provost of the Office of Diversit school. kmesser@lsu.edu.

g for hrough or s to gain rsity ence.”

AJAH WILLIAMS

President s that dents. al ee where We’re said. ” unching careers, on’t ever ember

are your and professional goals?

Why didWhat you choose to academic attend LSU? I plan attend medical school represent Africanduring Americans and women in the I was raised in to a very small rural town, andand I was not challenged school. At LSU, I will be my challenged required atocompetitive think critically.

I excel in my courses and field.

Until then, goal is and to maintain GPA, want to continue show younger students from Vidalia that it is possible to succeed my community involvement. in a large university after high school.

What would you say to donors of LSU?

AJAH WILLIAMS What are your academic and professional goals?

Your generous donations have impacted students’ lives in a significant way. You have I plan to attend medical school and represent African Americans and women in the field. Until then, my made a difference in your lifetime. I am dedicated to academic excellence, and your Hometown: Vidalia, LA goal Major: is to maintain a competitive GPA, excel in my courses and continue my community involvement.

Biochemistry donation will not be taken for granted.

Graduation Year: 2019

What would you say to the donors of LSU? Your generous donations have impacted students’ lives in a significant way. You have made a difference in your lifetime. I am dedicated to academic excellence, and your donation will not be taken for granted.

HOW TO APPLY Why did you choose to attend LSU?

No words canstudents describe how proud Incoming first year are selected throughthey are that a member of the family is representing a voice in ourstudents community.

From a personal perspective, if you search my a competitive process.

To apply, must be considered student from up is me in a suit and tie representing this name ona full-time Google, undergraduate the first image that pops anprogram. underrepresented population.

Students That means a lot to me. complete an application and essays prior to enrollment.

Participants selected by a committee of faculty goals?

What areare your academic and professional and administrators under the guidance of the Office From a financial standpoint, the program certainly delivers, but the experience and of Diversity. They will be notified in July, prior to the developmental knowledge that thefunding program has to offer multiplies its value tenfold. start of their freshman year. The proposed of this program will enroll 60 students each year, 15 What in would you say to donors of LSU? students each classification.

The only way to overcome adversity is to succeed. Achieving my goals is a great way to show that people from different backgrounds represent their passions and beliefs in society.

ar mean to

f the family erspective, if p is me in a me.

PATRICK TAPALLA

but the experience and developmental Hometown: Denham Springs, LA Major: Mechanical Engineering tenfold.

HOW TO SUPPORT

Graduation Year: 2019

The President’s Millennial Scholars Program is a my goals is a great way to show that people demonstration of the power of philanthropy THE PRESIDENT’S MILLENNIAL Sclear CHOLARS PROGRAM IS A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION OF THE POWER OF beliefs in society.

MS

to transform lives. Your gifts to PMSP make an

PHILANTHROPY TO TRANSFORM LIVES . YOUR GIFTS TO PMSP AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT BY PROVIDING immediate impact by providing studentMAKE scholarships programmatic support.

Office of Diversity SUPPORT. STUDENT and SCHOLARSHIPS ANDThe PROGRAMMATIC

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in partnership with the LSU Foundation will seek private support from individuals, corporations and foundations while balancing the need for immediate working capital and long-term sustainability.

C E O F D I V E R S I T Y | A N N U A L I M PAC T To learn more about how you can support PMSP,

R E P O R T

Philanthropy = Transformation THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS! Gifts to the Office of Diversity through the LSU Foundation is one of the ways that our alumni and friends demonstrate their commitment to LSU. Gifts received enable the Office of Diversity to make an impact in the areas of priority to increase diversity among students, faculty, administration, and staff at LSU. Gifts received in 2016-2017 were immediately used to maintain scholarships, enhance student programs, and provide additional support to faculty, all of which is central to LSU”s efforts to become a model of inclusive excellence in higher education. Thank you for being a member of the vibrant community that supports LSU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion!

To learn more about our fundraising priorities and how you can make a gift please visit: lsu.edu/diversity.

MONIQUE LEBLANC

DERRICK LATHAN

Class of 2017 Political Science Hometown: Lafayette, LA

Ph.D. Candidiate Sociology Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

I've been involved with the Women's Center since my freshman year, and it's one of the places I'll miss most.

The Women's Center has been a major part of my experience at LSU. I've truly developed as a leader and become more aware of women's issues and advancement because of their programs. I was president of multiple organizations on campus, and it was always an accepting and amazing space to hold meetings and events.

The Black Male Leadership Initiative led to everything in my college career. It led to me participating in the Mister and Miss Imani Pageant, traveling to my first conference, becoming a McNair Scholar and discovering my research interests. Those involved with BMLI were my mentors, professors, research associates and recommenders for graduate school. They were my everything. I still call on them for guidance and advice.

BMLI taught me the true meaning of mentorship, which I mimic with my own mentees and students.

Why is the Office of Diversity an important asset to LSU’s campus?

Why is the Office of Diversity an important asset to LSU’s campus?

The Office of Diversity is important because it provides opportunities and communities for marginalized students. These are important because it helps LSU to maintain a diverse student body, which everyone benefits from.

I’ve seen the student body become more diverse, yet even now I am still the only black male in a meeting or workshop. However, I always hear the names of someone from the Office of Diversity mentioned in these meetings, and it lets me know that the staff is still pushing for and promoting inclusivity. I like to think of myself as an unofficial surrogate and spokesperson for the Office of Diversity

MONIQUE AND DERRICK ARE TWO OF THE STUDENTS THAT BENEFITED FROM THE GIFTS MADE IN SUPPORT OF DIVERSITY. ON BEHALF OF MONIQUE, DERRICK, AND THOUSANDS MORE, THANK YOU!

Thank you to our donors & supporters!

2016-2017 GIFTS TO THE LSU FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF DIVERSITY

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National Diversity Advisory Board DERECK J. ROVARIS, SR., PH.D. Ex-officio Member Vice Provost for Diversity & Chief Diversity Officer Office of Diversity, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana KENYA LENOIR MESSER, ED.D. Ex-officio Member Associate Vice Provost for Diversity Office of Diversity, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana WALTER BONAM Associate Director Office of Religious Education Archdiocese of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana

BELIOTA PARQUET HAWKINS Human Resources Manager Shell Chemicals Humble, Texas

DAVID SICKEY Vice-Chairman Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Elton, Louisiana

ANDREW HOLLENBACH, PH.D. Professor Department of Genetics, LSUHSC New Orleans, LA

JYRIC SIMS Chief Executive Officer Medical City Fort Worth Fort Worth, Texas

CORDELL KEY Blue Cross Blue Shield of LA Greenwell Springs, Louisiana

ROD TEAMER Director of Diversity Programs and Business Development Blue Cross Blue Shield of LA Metairie, Louisiana

MONICA LEACH, ED.D. Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management North Carolina Central University Durham, North Carolina

WILLIAM “BILL” BRIGMAN Senior Policy Analyst for U.S. Department of Defense Credentialing and Licensing Task Force, SOLID LLC. Washington, D.C.

CHRIS TRAHAN Realtor Burns and Co. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LEONARD MARSHALL Entrepreneur and Retired NFL Player Maywood, New Jersey PATRICK MCCUNE Associate Adams and Reese, LLP Baton Rouge, Louisiana

CHRISTINE CHANGHO BRUNEAU Partner Cotten, Schmidt & Abbott LLP New Orleans, Louisiana

JULIE MORIAL CRUZ, PH.D., M.P.H. Corporate Medical Director Peoples Health Baton Rouge, Louisiana

JARRETT E. COHEN Principal & CIO JECohen & Co. LLC New Orleans, Louisiana

CLINT ODOM Legislative Director U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris Washington, D.C.

KATRINA DUNN Practice Administrator Auburn Urogynecology and Women’s Health Auburn, California

JAIMEE PANGBURN Community Advocate New Roads, Louisiana

MICAH FINCHER Associate Jones Walker LLP New Orleans, Louisiana

STEPHANIE M. POSSA Partner Tyler & Possa Law Firm Baton Rouge, Louisiana

KATHERINE RASY GRANIER Budget Administrator Division of Education Finance Louisiana Department of Education Baton Rouge, Louisiana

TERRI BROUSSARD WILLIAMS Vice President of Advocacy/Government Relations American Heart Association Austin, Texas

Comprised of national industry leaders, the LSU National Diversity Advisory Board (NDAB) provides a broad array of talent and expertise to advocate diversity on campus. The common goal is to foster diversity and inclusion on campus and drive the mission and vision of diversity to faculty, staff, students, and neighboring communities all in support of the advancement of LSU.

TRACY PORTER President & CEO Premiere Solutions LLC Pleasanton, California

MARK GOODSON Resilience Practice Lead CSRS Baton Rouge, Louisiana

ERIN MONROE WESLEY Special Counsel Office of the Governor The State of Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana

ABOUT NDAB:

PRASANTH PASALA Chief Financial Officer & Chief Technology Officer The Pangburn Group Baton Rouge, Louisiana

JOHN PAUL FUNES President/CEO Our Lady of the Lake Foundation Baton Rouge, Louisiana

RAEDTHA VASQUEZ Partner Jones Walker LLP Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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