Spring/Summer 2024 Southeastern Magazine

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE SPRING/SUMMER 2024

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BREAKING GROUND

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

BUILDING EPIC

The Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center will soon provide even greater opportunities for students.

Alumna Farrah Rochon is living a writer’s dream as a New York Times best-selling romance and Disney novelist.

Alumnus Kyle Snyder is helping bring to life one of the world’s most immersive theme parks.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY S PRIN G /SU MMER

2024

MAGAZ I N E P RESI D EN T

Dr. William S. Wainwright PROVOST & VI C E P R E S I D E NT F O R AC AD E M I C A F FA I RS

Dr. Tena L. Golding V ICE PRE S I D E N T F O R AD MI N I S TR ATI ON & F I N A N C E

Sam Domiano V ICE PR E S I D E N T F O R U N I VE R S I TY ADVA N C EM EN T

Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE

See Yourself?, pg. 40-41

VI C E P R E S I D E N T F O R S TU D EN T A F FA I RS

Dr. Eric Summers CHIEF MAR K E TI NG & CO MMU NI C ATI O N S O F F I C ER

Mike Rivault E D ITO R I N C H I EF

Sheri Gibson P H OTO GRA P H Y

Randy Bergeron CO N T RI B U TO RS

Tonya Lowentritt, Aleigh Sanders, Brock Sanders

Submissions: Southeastern Magazine welcomes photographs, alumni news, story suggestions, and letters of 300 or fewer words.

Items may be used for publication, unless the author requests otherwise, and are subject to editing. Send submissions to Editor, Southeastern Magazine, Office of University Marketing and Communications, SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402 or editor@southeastern.edu.

Southeastern Magazine Online: Visit southeasternmagazine.blog to view and share the stories in this magazine or explore past issues.

Printing and distribution for the Southeastern Magazine is provided by the Southeastern Foundation—southeasternfoundation.org.

COV ER P H OTO : Alumna and Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts helped break ground on the upcoming Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center.

Contents.

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BREAKING GROUND

Work is currently underway on the new Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center and the renovation of D Vickers Hall.

36 CREATING A LASTING IMPACT

By giving back, alumnus Steven Cossé is helping countless students achieve their dreams, now and in the future.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Through talent and determination, alumna and best-selling novelist Farrah Rochon has followed her passion to achieve her dreams.

BUILDING EPIC

Only a few years out of college, alumnus Kyle Snyder is already in a dream career—working on one of the most talked-about projects in the world.

CARING DOESN’T TAKE A BREAK

After making a connection with a student in need, staff member Josh Randall has taken an unexpected journey into helping fill a gap for international students.

president’s message

&

Alumni, Friends, Supporters,

As this academic year quickly draws to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished as a university family—and all the exciting opportunities that still lie ahead.

From launching new programs to breaking ground on the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center, completing renovation of The Inn, and elevating campus dining, there have been many visible changes around campus. And while our campus’ aesthetic is often what leads people to first fall in love with Southeastern, creating a sense of beauty and home, the impact goes even deeper.

Our development of new programs and enhancement of academic facilities stems from a continuous evaluation of current and future needs of both students and the workforce.

We have recently added two fully online master’s degree programs (MS in Computer Networking and Administration and MBA in Managing Innovation and Technology) that will afford current professionals and recent graduates endless opportunities in the ever-growing and evolving technological landscape. Our new Northshore Accelerated Nursing Program, in partnership with St. Tammany Health System, is helping combat the shortage of qualified nurses. And the addition of the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center will provide students with stateof-the-art, hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of communication fields.

Watching these initiatives and more continue to unfold is indeed exciting, and I’m happy to report that our enrollment numbers have increased again this semester. Overall, enrollment increased by 3 percent, which we have not seen since Spring 2020 (pre-COVID-19).

We are seeing continued gains in both

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undergraduate and graduate enrollment and in firsttime freshmen, transfer students and international students. Continued progress of our Strategic Enrollment Management Plan positions our university for future growth and, most importantly, student success.

These students will soon join the ranks of our alumni, who are actively creating immeasurable impact across the country and even the world. It’s exciting to watch our students develop and transition into highly accomplished professionals. Alumni representing various industry sectors remain continuously engaged in academic advisory committees, foundation and alumni foundation board activities, and provide robust mentoring and internship opportunities for our students. For this and so much more, we are truly grateful for the caring and excellence provided by our alumni.

In addition to recent news from across campus, in the following pages you will find a few stories of these alumni, including what it takes to become a NYT bestselling author; what it’s like to build one of the most currently talked-about attractions in the world; and the full circle journey of building an esteemed, international career and giving other students the same opportunity. I invite you to spend time exploring our stories, and then when you are done, be an advocate for our university by passing this copy on to others or sharing your favorite articles via southeasternmagazine.blog. hank you for being part of our Southeastern T Family and for your continued support.

Dr. William S. Wainwright PRESIDENT

Scan here to see more.

out & about

Philip LeRiche

get there

INTO COMBATING CANCER Growing up, Philip LeRiche always had an interest in STEM. Combining this with the decision to dedicate his career to helping others, he realized that becoming a doctor was his perfect path. His grandfather's cancer diagnosis prompted him to extend this goal to specializing in oncology.

Gaining a firm foundation for medical school as a Southeastern chemistry major, Philip is now taking the first steps in his mission to one day help put an end to cancer.

Philip's action plan

Move from South Africa to Louisiana to study chemistry at Southeastern.

Form life-long friendships with other highly-driven students as an Honors Ambassador and member of the College of Honors and Excellence.

Push past stage-fright by performing annually at International Night.

Be part of the conversation as a writer and podcast host for The Lion's Roar.

Get into medical school.

social media

Create a ROAR BRINGING THE GREEN AND GOLD TO SOCIAL MEDIA

shlelbybordelon Alright, Coach…put me in!!

geauxgabphotography Graduating with your sister> anyone else #sneakpeaks

t.trenaa 2 months and 12 days until graduation

Connrjacksn Lit Rally was lit

Vampria_night a new chapter begins… #lionpridepreview

news in learning

Partnering for a DIRECTCONNECT to Southeastern Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College signed a memorandum of understanding on January 18 that formalized and enhanced our ongoing partnership.

Titled DirectConnect to Southeastern, the program is designed to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of students seeking post-secondary education in Southeast Louisiana, particularly in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Washington, St. Helena, and Livingston parishes.

The partnership provides solutions to expanding college student access and preparation of students who will complete certificate and/or associate degrees through NTCC and transfer into a baccalaureate program at Southeastern.

“The DirectConnect to Southeastern program ensures that both institutions are proactive in addressing the ever-changing higher education landscape,” said Southeastern President William S. Wainwright. “The partnership further ensures that both Southeastern and NTCC are responsive to relevant actions of the Louisiana Legislature, leverages the Board of Regents Master Plan for Higher Education, and encourages ease of transfer credits between post-secondary institutions and comprehensive community college services throughout the Northshore region.”

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DirectConnect provides enrolled NTCC students with a systematic outline to successfully complete a baccalaureate degree. Under the agreement, NTCC students will take courses at Southeastern related to the career pathways of biological sciences (microbiology/molecular, ecology/environmental biology, and integrative biology), business administration, nursing, psychology, and supply chain management.

“The partnership will provide students with expanded access to college and university programming and engagement in relevant workforce preparation,” said NTCC Chancellor Jim Carlson.

Coursework for students enrolled in DirectConnect will be completed on Southeastern’s campus. The students will also have access to the university’s Student Union, food vendors, and campus dining meal plan opportunities.

This collaboration will work to enhance the workforce development of the region.

World Cup of Sales TOP 10 WINNER Late last year, the Southeastern Professional Sales Team traveled to Orlando for the International Collegiate Sales Competition hosted by Florida State University. Competing among 80 universities, the team placed 10th overall, cementing a back-to-back Top 10 performance at the World Cup of Sales.

“These spectacular results are a team effort from the entire group of dedicated faculty and motivated students in our premier sales program. We are so proud of their performance,” said Dean of the College of Business Tará Lopez.

Katelynn Duthu Brady, Victoria Hickey, and Hezekiah Chatelain achieved record results in the Speed Sell Competition, where they each pitched themselves to four companies. Kalynn Granier and Chatelain also achieved a record result in the Sales Management Case Competition, where they presented a consulting solution to a group of top executives.

Alayna Montgomery and Caleb Peppers competed in the RolePlay Competition against the top sales students in the world.

Montgomery advanced to the wild card round, and Peppers advanced to the semi-final round and finished 12th out of 160 competitors. These students were coached by sales program co-coordinators April Kemp and Tim Butler, along with Graduate Assistant Coach Gabriel Pevey.

Southeastern’s team is one of only four universities that has finished in the top 10 over the past two years in the World Cup of Sales.

“We are so pleased how our students are not just competing but thriving against the best students across the world,” Kemp said. “That is what you can expect when you join the Southeastern Professional Sales Team.”

Above, left to right: April Kemp, Gabriel Pevey, Caleb Peppers, Victoria Hickey, Katelynn Duthu Brady, Alayna Montgomery, Kalynn Granier, Hezekiah Chatelain, and Tim Butler

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news in learning

John Crain named PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Former Southeastern President John L. Crain has been awarded the title of President Emeritus from the University of Louisiana System Board. The term “Emeritus” is a title awarded to only a few select individuals in recognition of distinguished and extraordinary service.

Southeastern President William S. Wainwright said. “His calm, professional demeanor helped the university and surrounding community navigate through snow storms, hurricanes, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, not only to emerge stronger, but to thrive.”

“The depth of service Dr. Crain has given to Southeastern over his enduring career is rare and admirable,” former UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson said. “His invaluable contributions will forever be a source of inspiration to the Lions and the higher education community.”

During his tenure as president, Crain was instrumental in making significant facility and infrastructure improvements, such as completion of the new Student Union, new residential facilities, and renovations and upgrades to numerous academic buildings; unprecedented successes in Lion athletics; and significant expansion in fundraising through the Southeastern Foundation.

A 45-year member of the Southeastern family, Crain obtained a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Southeastern, as well as a master of business administration, and served as a faculty member, faculty senate president, department head, and later as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

He was appointed interim president of Southeastern in July 2008 and then served as president from February 2009 until June 2023.

Also under Crain’s leadership, a unified brand platform was launched with the goals of giving the university a higher profile in the region and state and of positively impacting student recruitment and retention.

“As president, with his accounting background and keen aptitude in financial matters, Dr. Crain was truly the ‘right man at the right time,’ guiding the university through many consecutive years of budget cuts by the state,”

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“Dr. Crain fully embraced the university’s Core Values of ‘excellence and caring’ and repeatedly voiced his belief in the importance of ensuring Southeastern’s students receive the very best higher education experience,” Wainwright said.

“Those beliefs and his strong leadership have positioned the university and its students to make a meaningful difference in the community, the region and the world.”

ENHANCING Computer Science Education THROUGH LDOE AWARD The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has awarded a $1.67 million contract to Northshore Regional STEM Center, led by Southeastern in partnership with Northshore Technical Community College and LaSTEM. Appropriated by the Louisiana State Legislature, the funds have been used to develop and deliver 40 hours of computer science Praxis exam training through multiple cohorts to 1,000 sixth through twelfth grade teachers statewide. The project is led by the Northshore Regional LaSTEM Center Director Wendy Conarro, Southeastern Interim Computer Science Department Head Bonnie Achee, and Dean of the College of Education Paula Summers Calderon.

As part of the LDOE initiative to “Ignite, Inspire, and Energize” computer science education across Louisiana supporting education and industry, the training was held virtually in March and April, with a hybrid cohort in June.

“In Louisiana, the fastest growing industry is professional, scientific, and technical services, which is composed of much of the technology industry,” said Conarro. “Software developers and network administrators are among the 10 fastest growing occupations in the state requiring a college education, yet the state is producing fewer than half of the graduates needed to fill computer science-related jobs.”

The Louisiana Legislature Computer Science Education Advisory Commission and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education concluded that it is in the public interest that a comprehensive computer science education initiative be undertaken to ensure Louisiana has citizens who have the expertise to perform the technology skills embedded in most professions, who can meet the ever-increasing workforce demands in the technology sector, and who can envision and grow the next generation of technological advances.

“It is the intent of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana Department of Education to create a comprehensive statewide computer science education program that benefits all citizens, flows seamlessly between all levels of education, and meets the needs of a dynamic and competitive economy,” said Conarro.

For more information about the training, visit northshorestem.org/energize.

news in learning

NEW ENHANCEMENTS to the Alumni Visitor Center Originally opened in 1994, the Alumni Visitor Center underwent a major renovation two years ago to create a modern space that better reflects Southeastern’s brand identity and serves alumni programming. The updates were also the first step in turning the space into a welcome center, with the name changing from “Alumni Center” to “Alumni Visitor Center.”

Last year a second phase of the project, an outdoor venue, was completed.

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This new outdoor space features ample room for visitors to mingle and reconnect. Modern furniture; a fireplace; an outdoor kitchen and grill; and high-end stone, wood, and metal materials create an inviting and comforting venue for both alumni and rental events.

Angelo Distefano, founder and owner of Angelo’s Landscape Group and a 1972 Southeastern alumnus, led the design and provided the funds for this outdoor area.

“I am the first in my family to achieve a college degree. Southeastern totally changed my life!”, said Angelo. “Southeastern paved the way for [my wife and I’s] success, and when we started our estate planning, we both wanted to give back. I began a conversation about doing something at the Alumni building. My company built outdoor living spaces.

I consulted with my dear friend's company Lonnie Bonacorso Construction, and along with my landscape architect, Jason Dill, we finalized our plans and began construction. I am proud of the seamless addition to the original building.”

The next phase of the project will be to further enhance the building’s lobby area through inviting furniture, fixtures, and displays. If you are interested in supporting this next step in the reimaging of the Alumni Visitor Center, please contact advancement@southeastern.edu or 985.549.2239.

news in learning

Launching the LOUISIANA RECOVERY CAPITAL CONFERENCE

Southeastern’s LION UP Recovery recently held the first Louisiana Recovery Capital Conference. The inaugural conference focused on topics related to substance misuse, treatment, and recovery, as well as looked at sustainable collegiate recovery programming at institutions across Louisiana. The conference also included continuing education opportunities for counseling and other mental health professionals.

“This was the first time offering a conference around building recovery capital and looking at sustainable solutions for people in our community who choose to live a life in recovery,” said Assistant Director of LION UP Recovery and Intervention and Conference Chair Annette Baldwin.

Journalist and author Sam Quinones, author of The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, was the featured keynote speaker.

Be PART OF THE STORY

As part of Southeastern’s Centennial celebration, University Marketing and Communications is creating a documentary and additional content in honor of our shared history.

If you have any home video from your time at Southeastern and would like to share it for possible inclusion in the documentary, please contact our videographer at shelene.bridge@southeastern.edu.

If you have any meaningful objects or interesting stories from Southeastern’s past, email editor@southeastern.edu.

You may also contact us by mail at Editor, Southeastern Magazine Office of University Marketing and Communications SLU 10880 Hammond, LA 70402

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FIRST PURPLE HEART Four-Year University in Louisiana Southeastern has been declared a Purple Heart School by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Southeastern is the first four-year institution in the state to receive the designation, which honors the service and sacrifice of the nation’s men and women in uniform wounded or killed by the enemy while serving to protect the nation’s freedoms.

Southeastern President William S. Wainwright said the university and surrounding communities have a great admiration and the utmost gratitude and respect for all the men and women who have served in the past and those who are currently serving their country and communities in the Armed Forces.

“Veterans have paid the high price of freedom by leaving their families and communities behind and placing themselves in harm’s way for the good of all,” he said. “The contributions and sacrifices of the men and women who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by our citizens.”

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BREAKING GROUND Creating the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center

BY TONYA LOWENTRITT

Scan here to watch the video story.

From left to right, Southeastern Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale, Southeastern President William Wainwright, Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller, Louisiana Senator Bill Wheat, Good Morning America Co-Anchor Robin Roberts, former Southeastern President John Crain, then Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, then ULS System President Jim Henderson, State Representative Nicky Muscarello Jr., and Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto helped break ground on the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center.

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Good Morning America Co-Anchor Robin Roberts, then Gov. John Bel Edwards, representatives of Southeastern Louisiana University, and officials gathered together on a Thursday afternoon in November to celebrate the official groundbreaking for the construction of the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center and the $40 million renovation of D Vickers Hall.

The Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center will add an additional 33,000 square feet to the 80,000-square-foot academic building and will include three broadcast media studios—a newsroom, a film studio, and a multimedia studio.

The architect for the project is Holly and Smith of Hammond.

The project will be paid for through state Capital Outlay funds and a sizable donation from Roberts.

“Every time I’m back on this campus, I’m 18 years old again with big eyes, big dreams, and big hair. And yes, the optics may have changed, but the Southeastern spirit has not,” Roberts said. “I am so incredibly proud of the standard of excellence here at Southeastern already with the Department of Communication and Media Studies. It’s exciting to know that this broadcast center is going to attract students from all over the country and the world and to know the skills that they are going to obtain. But more importantly, knowing that what we’re going to do is allow them to have big dreams, to focus small but dream big and have those dreams come true.”

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“This facility is greatly overdue, as our faculty and students have been operating with limited space,” said Southeastern President William S. Wainwright. “The new facility will greatly enhance the classroom and specialized lab space needed to provide modern instructional opportunities to our students.”

The finished 113,000-square-foot facility will continue to serve its existing academic programs in English, theatre, foreign language, and communication. However, the Communication and Media Studies department will include a major expansion of the curriculum for the cutting-edge broadcast/media facility. The new addition will feature not only film and TV studios, but also radio studios and foley and film audio studios, along with their associated control, support, and edit rooms.

The third floor will contain additional shared classroom spaces for all four departments within the building. A new

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reconfiguration of faculty office space will increase access to natural light and offer more opportunities for student/ faculty collaboration.

In addition to the three broadcast media studios and upon completion of the renovation and construction, D Vickers will include 104 offices, 27 classrooms, two 100-seat lecture rooms, five computer labs, and four English/language labs.

Another major component of the renovation is a makeover of Vonnie Borden Theatre. The renovated theatre will seat 498 people and include scene and costume shops, a green room, and male and female dressing rooms.

A 1983 communication graduate and former basketball star, Roberts learned her basic broadcasting skills as a studentathlete working at the university’s KSLU radio station and as the part-time sports director at Hammond’s local radio stations. She entered the broadcasting field upon graduation and eventually joined ESPN, hosting SportsCenter and contributing regularly to NFL Primetime. She joined the Good Morning America team in 2005.

Southeastern recognized Roberts with an honorary doctorate in 2014. At the hooding ceremony during that spring commencement then Southeastern President John L. Crain said, “Robin has been a tremendous treasure for Southeastern, and we are proud to confer upon her this honorary doctoral degree. Her personal and professional achievements have made her a true role model. She is one of the university’s foremost advocates and ambassadors.”

Named Southeastern’s Distinguished Alumna of the Year in 1996, the Pass Christian, Mississippi, native has also been inducted into Southeastern’s Athletics Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame by the WNBA. In 2006, she was named one of the NCAA’s “100 Most Influential Student-Athletes” in conjunction with the NCAA Centennial Celebration. Southeastern Athletics retired her jersey in 2011 with a ceremony in the University Center.

Front view and interior renderings of the future Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center

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LAUNCHING FALL 2024 On September 14, 1925, Southeastern first opened its doors. Beginning this fall, we invite you to enter them again to connect with our university and all who have come before in a whole new way. A year of adventure into our past and our future awaits.

1925–2025

An Alumna’s Journey to Becoming a Best-Selling Romance and Disney Author

BY SHERI GIBSON

of becoming a professional author, landing on the New York Times Best Sellers list and doing what they love from the comfort of their home—or from exotic locales around the world. However, it’s a dream that few are ever able to capture.

But through a combination of great talent, insight, and determination, alumna Farrah Roybiskie (’01) has been able to make this seemingly storybook scenario a reality.

Farrah, who writes under the pen name Farrah Rochon, has been writing stories ever since she can remember, first falling in love with the idea of getting to make up elaborate stories as a child. As she grew up, she discovered other passions, including psychology and digging in to how people think, but a love for writing always stayed with her.

After the St. John the Baptist Parish native graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans, where she started working on her first novel on the side, she enrolled at Southeastern for a master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in industrial/organizational psychology.

When it came time to pick a grad school, Farrah knew Southeastern was the place for her upon touring the campus for the first time. “The campus was gorgeous, everything was laid back, and I just thought, this is a better fit for me. And it was; it turned out to be great—the professors, everything about it,” she said.

It was in the warm atmosphere of Southeastern that she kept working on her debut book.

“I was in the library all the time at Southeastern. And sometimes I would just go out on campus with my little notepad and allow myself to just be.”

“It was one of the best moves that I could have made,” she added. “Some of the classes that I took, like comparative psychology, were the best classes I’ve ever taken.”

And while at first glance psychology may seem disparate from writing, Farrah’s studies actually play a significant part in her career as a novelist.

The author reports that her process for coming up with the stories and characters is one area that is particularly enhanced by this.

She first plots out everything that will happen before even writing a single word, thinking through everything. Then, she fully delves into fleshing out the characters. “The characters will come in very quickly because, again, I’m always interested in how people think, so I spend a lot of time on characterization,” she said. “I use a lot of psychology methods, such as Myers-Briggs and different personality tests. I will get in the character’s head and answer those tests in their heads, because you have to know their personality in order to make them authentic. My biggest thing is always making sure I am having them react the way the character with that personality would react and not the way I would react.”

By the time she graduated from Southeastern, Farrah knew that she wanted to pursue writing as a fulltime career. She was picked up by a small New York publisher, who helped get her work onto shelves at Borders and Barnes and Noble—the big leagues at that time. After a few books, she moved to Harlequin, which published another 14 of her works.

“People love to make fun of Harlequin novels,” she said with a smile. “I used to make fun of them when my aunt would read them. But Harlequin turned out to be such a great thing for me. People buy them more for the book itself instead of the author, so it’s a great way for new writers to find an audience.

And a lot of readers discovered me because I started writing for them.”

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When Kindles first became must-haves for many readers and independent publishing really began to take off, Farrah tried publishing through this route and found great success.

Eventually, though, she came up with a high concept book idea and knew that partnering with a major agency would be her best bet moving forward.

“I knew that I had something special when I came up with the idea for my Boyfriend Project series about five years ago, and it was another one of those business moves where I had to go with my business sense instead of my heart. I realized that my little independent career wasn’t enough for this idea. It was bigger than that. So, I decided to go back to New York publishing, and it was the best move I could have made. The first book [in the series] was my 39th book, but a lot of people thought it was my first because they had not heard of me before it came out. It really put my career into a different stratosphere.”

This book, The Boyfriend Project, released in 2020, become a USA Today Bestseller. The third book in the series, The Hookup Plan (2022), is Farrah’s all-time favorite that she’s written, and it was chosen by The Today Show as a recommended summer read.

Since that move, Farrah has also begun writing official Disney novels, starting with the New York Times Best Seller Princess Tiana book Almost There: A Twisted Tale.

Not only was making that ranking a bucket-list achievement for Farrah, but so was working with Disney. “When they talk about the Disney adult, that’s me. It’s basically my personality,” she said.

“It was something that I did not know was even a dream that could come true, because I did not think that I could write for them since I wrote adult romance,” she said of being asked to write for Disney. “And it’s been something that has stretched my creativity and brought me places that I never thought I would be as a writer. It’s amazing. I’m having the most fun that I’ve ever had in the 17 years that I’ve been doing this job.”

Farrah’s most recent Disney book, which is about Princess Merida and titled Fate be Changed: A Twisted Tale, dropped April of 2024, and she is a contributing author of A Twisted Tale Anthology, which will be available October 3. Her next romance book, Pardon my Frenchie, drops June 4.

writing 2,000 words a day. To achieve this and avoid burnout, she again pulls from her psychology training, utilizing the Pomodoro Technique by working in timed 25-minute increments interspersed by 5-minute breaks.

Even while traveling, which Farrah loves to do, having recently visited locales such as Disneyworld, Egypt, Australia, and New Zealand, she usually keeps up the work. “I like to travel a lot,” she said. “It’s the one benefit of being able to work wherever you are. I will bring my laptop, or sometimes write on an iPad. But if I’m on a deadline, if I can get 2-300 words in while I’m at the airport, I will do it.”

This dedication, from delving deep into the psychology of characters to putting in the work time in the most effective ways, combined with a natural talent, have paid off, helping Farrah to live her best life. And while she still has goals of hitting #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, she’s happy with where her path has led her.

“I really am so satisfied and content with where I am now,” she said. “If I can just continue to write and go out and meet the readers, which I love, I will be satisfied.”

Scan here to watch the video story.

In addition to making the top bestseller lists, her books have been featured in other media including O, The Oprah Magazine; Cosmopolitan magazine; Entertainment Weekly; NPR; and Shondaland.

In order to accomplish so much and meet deadlines for multiple projects at once, Farrah keeps a very strict regimen, SPRING/SUMMER 2024

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look at us

then

2024

THE INN

Built in 1940, the Inn has been the home of many Southeastern presidents, including Luther Dyson as pictured here. After 2005, the Inn became the temporary abode of faculty in residence and esteemed guests. The Inn has seen generations of change, including sheltering some of the most well-known figures from our University’s past.

As a result of a generous bequest from alumna F. J. Guerin and an investment from the Southeastern Foundation, the Inn reopened this spring housing offices for University Advancement and Development programming, embarking on the next chapter of its storied history.

1950s

INNOVATING FOR TOMORROW’S WORLD AND TODAY'S STUDENTS The New Online M.S. in Computer Networking and Administration

BY SHERI GIBSON AND TONYA LOWENTRITT

The demand for technology-related jobs is continuing to rapidly grow, as is the need for more flexible degree options, with no slowdown in sight.

In response, Southeastern has launched a new master of science degree in computer networking and administration to proactively address this while also providing the best possible career opportunities for students.

Most things in our current society are already reliant on computerization, and as we move into the future, the reliance on and demand for ever-advancing technology will only continue to increase—and with it, people who can fill the roles to maintain and advance this relatively new societal need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “about 377,500 openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.”

As a result, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the median pay in May 2022 for computer and information technology occupations was $100,530, about 217% higher than the median of $46,310 for all jobs in the country.

Among many other things, modern adoption of technology is also changing how people choose to participate in education, creating both new opportunities and demand for online programs. While there will always be a place and an audience for in-person education, EAB, a leading consulting firm specializing in education, reported that “from 2019 to 2020, enrollment in online graduate programs grew by 63 percent,” and “the increase in online graduate enrollment is also part of a larger shift that began well before the pandemic.”

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With technology now ever at our fingertips and the bustle of daily life never slowing down, people around the world are increasingly ready for programs that will meet them where they are and that can easily fit into their busy schedules.

To address these issues and provide students with an added path to success, Southeastern developed a master of science degree in computer networking and administration through the Department of Computer Science. Just begun this Spring 2024 semester and delivered exclusively online, the program is designed to address the widening skills shortage in enterprise scale networking, including cybersecurity and system administration, and follows best practices needed for the workforce.

Computer Science Interim Department Head and Instructor Bonnie Achee said the degree prepares students for positions such as computer network administrator, network specialist, network design engineer, system software developer, and system administrator.

“We are proud to offer a 100 percent online master of science in computer and networking administration,” said Achee. “This cutting-edge program will serve both recent graduates and industry professionals who seek to advance or transition to a career in systems administration, high-performance computing, and systems security, to name a few.”

Coursework is offered every fall, spring, and summer, ensuring students can graduate in a timely manner, Achee explained.

Hands-on labs are also provided through online services, giving students 24/7 access to state-of-the-art computer networking and administration labs.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will both understand and have the capacity to deploy many of the most advanced methods and systems in their field, gaining a strong advantage in an already in-demand area and setting them on course for unstoppable careers and abundant lives.

For more information, email mcna@southeastern.edu or visit southeastern.edu/mscna.

BUILDING

Alumnus Kyle Snyder is Helping Bring to Life One of the World’s Most Immersive Theme Parks

BY SHERI GIBSON

In 2025, one of the most revolutionary theme parks ever constructed will open its doors. It will also be the first new major theme park to open in Orlando, quite arguably the mecca for such attractions, since 1999. While many may dream of what it would be like to help bring such an amazing project to life, one Southeastern alumnus is actually living it.

destination that links the two theme parks; Volcano Bay waterpark; and eight resort hotels. He applied, and when the recruiter told him it would be for the construction of Epic Universe, an entirely new theme park being built down the road from the current resort, he instantly knew it was an opportunity he had to grab.

Kyle Snyder, an EHS (environment, health, and safety) construction specialist for Universal Orlando Resort, fell in love with construction from a young age. It ran in his family, with his dad building oil and gas drill ships. He even had the opportunity to work with his father in Singapore soon after enrolling at Southeastern. There, a colleague who was a health and safety inspector took him under his wing, and the trajectory of Kyle’s life began to take a new path.

“I still pinch myself every day because it really is one of the coolest jobs in the world,” he said.

Kyle fell in love with the health and safety side of construction, and when he returned to Southeastern, he enrolled in courses that would help him pursue this new passion. He joined the university’s chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals, an organization which he is an active member of to this day. And to further enhance his experience, he completed a safety engineering internship at Citgo Petroleum Refinery in Lake Charles—gaining not only valuable hands-on experience, but also solidifying in him a knowledge that his true course lay in commercial construction rather than oil and gas.

“It was amazing. It set me up for my future,” Kyle said of the occupational, health, and safety program at Southeastern that he majored in.

“It set me up to handle real world experiences and not be a deer in the headlights, and to know what employers expect and how to communicate in the real world. So many things that I learned in my program I’m applying every single day in my work.”

The student experience, and being able to simply enjoy and be part of Southeastern’s campus, was also powerful for Kyle, and it left him with memories he cherishes to this day. “When the days were numbered, I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I’m going to graduate and won’t be coming here every day.’ I just remember taking a little extra time to walk through campus and take it all in, the oak trees, the Spanish moss, all of it. It’s a beautiful campus. And sometimes I do miss those days, even though they were long with studying.

Because that’s home. And it’s where I grew into myself and found out a lot about myself.”

In 2021, Kyle graduated with his bachelor’s degree and began embarking on the next chapter. He landed a position with a concrete construction company in Tampa, Florida, and relocated to the Sunshine State. But a few months later, he came across an interesting opening for Universal Orlando Resort, which then operated two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure; Universal Citywalk, a dining, shopping, and entertainment

Not only are massive theme parks on the scale of Disney or Universal built few and far between, but Epic Universe itself is unique in its concept. The park will feature a celestial theme with a hub that spokes off into different self-contained lands: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe (which will feature Universal’s classic movie monsters). Visitors will be transported to these different lands through “portals,” or themed, rounded entranceways, for the most enveloping and awe-inspiring experience possible.

In addition to an exquisite level of detail on the man-made elements throughout the park, the hub will also be lush with greenery, water features, and pathways, “putting the park back into theme parks,” as Universal Destinations and Experiences Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Woodbury said.

“It’s immersive, visceral, and just pure adrenaline,” Kyle described. “Its going to leave people speechless.”

“This is going to be a game changer for the theme park world and the entertainment world,” he added. “I think people are going to be in awe, and it’s only going to help the company continue to produce amazing attractions for years to come. It’s going to set the precedent. It’s going to set the bar even higher than what it already is.”

In addition to being good for consumers and Universal, he noted the positive effect it will also have on the entire industry.

“I think competition is really good for the industry. I don’t know anything about what they’re doing down the road [at Disney], is what we say. But it’s going to push them to give their best on the next thing that they come out with.

Kyle looks forward to the day when the doors open and people get to experience Epic Universe for themselves, along with when he gets to also try out some of the rides—including in the area he’s perhaps the most excited for, Super Nintendo World. And, for years down the road, he is able to anticipate enjoying it with those closest to him.

“I think competition’s a good thing for that reason. It’s just going to set the bar even higher, and there’s going to be even more intensity moving forward with how we can create something that is literally going to make our guests’ jaws drop. And something that people will never get tired of, with them constantly getting that fulfillment of excitement, joy, and immersive experiences that we provide.”

“The legacy of looking back on this 30 years from now, when I have my own family, bringing my children and grandchildren here, that will be a very fun time. Being able to experience the ride not just by myself but with my family and saying that I was a part of this.”

As an EHS construction specialist, Kyle works on the construction and newbuild side of operations for Universal, positioning him to help bring Epic Universe to life throughout the entire construction process. His responsibilities include making sure the designs of attractions meet company, federal, and even international standards; that OSHA construction standards are met; and managing contractors that are hired for the build, working with them as a team to create a safe park and doing it in a way that’s also free of injury, illness, and even property damage. He works in multiple areas in the park, including Super Nintendo World.

“It’s so humbling. Never in a million years did I think I would get this opportunity so soon out of college. I was always optimistic, I’ve got a good degree, I’ve got a good education, and I’ve got the right mindset, so I believed I’d have an opportunity to work on an amazing project. But to be on this so soon, at such a young age and right out of college, has been truly humbling.”

“Most people work their whole lives to get an opportunity to work on a project like this,” he added. “And I’ve been so blessed and fortunate to have it presented to me at such a young age. That’s not lost on me. I don’t take it for granted. It’s being part of history.”

Scan here to watch the video story.

Scan here to learn more about Epic Universe.

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

29

Did you KNOW?

by the numbers

SPRING 2024 GROWTH

13,800 students

2%

14%

increase in total graduate enrollment

14%

21%

increase in new transfer students

17.3%

6.5%

22%

increase in dual enrollment students

30

SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

increase in total undergraduate enrollment

increase in first-time freshmen

increase in new graduate students

increase in international students

g n i r a C DOESN’T TAKE A BREAK

One Staff Member’s Unexpected Journey into Filling a Gap for International Students

BY BROCK SANDERS SPRING/SUMMER 2024

31

Josh Randall, the production manager at Southeastern’s Document Source Print and Mail Center, started the Fall 2023 semester with a surprise visit from a student asking about mail. The simple interaction between Randall and Imole Olugbola, a student from Nigeria studying music performance, opened the doors to a problem in dire need of a solution.

Olugbola had come to the Mail Center to ask about the delivery of his Social Security card, which would allow him to work at the on-campus dining services. Working on campus provided Olugbola with finances to pay for his off-campus apartment and not need transportation to work. However, the card never came in after weeks of asking. Randall took it into his own hands to produce results that the Social Security card office was not providing to Olugbola.

“Let’s just get in my Jeep and drive to the Social Security office to figure this out,” Randall said.

The pair were told that the paperwork had gone through some rerouting but would arrive. Olugbola received his paperwork days later and was able to work on campus. However, this wasn’t the end of their friendship.

Randall inquired about his new Nigerian friend at lunch after the mystery of the lost Social Security card was solved.

Olugbola grew up in an impoverished area of Nigeria, according to Randall, and learned how to play the violin at his local library where YouTube was accessible on the free computers. He later moved to Hammond, Louisiana, on a scholarship to play the violin in the Department of Music and Performing Arts.

Throughout the semester, Randall readily kept up with Olugbola until the cusp of finals in November. It was then that the international student came to the Mail Center asking about job opportunities over the winter break when the university would be shut down.

Due to departments being closed, Olugbola would be out of a job for close to three weeks. An initiative to produce results and try to find a solution drove Randall down a rabbit hole of more questions than answers.

Lack of a work visa or transportation posed a precarious situation in finding a job for one international student and an even larger problem when Ogubola introduced his friend. “[Ogubola] came in one day and asked, ‘Mr. Josh, I have a friend who is in the same shape and needs a job, can you help him too?’” Randall said.

Curious as to how many other international students were in the same boat as Ogubola and his friend Ayomide Olubuse, Randall asked if a poll could be done. The survey, conducted by Olubuse, produced a list of 34 students at Southeastern from Nigeria who were going to be without a job or family during the winter break.

“It was Christmastime, and you can’t go pinching pennies at Christmastime. That’s not what we do here,” said Randall.

Randall, again, pushed himself to try harder.

He contacted business owners, department heads, and members of the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce to give these students a chance to not only live but thrive during the four-week break.

“If there is something that can be done, why can’t it be done?” Randall said, living by the mantra to help people where help is needed.

This urge to help flows into his pastimes, where he is a volunteer fireman; assistant director at his local youth association in Springfield, Louisiana; and the owner of a 20-year-old jeep club.

Randall said he only brings problems to the table if solutions are readily available. He proposed that departments that have to work over winter break and have room on their budget from students who return home promote those open positions for students who are eager to work. Forming a network of business owners that could offer cash jobs for short periods could also open a larger door for other international students that attend Southeastern.

the break through the Lion Pantry food pantry program. The Lion Pantry provides perishable and non-perishable items to any active Southeastern students who are in need of services throughout the year, and during breaks, this critical resource can make an especially big difference to members of the campus community.

Within the Office of Student Engagement, Southeastern’s Multicultural and International Student Affairs (MISA) office provides support services, along with social and leadership opportunities, to international students throughout the year, including hosting a popular International Night and housing international student organizations. MISA and other university departments are continuing to investigate additional ways to make sure all students have everything they need to achieve a successful and happy experience at Southeastern, no matter the time of year.

There are close to 160 international students currently enrolled at the university, a number which continues to rise as Southeastern’s reputation for academic excellence mixed with caring support in a welcoming community continues to grow across the globe.

Randall is hopeful and driven that he will do his part to be part of the solution. “I promise you I will do what I can to not let this happen again,” he said.

During the Hammond Christmas Parade in December, Southeastern President William Wainwright was adamant that a magnet be placed on one of the floats stating “We love our international students.”

To further help combat this predicament, the Office of Student Engagement jumped in to arrange a food program to provide for international students remaining close to campus during

“At Southeastern, you matter here,” Randall said. “I live by that.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

33

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*Available fully online

A somewhat scientific polling of ALUMNI Are you more of a cat person or a dog person?

you know it you said it

When you were a student, how many times did you switch majors before finding your path?

I ALWAYS KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO BE

CAT

35.33%

24.76%

1

DOG

42.27%

75.24%

2

15.14% 3+

7.26%

How old were you when you got your first driver’s license?

How many video game systems do you own?

NONE

67.48%

15

1

42.21%

20.49%

16

2-4

31.78%

11.14%

17

IT’S A PROBLEM

12.67%

.89%

18

9.78% 19+

3.56%

What’s your go-to type of air freshener?

SPRAY

29.13% CANDLES

45.18% DIFFUSER

11.47%

Would you rather visit space or the depths of the ocean?

SPACE

33.33% OCEAN

23.27% NEITHER— I’M STAY ON LAND!

43.40%

PLUG-IN

14.22% SPRING/SUMMER 2024

35

giving back

Creating a Lasting Impact

BY ALEIGH SANDERS

Scan here to learn more about how you can create an impact.

36

SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

STEVEN COSSÉ

Steven Cossé, a Southeastern alumnus, is undoubtedly leaving a lasting impact on his alma mater. His generosity has allowed for the creation of four First Generation Scholarships.

Cossé graduated from Southeastern in 1969, earning a bachelor of arts degree. He later graduated from Loyola University in 1974, earning a juris doctorate.

In 2012, Cosse’ was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award. The Alumni Association Awards Program recognizes Southeastern alumni who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and careers have honored the legacy of excellence at the university. Recipients of the Alumnus of the Year Award have reflected outstanding qualities as a Southeastern student, have excelled in their field after graduation, and have continued to be supportive and active in Southeastern’s future.

Cossé has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate each of these qualities.

At the time of his recognition, Cossé served as president and CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation. The company hoped to create a scholarship in his honor, which inspired the first of the four First Generation Scholarships. The Steve Cossé/Murphy Oil First Generation Scholarship was established shortly after his recognition in 2012. It was matched by the Louisiana State Board of Regents in 2013.

Teresa Huerta, another recipient and current health sciences major, said that “If it wasn’t for this scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have been able to fully afford to come to Southeastern. . . . I am really glad and thankful for it.”

The university is and will forever be thankful for Steven Cossé. He continues to leave a lasting impact on the university through his support to students receiving an education at Southeastern.

Endowed scholarships, such as those established by Cossé, allow students to focus more on their studies, to boost their academic success, and to help them graduate within four or five years.

If you are interested in establishing a scholarship, please contact the Office of Development by calling 985.549.2239 or emailing advancement@southeastern.edu. For more information on applying for a scholarship, contact scholarships@southeastern.edu.

Scholarship recipient Teresa Huerta

Cossé continues his support of Southeastern through the establishment of three successive endowments. The first was the Steve Cossé First Generation Endowed Scholarship, which was matched in 2022. The Steve Cossé First Generation Endowed Scholarship No. 2 was established a year later, and it was matched in 2023. The Steve Cossé First Generation Endowed Scholarship No. 3 was most recently established, and it was submitted for matching in 2024.

Several recipients of the First Generation Scholarships have thanked Cossé for his generosity that has ultimately allowed them to attend the university.

One recipient of the Steve Cossé/Murphy Oil First Generation Scholarship, Marissa Pareti, thanked Cossé saying, “What you did was so thoughtful, and so appreciated.” She went on to say how his generosity meant the world, as this support allowed her to continue her education at Southeastern and to continue chasing her dreams. Upon graduation in 2003, Pareti enrolled in Southeastern’s RN-BSN nursing program and is now on her way to becoming a labor and delivery nurse, a career which will in turn allow her to also help countless others.

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

37

KEEPING

class notes

’ 58 & ’ 60

’76

NICHOLAS B. TOURNILLION

M’LISS LANDRY CROSIER, MD,

’ 0 9 & ’ 12

’1 3

was recently presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. He spent a long and successful career in finance, including having served as an adviser to the Ronald Reagan administration at the White House and founding his own company, Definco Limited. Most recently, in 2020, he was a consultant for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Macedonia.

KELLY RYAN won a Milken

Educator Award, the “Oscars of Teaching,” from the Milken Foundation for 2024. She currently teaches 11th and 12th grade students at Northshore High School in Slidell, La., where she also is an active member of the Instructional Leadership Team and sponsor of two student organizations.

’ 23 CONNOR MILLER is a software engineer for Boeing Phantom Works in St. Louis, Mo. He is part of an agile software team developing real-time mission systems software for a proprietary program within Phantom Works, Boeing’s advanced research, development, and rapid prototyping division. While a Southeastern student, he completed internships for both NASA and Ampirical.

has been practicing medicine in Acadiana since 1985 and is licensed in both Louisiana and Texas. She completed her pathology residency and internal medicine internship at Charity Hospital & LSU Medical Center in New Orleans, and she is board certified in anatomic/clinical pathology with a special interest in surgical pathology and immunohistochemistry.

JEREMY TROULLIET was

recently promoted to partner at Pedelahore & Co. CPAs, a company which has been in operation in the Florida Parishes since 1945. He joined the firm’s Amite office in 2013, providing dedicated service to a diverse range of small to medium-sized businesses and individual clients there for over a decade.

’95 DANIELLE MANZELLA

was recently promoted to chief retail banking officer (CRBO) and executive vice president at Resource Bank in Covington, La. Before being named CRBO, she worked as the operations assistant manager and then business and branch services director for resource.

’ 13 & ’ 14 LAUREN KIMBLE SMITH

has been promoted to associate tax director at James Lambert Riggs & Associates in Hammond. She previously served as manager of the tax section of the firm since 2021 and is currently on the board of the Hammond Regional Arts Center and active in the Hammond Rotary Club.

’09 WILLIAM LAMPEREZ is a

senior welding engineer with T.D. Williamson in Houston, Tex., providing welding and project engineering support to services operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to this, he spent five years as a welding engineering for Worley in Baton Rouge, LA.

’2 1 AMY KELLER is the new

assistant principal at St. Amant Primary School in Ascension Parish.

She previously taught kindergarten and fourth grade at St. Amant Primary, taught physical education at Duplessis Primary, and served as a mentor teacher/master teacher at Sorrento Primary and master teacher at Lowery Elementary.

Want to be featured in an upcoming issue, or know someone who should be?

Please send your career news and a headshot to editor@southeastern.edu.

in touch I N MEMO RIAM Former and Current Faculty and Staff Lost in 2023

JOYCE BENTON BIGNER

CARL E. HIGGINBOTHAM, JR.

GLORIA KNIGHT RICHARDSON

DR. DENNIS K. BROWN

MR. JOHN V. "BUBBA" HOOVER

KENNETH W. RIDGEDELL

JUANITA "JANE" CHUSTZ

DIANE LANDRY HUGHES

DR. LISSO R. SIMMONS

RUTH NELL KINNISON

MARK REGINALD "REGGIE" SIMMONS

ELAINE GEBBIA

JUDITH HUGHES KROGSGARD

DR. TOM SULLENBERGER

DR. CLARENCE E. GOLEMON

MARY F. MAY

CANDANCE L. THOMAS

LISA D. GUTTIERREZ

STEPHEN C. PORTIER

CARL W. TORBUSH, JR.

ANTOINETTE "TONI" PECORARO DORSA

D R. JA M E S (J I M ) E M ANU E L S M IT H V

1 9 43 - 2 02 4

Jim Smith, a class of 1965 alumnus, taught and guided students over the past six decades as an esteemed accounting professor, most recently at the College of William and Mary. He also made a significant impact on his field, authoring four books and publishing in the top accounting professional journals. As a result, he received many awards throughout his career, including the 2015 Southeastern Alumni Association Excellence in Academics Award. Jim and his wife Nora, also class of 1965, further went on to establish the Addie Lela Thompson Smith Endowed Scholarship Fund, providing an enduring way for countless future generations of Southeastern students to likewise achieve their dreams.

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

39

See Yourself?

LIONS THROUGH THE GENERATIONS

These photographs provide a glimpse of the generations of Lions who are a part of Southeastern’s story.

If you see yourself or someone you know, email editor@southeastern.edu to help us uncover the names and details behind these historical snapshots.

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PAID

Office of Advancement, SLU 10293 Hammond, LA 70402

PERMIT NO. 51 HAMMOND, LA

southeasternfoundation.org

Southeastern’s undergraduate teacher preparation program has received an ‘A’ rating by the National Council on Teacher Quality for its rigorous preparation of future educators in how to teach reading. This program is among just 23 percent nationwide to earn an ‘A’ for meeting standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction.