Southeastern Spring/Summer 2017 Magazine

The Southeastern Promise

M BA R ANK E D 3 5 T H

$10 Million Gift of Love

Southeastern changes higher ed in Louisiana, pg.14

High demand program ranked nationally, pg. 16

Southeastern receives its largest gift ever, pg. 19

SOUTHEASTERN S P R I N G / S U M M E R

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L O U I S I A N A

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M A G A Z I N E

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY S P R I N G / S U M M E R

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M A G A Z I N E P RESI DENT

Dr. John L. Crain IN T E R I M PROVOST & V I C E PR E SI DENT FOR ACAD E MI C A FFA I RS

Dr. Tena L. Golding VIC E P R E SID E N T FO R AD MI N I ST R AT I O N & FI NA NCE

Sam Domiano VIC E P R E SI D E N T FO R U N I V E R S I T Y A DVA NCEM ENT

Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE V I C E PR E S I D E N T FO R ST U D ENT A FFA I RS

Dr. Eric Summers E X EC U T I V E D I R ECTOR, P U B LI C & G OV E R N ME N TA L A FFA I RS

Erin Moore Cowser D IR ECTO R , CO M MU N I CAT I O N S & C R E AT I V E SERV I CES:

Rene Abadie

Is this you?, pg. 51

Letters: Southeastern Magazine welcomes letters of 300 or fewer words. Letters may be used for publication unless the author states that it is not to be published. Letters may be edited for publication. Send submissions to Editor, Southeastern Magazine, Office of University Advancement, SLU 10293, Hammond, LA 70402 or mrivault@southeastern.edu.

D IR ECTO R , MAR K E T I N G & CO MMUNI CAT I ONS

Mike Rivault PH OTOG RA P HY

Mike Kiral, Randy Bergeron

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

CO NT RI B U TORS

Ashley Richardson, Tonya Lowentritt, Mike Kiral COVE R PH OTO : Seth and “Mac” Ryan make the single largest donation in Southeastern’s history.

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C H E FS E V E N I N G & DAY OF G IVIN G

Southeastern’s premier fundraising events

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SA F EST CA MPUS IN LOUIS IA NA

exceed expectations.

Southeastern was recently named Louisiana’s safest university campus.

CHANGING HIGHER ED IN LOUISIANA

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G LOB ETROTTER NATE LOF TON

In a bold visionary move, Southeastern

G RA D UATES

Harlem Globetrotter and newly

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launches the Southeastern Promise to benefit incoming students.

graduated Lion alumnus Nate Lofton succeeds on and off the court.

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SC IENC E ON TA P

M BA P ROG R AM R AN K E D 3 5 TH I N N AT I ON

The Master of Business Administration

Science on Tap brings complex issues to

program is ranked among the top nationwide.

the public in a fun and understandable way.

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S E T H RYAN D ON AT E S $ 10 M ILLION

To honor his wife, “Mac,” Seth Ryan

leaves most of his estate to Southeastern.

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N EW WOMEN’S SOCC ER COAC H

Christopher McBride is ready to start the

Lady Lions strong.

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president’s M E S SAG E

Alumni, Friends & Supporters, As you will see in this magazine, there are great things going on across campus, including more rankings and accolades for programs and more accomplishments by students and faculty.

In addition, you will see highlighted in these pages two major developments that portend great promise for our university.

First, we received the largest single donation in our history. Seth Ryan, a recently deceased business graduate, bequeathed much of his estate to the Southeastern Foundation in honor of his wife "Mac." This $10 million endowment will provide hundreds of new scholarships for women in academic disciplines in which they are often underrepresented, allowing Southeastern to lead the way for women entering these fields.

Second, we launched the Southeastern Promise, a tuition/ fee guarantee for new incoming students who stay on track to graduate in four years. This commitment to our students is a groundbreaking initiative with the potential to significantly impact higher education in our region and enhance students’ ability to achieve four-year degrees.

Frequently I am asked about the things that define Southeastern.

I usually respond with two key words that describe us – our core

values of “caring” and “excellence.” Those two words say a great deal, and people quickly understand what Southeastern is all about. Recently, however, I have observed something else in our university that I think is truly worth noting: strength.

In the past decade, the state’s financial problems have challenged us at unprecedented levels. But, as I have said many times before, despite the challenges, in numerous ways Southeastern has emerged stronger. This past year has demonstrated that strength in multiple ways - from all pulling together to help students, faculty and staff recover from record floods, to working collaboratively across faculty, staff and alumni to serve more students and to serve them better than ever.

I believe that strength is an important element of leadership. As universities nationwide strive to find a unique niche and carve out a leadership position, Southeastern continues to bolster its focus on student-centered innovations that solidify our leadership role in the future of educating the citizens of this state and beyond.

As always, please read the great news in this magazine and spread the word about Southeastern. You are our greatest asset in communicating the strength of our university!

John L. Crain P RESI DENT

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OUT

&

ABOUT

Yash

MALLA Senior // Computer Science Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal

How Southeastern changed me

Current involvement on campus

Southeastern has changed me professionally through my academics. My professors in computer science have been awesome and have given me many important tools I know I will use after I graduate.

Favorite spot on campus The top floor of Fayard Hall. Only staff members ever go up there; it’s a great place to sit and study in silence.

Favorite thing about my major

Student Government Association, Nepalese Student Association at Southeastern, Catholic Student Association

It’s like solving a puzzle! It is always tickling your brain. Computer science is a lot like a math. You have to really put the pieces together and understand the concepts behind it in order to be successful in applying it.

Dream job There are so many amazing jobs in computer science, but my dream job would definitely have to be a senior software developer.

What do you think of Southeastern’s faculty and staff ?

In 15 words or less, what is great about Southeastern?

For a school that feels small, the opportunities are greater than you could imagine.

They are the best of the best. They help me not only with my academics, but they have also helped me socially by encouraging me to join each organization I have been a part of. The faculty and staff have become more like friends rather than my superiors.

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SOCI AL

ME DIA

comments from you on the

$10 MILLION DONATION "YES! Let's support females in STEM! I hope more almuni are inspired to remember the school in their charitable giving and wills."

-Sara Sohr-Preston

"Stellar! Thank you, Mr. Ryan, from a female grad '89!"

-Fonta Clark-Cole

Wow! What a generous gift!

-Sandy Theriot Savoy

POSTS FROM

Thanks @ brennenjase for bringing your #LionPride to Capitol Hill! #LIONUP @oursoutheastern

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“When your best friend gets down on one knee in the most romantic way in front of all of your friends and family.” @breighanneallen

“

Glad to hear they're going to help students/parents get a break. Kudos to Southeastern!! Now let's see if other universities will follow suit

”

-Evelyn Chamblee // FACEBOOK

“Amazing. How I wish other schools would have their students' backs like Southeastern does. Thank you for setting the example.”

- Christine Jackson Phillips

"IT IS THE BEST. AWESOME PROMISE” -Dolores Norwood Benedetto

YOUR COMMENTS on the SOUTHEASTERN PROMISE

"Love SLU...if you make good on your ACT score, they will almost pay you to go to school! Geaux lions!"

“LION UP!” -Christine Hotard Wenturine

FACEBOOK

– Kathy Schexnayder FACEBOOK

Here are some of your local heroes from tonight's game: Hammond Fire Department #LionUp #localheroes @slu_hoops

College of Business students marked #PiDay their own way with a "Pie Your Professor" fundraiser. The "pied" person pictured is one of many faculty members/good sports who participated: Dr. Jay Johnson, economics instructor and assistant dean of @southeasterncob.

@southeastern_athletics

@oursoutheastern

“What's better than watching the Lions w/ my girls? #LionNation” @maggieehinsonn

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SOUTHEASTERN DEDICATES EXHIBIT TO HAMMOND DEVELOPER

Charles Emery Cate One of the early developers of the City of Hammond, Charles Emery Cate, was recently recognized with a permanent exhibit of photos, writings, and artifacts in Southeastern’s Sims Memorial Library.

“The Cate manufacturing facilities were destroyed by federal troops in April 1863,” Nichols explained. “After that, he devoted himself to grading and naming streets and planting water oaks along them.”

“Charles Emery Cate was one of the most storied and important citizens in the early development of the city. This exhibit demonstrates the alignment of the missions of Southeastern and the City of Hammond,” said President John L. Crain.

Later, he was able to convert the empty shoe factory into a hotel, and Cate began offering lots to potential settlers. He rebuilt the sawmill and later developed a brickyard.

Participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony were Suzanne Graham of Covington, Cate’s great-great-granddaughter; Emery Cate Reymond, his great-great-great-great granddaughter; other members of the family and Southeastern officials.

The exhibit is located in a special glass room located on the first floor of the Sims Library and is open to the public 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

“This is a special day for the Cate family,” said Graham. This is what my mother wanted, and we are truly honored.”

Professor Emeritus of History Howard C. Nichols addressed the assembled group, which included descendants of the Cate family who contributed elements of the exhibit to the university’s Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies housed in the library.

A native of New Hampshire, Cate came from a family engaged in brick-making and shoe manufacturing, Nichols said. In 1852 he moved to New Orleans and worked as a shoe salesman, later purchasing tracts of property and establishing a shoe manufacturing plant in what would later become the town of Hammond. Eventually he would build a saw mill, a grist mill, leather cutting facility and other businesses.

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Nichols said it was Cate’s wife, Mercy “Mertie” Ann Cate, who prevailed upon her husband to donate land for the erection of a chapel. The women of the community raised the funds to build the Grace Chapel, which, upon her death, was renamed Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in her honor.

Nichols said Cate encouraged migration to the area, even soliciting visitors traveling via railroad to the New Orleans World’s Fair in 1884, to stop off in Hammond on their return trips to the mid-West and to consider the area for business investment.

Cate died in 1916 at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans at the age of 86.

Among the reminders of his influence on Hammond are the site of his first home, now Cate Square, and the Cate Teacher Education Center at Southeastern.

The exhibit – which includes bricks from the original brickyard, Cate’s writings, Bible and other artifacts – demonstrates “only a fraction of what this man meant to Hammond,” said Leon Ford Chair and Professor of History Samuel C. Hyde, director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. Hyde oversaw the development of the exhibit and gave credit to the Cate family for its financial support and donation of materials to the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies and to the individuals at Southeastern who worked to make the exhibit a reality.

Southeastern chemist awarded NSF GRANT FOR RESEARCH Southeastern Professor of Chemistry Thomas Sommerfeld has been awarded a three-year, $101,786 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The grant allows Sommerfeld to investigate how extra electrons aid in breaking chemical bonds, while also providing undergraduate students with real-world learning opportunities.

“Chemical bonds are electrons that are shared between atoms,” Sommerfeld said. “They can be thought of as a type of glue that holds the atoms in a molecule together.”

“The project allows me to introduce undergraduates on mini-projects that are indirectly related to my research first,” he said. “These projects can be addressed with standard quantum chemistry methods so that students learn the research techniques step-by-step. It’s a great opportunity that only a few undergraduate chemistry students experience.”

He explained that the bonds can be weakened by both too little and too much “glue” and weakened bonds can then be cleaved during the permanent motion of the atoms. Among examples of how this reaction is seen is in damage to living tissue by radiation in cancer therapy with electron beams.

In his research, Sommerfeld will try to identify reliable, cost-efficient methods of developing novel computer simulation methods that characterize the electron emission from unstable molecules.

His grant allows the employment of several undergraduate chemistry students to work with him on the project.

Southeastern Associate Professor of Chemistry Thomas Sommerfeld, left, talks with senior chemistry major Joshua Melugin of Gonzales about the computer simulation research work he is conducting through a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Foundation Holds Successful Chefs Evening and Day of Giving This year the Southeastern Louisiana University Foundation’s two main events for university support were resounding successes!

Chefs Evening, held in March, had a strong attendance and great participation. The food and wine were well received and provided both the Southeastern community and the region with a great event that has come to be regarded as a ‘taste of the Northshore.’

The Day of Giving was held on Wednesday, April 26, and was a huge success as well. Thanks to many faculty and staff, key donors and an influx of new donors, the 24 hour fundraising event topped even the best expectations, raising over $189,000.

of

$189,000+ TOPPED LAST YEAR BY OVER $85,000! #BESTDONORSEVER

Last year, the Southeastern Foundation was able to increase its support of academics and athletics due to a strong Day of Giving and Chefs Evening, and this year should prove even better.

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Rob Dugas, vice president and chief procurement officer for Chick-fil-A, discusses his company with Chelsie Reed, a junior supply chain management major from Gonzales, during a visit to Southeastern. Dugas, a Southeastern graduate, was on campus to meet with Southeastern students about summer corporate internship opportunities at Chick-fil-A.

Southeastern graduate and Chick-fil-A exec recruits students for internship opportunities Southeastern graduate and Chick-fil-A executive Rob Dugas visited the university last semester to meet with and recruit Southeastern students for corporate internship opportunities at Chick-fil-A national headquarters in Atlanta.

Sponsored by Southeastern’s Office of Career Services, the event was part of the university’s ongoing Real-World Ready initiative that provides students with experiential learning opportunities, including internships, service-learning courses, research, and artistic and field experiences.

A 1986 graduate with a degree in communication, Dugas is the chief procurement officer and a vice president with the firm. He was recruiting for a 10-week summer program in Atlanta that includes paid corporate internships with a housing stipend and handson corporate learning experience in the privately held company.

Chick-fil-A offers internship opportunities in accounting, business, communication, engineering, finance, information technology, and marketing and supply chain management.

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“Unlike training in biology and other fields, the College of Business doesn’t have labs to send students to so that they can learn by seeing and doing,” said Louis Mayfield Professor of Marketing Mike Jones. “Through internships, students can see if they even want to work in the world that they are preparing for.

One can read lots of books about riding bicycles, but unless you get on one, I don’t think you will learn to ride. I wish all of our students had the learning experience provided by internships.”

Dugas was recognized this year at Southeastern’s Annual Alumni Awards Evening during Homecoming as the Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

“Besides being a visionary manager of the highest quality, Rob has been a great friend to Southeastern and its business students,” said Jones. “For two years he has hosted a group of 20 supply chain management majors from Southeastern during visits to Atlanta, providing students a day of interacting with both him and his team.

These visits provide students a powerful learning experience in a way that textbooks can’t. Most of the students on those visits have never been in the offices of a large corporation.”

CROTHER ELECTED PRESIDENT

of national association Brian Crother, professor of biology and assistant dean of the College of Science and Technology, has been elected president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

The ASIH is dedicated to the scientific study of fishes, amphibians and reptiles.

“The primary emphases of the society are to increase knowledge about these organisms, to disseminate that knowledge through publications, conferences, symposia, and other means, and to encourage and support young scientists who will make future advances in these fields,” said Crother, who is the Edward G. Schlieder Foundation Professor of Biological Sciences.

The ASIH just celebrated its 100th anniversary, and its journal, Copeia, was one of the first to be devoted to the publication of scientific papers on fishes, amphibians and reptiles, Crother said.

“ASIH is now the premier global scientific organization dedicated to the scientific study and conservation of fishes, amphibians and reptiles,” he said. “Copeia is internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious scientific journals of its kind, and it can be found in over 1,000 libraries worldwide.”

Crother has previously served as president of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and serves on the executive committee of the World Congress of Herpetology. He has published over 100 scientific articles and edited multiple books.

Coca-Cola

Brings Promotion to Southeastern HIGH HUGGABILITY - Southeastern student Kaitlyn Ford of Alexandria hugs a Coca-Cola machine in the university’s Student Union that propels a free Coke when touched. Hundreds of students gave hugs to get free soft drinks while the promotional vending machine made its one-day appearance on campus.

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Summers leads STUDENT AFFAIRS Eric J. Summers of Hammond, a Southeastern employee since 2000, has been named the university’s vice president for student affairs.

Summers has served as assistant to the vice president for student affairs since 2011, where he filled the roles of diversity educator, chief conduct officer and principal administrative officer.

“Dr. Summers brings to his new role a broad array of experiences in student affairs,” said President John L. Crain. “We are looking forward to working with him to further enhance the engagement and success of our students.”

Starting as a residential housing coordinator, Summers advanced through several positions at the university. He served as director of Multicultural and International Student Affairs from 2001 to 2011, providing leadership in the university’s diversity efforts. From 2007 to 2011 he served as conduct officer, in which he administered the student disciplinary process and conducted hearings for alleged violations of the Southeastern Student Code of Conduct.

a student development program that provides transitional support and guidance for minority first-year students. He helped create the first African-American Alumni Chapter in cooperation with the Southeastern Alumni Association and has served on numerous committees, including the University Planning Council, University Budget Advisory Committee, and the Institutional Effectiveness Committee.

Summers has served on the advisory board for the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts and as adviser to the NAACP Collegiate Chapter. He has been honored with the Southeastern Alumni Association’s L.E. Chandler Award, presented to a staff or faculty member in recognition of their work with students.

A graduate of the University of New Orleans with a doctorate in education administration-higher education, he also holds a master’s degree in higher education administration and student personnel from the University of Mississippi, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.

A mentor for numerous students, Summers introduced Project PULL (“Promoting Unity through Leadership and Learning”),

SOUTHEASTERN CHANNEL now available on mobile devices The live 24/7 broadcast of the Southeastern Channel is now available for viewing on all mobile platforms, including iPhone and Android. Known for its diversity of educational, community, entertainment, cultural and sports programming, the channel’s live television broadcast can now be watched on all mobile devices at southeastern.edu/tv/live.

Until recently, online viewers of the Southeastern Channel’s live 24/7 simulcast have had to subscribe to Charter Communications, on which the channel is broadcast, or watch on a desktop or laptop computer from the channel’s home page, southeastern.edu/tv.

That monthly viewership has registered in all 50 U.S. states and 47 countries each month.

“Recent updates to our studio and broadcast equipment now make the Southeastern Channel’s live broadcast available to anyone, anywhere, on any desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet,” General Manager Rick Settoon said. “We receive regular requests to 10

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watch our programming from viewers who are on the go. Now they can watch on almost any device.”

The Southeastern Channel recently upgraded to High Definition (HD) for studio production, broadcast and delivery.

The channel has also expanded its streaming capabilities to include live streams of its production of Southeastern sports events, dual enrollment classes and entertainment events.

Maurin moves to ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Kay Harrison Maurin of Hammond, a Southeastern employee since 2001, has been named the university’s assistant vice president for enrollment management.

She has served as director of university housing since 2012, where she was responsible for overseeing 12 residential communities.

Starting as the student organization/Greek life coordinator in 2001 until 2006, Maurin advanced through several positions at the university. She served as director of Disability Services from 2006 to 2012, providing leadership for students with disabilities and ensuring the university’s compliance with the ADA and other legal guidelines.

From 2012 to 2017 she was director of University Housing, where she worked as chief housing officer establishing and overseeing policies to minimize risk and dissatisfaction and maximize student achievement and retention.

During her tenure at Southeastern, Maurin created the Greek Council of Presidents to improve communication among Greek organizations and initiated Disability Awareness Week on campus

to highlight services available to students and increase awareness of the needs and accomplishments of students with disabilities.

She has also served on numerous committees, including the Faculty Grievance Review Subcommittee, the Freshman Intake Committee, the Retention Task Force and the Institutional Review Board.

Maurin has served on the Habitat for Humanity Steering Committee for Dignity Build and Women’s Build and the St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School Board. She is a graduate of Leadership Tangipahoa and a member of the Hammond Area Phi Mu Alumnae Chapter. She has been honored with the Southeastern Alumni Association’s L.E. Chandler Award, presented to a staff or faculty member in recognition of their work with students.

A graduate of Louisiana State University with a doctorate in philosophy, educational leadership, research and counseling with a concentration in higher education, she also holds a master’s degree in counseling and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Southeastern.

southeastern ranked nationally in

financial aid study

Southeastern has been ranked 58th nationally among the best colleges for university-provided part-time student employment.

The study was published in the newsletter Student Loan Report using information compiled by Peterson’s Financial Aid Data. Southeastern was listed among the top 250 colleges and universities in the nation for its student part-time employment record.

According to the study, Southeastern provides approximately 1,093 on-campus jobs for students who are not affiliated with the Federal Work Study program. Only three Louisiana institutions made the list.

“Providing part-time employment for students benefits both the students and the university,” said Lori Fairburn, director of Enrollment Services. “The students gain exposure to a professional work environment and learn valuable lessons in time management, multi-tasking, project planning and more, while earning money to help pay for typical college expenses. The institution gains the benefits of having additional part-time workers on the staff to augment operations of the office.”

Student Loan Report is an online newsletter that provides information to college students and parents regarding news, issues and studies on student loans and student debt. The report can be found on the web at studentloans.net.

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Southeastern designated a

MILITARY FRIENDLY SCHOOL for fifth time

Southeastern has been named a 2017 Military Friendly School, the fifth consecutive year the university has earned the special recognition.

The designation is made by Victory Media, publisher of G.I Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning to civilian life. The listing honors the top colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace as students the nation’s military service members and veterans and spouses, and to ensure their success on campus.

“This demonstrates Southeastern’s ongoing commitment to our veterans and their educational success,” said President John L. Crain. “It is an honor to be named and to know that we are among the top institutions helping those individuals who have made great sacrifices in service to our state and nation.”

Southeastern enrolls approximately 400 military veterans attending the university on the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill of Rights. The university maintains a Veterans Upward Bound program; an Office of Veterans Affairs that assists students in obtaining benefits and with other issues; provides academic and other counseling services; offers scholarships specifically for military students and veterans; and maintains a wide range of online and distance learning programs that provide students with flexibility in scheduling.

The ROTC program returned to Southeastern last spring after more than a 20-year hiatus. During that time, Southeastern students were still able to participate in ROTC, but had to take their military courses through Southern University’s Navy program or LSU’s Army and Air Force programs and had to travel to Baton Rouge in order to participate.

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Also new to campus is the Southeastern Student Veterans & Military Interest Association, a group open to veterans, reservists, spouses, dependents, and ROTC participants attending both Southeastern and Northshore Technical Community College. The association was founded to help the school administration better understand and meet the needs of veterans; offer advice from experienced to incoming veterans; help civilians better understand the military experience; and provide opportunities for veterans to meet one another and connect.

Southeastern honored several members of its faculty at its annual convocation with emeritus recognition, one of the highest honors the university conveys on faculty and administrators. Receiving the designation were, from left, Accounting Professor Pierre Titard, Chemistry Professor Linda Munchausen and Associate Professor of Chemistry Don Elbers. Not shown is Professor Marc Riedel of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.

EMERITUS HONORS BESTOWED ON FOUR FACULTY Four retired members of Southeastern’s faculty were recognized with emeritus status in recognition of their distinguished and extraordinary service at the university Faculty-Staff Convocation held in January.

Recognized were chemistry professors Don Elbers and Linda Munchausen, Sociology Professor Marc Riedel, and Accounting Professor Pierre Titard. The emeritus title is one of the highest honors the university bestows.

Elbers is a Southeastern graduate who joined the faculty in 1976 after earning his doctorate at LSU. In addition to teaching, he maintained the instrumentation of the department, a valuable service considering a chemistry department is highly dependent upon its instrumentation. In 1981 he was named the university’s Director of Technical Services. He returned to the department in 1996.

Munchausen is also a Southeastern graduate who returned to teach at her alma mater after receiving her doctorate from the University of Arkansas and conducting research at Oak Ridge National

Laboratory. She was appointed acting head of the Department of Chemistry and Physics in 1994 and as department head in 1995.

In recent years, she has become dedicated to high school science research, working with the Region 8 Science Fair and directing the Louisiana State Science Olympiad.

Riedel is an internationally-recognized scholar who has made major contributions to the study of violence and homicide. He has authored or co-authored 12 books. One of his works, Criminal Violence: Causes, Patterns, and Prevention, is the standard text used by criminologists and professors nationwide. His work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court, and his participation on the boards of professional associations and research bodies underscores the respect he has earned by peers.

A certified public accountant who joined the Southeastern faculty in 2000, Titard was named Faculty in Residence and Special Government Employee for the New Orleans Division of the FBI, assisting in the investigation of financial crimes. He received an award in 2011 from the FBI for his development of innovative and efficient processes in addressing white collar crimes.

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THE SOUTHEASTERN

PROMISE

By Mike Rivault

Southeastern President, John L. Crain, at the recent press conference announcing the Southeastern Promise.

Left to right – Eric Summers, vice president for student affairs, Crain, Tena Golding, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Sam Domiano, vice president for administration and finance.

Southeastern has charted entirely new territory for higher education in both Louisiana and the broader region by making a ground-breaking promise to its students in the launching of the Southeastern Promise in mid-April.

The Southeastern Promise entails two central components for eligible students who opt to participate:

• Southeastern will not raise the cost of tuition for participating students during their four-year tenure; • Southeastern commits to providing availability of courses to ensure appropriate progress and enable degree attainment within four years or Southeastern will offer the final courses tuition free.

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The launch of The Southeastern Promise at this time is a result of several factors that are to ameliorate the effects of both national and regional trends. Nationally the average time students take to earn a college degree is between five and six years, and less than one third of those graduating do so “on-time,” which is considered 48 months.

Recent studies have shown that each extra year over four years is costing students between $9,000 and $15,000 more while holding them back from starting careers. In Louisiana, non-fulfillment of the TOPS scholarship tuition payments by the state in the 2016-2017 academic year and multiple tuition increases in recent years due to declining funding to state universities have created a confusing environment of financial uncertainty for students and their families. As the cost of a college education has increased, more students realize the urgency of completing their degrees in an expeditious manner.

"The Southeastern Promise is a game-changer in Louisiana,"

said President John L. Crain. “Earning a university degree is more important than ever and also more expensive than ever before.

Likewise financial planning for college has become difficult due to tuition increases. We hope to remove that future uncertainty for those students willing to participate and achieve their higher education goals in a timely manner.”

feature S TO RY The plan relies on a student’s commitment to complete the 120 hours required for a typical bachelor’s degree within four years by following a prescribed curriculum for their selected course of study.

Southeastern is committing to participating students that it will offer all the courses needed to graduate within the four-year time frame. If students adhere to the program, any potential tuition increases that may be implemented by the university over those four years will not apply. Program details can be found at southeastern.edu/promise.

Southeastern academic advisors will work with freshmen to choose their majors wisely and develop a four-year degree plan. Following the prescribed curriculum for their chosen major involves successful completion of at least 30 hours per year. If it is impossible for a student to reach the goal due to class scheduling or availability problems, the university will work with the student on a combination of equivalent class substitutions or provide scholarship funds for the remaining classes needed for degree attainment.

“For 90 years now, Southeastern has been dedicated to one thing – our students’ success,” Crain said. “Our entire university is focused on serving our students by providing strong academic programs with a personalized, caring culture that lays the groundwork for success."

"Over the past decade, the universities of Louisiana have adapted their business practices to become consumer-driven enterprises,” said Jim Henderson, president of the University of Louisiana System, the governing board for Southeastern and eight other regional institutions. “Southeastern's efforts to prioritize the student by reducing costs and time to degree will pay tremendous dividends for the entire university community.”

Part of our focus on student success is sensitivity to college affordability, Crain explained.

“Southeastern has always represented a great value and we have a long-standing tradition of programs and initiatives that save students money,” he said, pointing to the university’s textbook rental program as an example. “Southeastern operates one of the first and now longest-running textbook rental programs in the nation, which saves students hundreds of dollars each semester," he said.

“The Southeastern Promise continues our student-centered path.

Students who are committed to succeeding will succeed. That is our promise,” he added.

"Parents are going to love this,” said graduate student Brandon Heber of Destrehan. “It will provide structure and motivation for the young student, as well as financial stability for the family supporting the student."

major by the start of their sophomore semester.

The initiative requires the student successfully complete a minimum of one-quarter of the applicable credits for the selected degree program each academic year. The majority of Southeastern undergraduate degree programs consist of 120 total credit hours.

Enrollment at the university can include summer sessions to earn additional credits toward the goal if needed. Enrollment must be continuous at the university, and students are expected to maintain full time status and good academic standing.

Southeastern’s commitment involves providing the student with a four-year academic map for students' majors; providing academic advising during the initial enrollment period and prior to the start of each semester; ensuring the availability of courses to complete the 2017 four-year graduation plan; providing students with tools, including an online degree audit to assist in monitoring progress; and providing students with an annual evaluation of degree progress.

“Southeastern is committed to creating an educational environment designed to ensure student success and to offer an excellent educational value,” Crain said. “The Southeastern Promise offers students and parents the opportunity to more easily plan an academic pathway at a structured cost.”

Students see the Promise as something that can make a real impact, said Seth Leto of Amite, Student Government Association president and a political science junior.

“By helping students get their degree in four years, promising a fixed tuition rate, and assuring class availability, this program brings about a sense of security for students who may be struggling with the decision to go to college," Leto said. This will be a beneficial program for the students of Louisiana, and I am proud to see Southeastern create this new initiative."

"I think this is an amazing opportunity for students at the university, giving them a more stable and permanent goal,” said education senior Madeline Kelly of New Orleans. “I think this will help students not only succeed, but thrive at Southeastern!"

The Southeastern Promise was launched at a press conference on campus that received statewide news coverage that quickly spread the word of the new initiative. The program and the attention it is garnering are placing the university in a leadership position in the region in defining what it means to be a studentcentered university.

The Southeastern Promise is open to beginning freshman students entering the university in the Summer 2017 or Fall 2017 semesters who elect to participate in the program. Students do not necessarily have to declare a major in the first year but must declare an eligible SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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By Ashley Richardson As one of the most sought-after graduate programs, a Masters of Business Administration sends a signal to the market that you are a leader in the business world. The program’s curriculum covers the most critical topics in business and management and can fast-track professionals into a multitude of potential careers.

One may choose to pursue an MBA for a variety of reasons: the opportunity for growth or to jump start a new career; to gain experience with the global economy or to improve leadership and communication skills. One of the benefits of the MBA program is the contacts with colleagues and mentors who may prove to be invaluable.

No matter the reason for choosing the MBA path, Southeastern is proving to be a valuable choice. The Southeastern master of business administration program was ranked 35th in the country in a listing of the most affordable MBA programs by the website TopManagementDegrees.com. Southeastern’s selection from over 16

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1,000 MBA programs was based on criteria that includes exemplary business programs and affordable tuition rates.

Interim Dean of the College of Business Antoinette Phillips said the ranking demonstrates the high expectations the program places on student success.

“Our program continues to represent a significant value for our students,” said Phillips. “The exceptional quality of our program results in exceptional students who are highly recruited upon graduation.”

The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, signifying that the program meets specific standards of excellence earned by less than five percent of the world’s business schools. Business schools accredited by AACSB include the University of Chicago, University of California-Berkeley, Yale University, Stanford University, and Duke University.

P ERS O NAB L E The MBA program provides a close-knit environment among the students and professors, facilitating interaction and collaboration, said MBA Program Director André Honoree, who personally advises students on their degree plans. The program's dedicated and accomplished faculty emphasize personal attention and interaction with students and the business community to facilitate learning.

A 2013 graduate of the program, Enkhsanaa Erdene-Ochir is employed as a senior tax consultant with Deloitte Tax and Consulting in Luxembourg. “The MBA program gave me a greater sense of appreciation of the global business industry,” he said.

“The limited number of students in the classroom made the class interactive and enjoyable, while the accessible professors made the learning a robust process."

I N T ER D IS C IP L I N ARY

annual Ethics Lecture features prominent business leaders who have demonstrated exceptional moral character in their professions.

Study-abroad programs are also available and encouraged, helping to provide an invaluable dimension to a student’s academic, cultural, and professional development, as well as an advantage in the job market. Students can travel to Costa Rica and Panama, where Southeastern has strong relationships with business, industry, and governmental leaders.

Class of 2015 Jennifer Jarreau of Liberty Mutual Insurance said, "Southeastern's MBA program helped me excel in everyday business practices, become a well rounded business leader, gain further experience in my area of interest, and exceed the expectations of hiring managers when applying for jobs."

The program’s curriculum exposes students to practical courses and relevant learning experiences from a variety of disciplines. A diverse field of electives includes topics such as health care, ethics, accounting, and negotiation. The program encourages and values student engagement and participation in all courses with tactics such as debates, software mastery, and boardroom-like presentations.

The Southeastern MBA is especially designed to complement the degrees of students from a variety of undergraduate programs and cultivate the professional skills required to help advance their careers. The program graduates students with a diversity of educational and professional backgrounds from a variety of fields, including the sciences, business, liberal arts, and engineering. The students both contribute to and benefit from the real-world business focus of the program.

Business school has traditionally been viewed as a great investment for career advancement in fields such as finance and management.

Many business schools, including Southeastern's, focus on social impact and how to apply private sector strategies to public concerns.

Nattapon Mondhatuplin, a 2003 graduate now with IBM, said, “What I gained from Southeastern's MBA was not only an academic foundation, but I also learned to be a social contributor while studying there. Big thanks to the MBA program for shaping me to be who I am today and teaching me to contribute back to society."

O P P O R T U NITIE S Southeastern’s College of Business also offers numerous professional development and networking opportunities and partners with Southeastern’s Career Services for major-specific career exploration.

The MBA Society is the program’s active student organization that engages in many career and personal development activities, including the MBA Business Conversation Series, a series of guest lecturers specifically designed to provide students with coverage of current trends in business. In addition, the College of Business’

From zip lines to production lines: Southeastern's College of Business study abroad programs provide students with real-world examples of globalization, combined with the trip of a lifetime experiencing a new culture. The 2016 Business in Costa Rica program participants, including several MBA students, studied Costa Rica’s place in the global marketplace through industries that are unique to the country, such as chocolate, coffee, and tourism.

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DI D

you K N OW?

By the

NUMBERS Southeastern has been receiving accolades, notice and rankings on a regular basis in recent months and years for excellence, value and student outcomes.

SOME RECENT RANKINGS:

1

5

#

#

small business center in the U.S.

sport management program in the U.S.

2

#

4

#

college radio station in

college tv news

the Southeast

program in the South

3

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graduate biological sciences program in the U.S.

THE

LOVE OF A

GENTLEMAN The lives of these two very different Slidell, La. residents would have an impact on friends and family for sure, but would ultimately lead to the largest single donation Southeastern Louisiana University has ever received.

By Mike Rivault SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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SETH RYAN, MAC’S HUSBAND OF OVER 25 YEARS, WOULD LEAVE MOST OF HIS SIZABLE ESTATE TO THE UNIVERSITY TO HONOR THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE AND ENSURE THAT WOMEN IN FUTURE GENERATIONS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION IN HER NAME.

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feature S TO RY

Thelma ‘Mac’ McNamara, a New Orleans native, met and fell in love with Charles Nicaud, Jr. in the 1930’s. At the time of their marriage in 1939, Charlie, as he was known, was a pharmacist and manager with the Katz & Besthoff company that would soon become the regionally ubiquitous K&B. Charlie’s father, Charles Sr., was a longtime New Orleans pharmacist as well. Together, Charlie and Mac would launch and own multiple independent pharmacies in the New Orleans area. Having no children, their time was spent enjoying the company of friends and family. Mac loved being around people and was always up for an adventure. She loved to travel and loved animals. She and Charlie worked the stores themselves building up their success.

Charlie and Mac purchased their home and acreage along Bayou Liberty after having been married for a while. Soon, they spent much of their time at the new home, custom built for them, that overlooked the bayou which wrapped around most of their acreage.

Enhancing the beautiful wooded setting was a large walkable garden that was a refuge from the city life they had across the lake.

During what was certainly a busy time in their lives, Mac always made time for fun. She loved animals, family, friends, playing cards, attending social events and riding horses, among many other pursuits.

Charlie passed away in the mid 1960’s leaving Mac on her own in the home she so adored. Little did she know at the time, but her future was just up the bayou in the form of a tall, quiet gentleman she came to be fond of: Seth Ryan.

Seth, an independent investor, lived nearby with his aging parents.

His family knew of Mac, as her gregarious personality gave her a wide circle of friends. According to long-time friend Nick Chetta, Jr., Seth told the story many times that he first became interested in Mac soon after a hurricane passed in the mid-60s. The wooden lawn furniture from his parent’s home floated onto Mac’s lawn after the storm. Seth went to her door to claim his furniture and the seeds for a long-term love were planted. For Seth, Mac was an exciting and adventurous woman that he fell for quickly.

“Thelma ‘Mac’ Ryan was a vivacious, fun loving woman who lit up a room.”

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Seth and his family’s earlier years were spent in their home area of the Mid-West, with Seth growing up in Gross Pointe, Mich. His father, an insurance executive, was transferred to New Orleans in the mid-1940’s, and the family eventually settled in Slidell not too far from Charlie and Mac. After graduating high school in New Orleans, Seth made his way to Southeastern, earning a degree in accounting in 1953.

“They were a perfect balance to one another,” said long-time friend and associate Rick Normand. “She was always on the go, and he was more of the wall flower.” They brought out the best in one another and shared a true love and partnership. They travelled together – always at Mac’s urging. “They dined in fine restaurants, attended cultural events and performances and enjoyed their times together,” he added.

As Mac became seriously ill in the late 80’s with multiple incidences of cancer, things started to change for Seth. Nick recounted that Seth stayed by Mac’s bedside during her final illness. “He stayed at hotels in New Orleans so he would never be too far from her.” Mac passed away in 1994, and Seth found himself alone in their home on the bayou.

According to long-time neighbors Chris and Cheryl Nogues, Seth felt the loss deeply. “He was really devoted to Mac and when she passed away, he withdrew and kept to himself a great deal. He put on a curmudgeon exterior, but deep down he was a very kind, generous ‘softie,’” said Chris.

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Over many years, he had a small circle of friends that came to include Rick and Liz Normand, Chris and Cheryl and a handful of others whom he came to enjoy time with. While his home was still his refuge, he had a few places where he felt just as comfortable.

“Galatoire’s, Ruth’s Chris and Sal & Judy’s,” noted Rick, Nick and Chris and Cheryl in different conversations. “He loved to take close friends to dinner and make an event out of it,” said Rick. Cheryl recounted that Seth would call them on a Sunday with, “You kids free today?” That meant a trip to Galatoire’s.

A man of routine, the staff at these restaurants had a table prepared for him with an "Old Fashioned" cocktail ready when he sat down.

“He preferred to be at home, but when he went anywhere it was first class,” said Rick. Usually keeping to himself at the bayou home, when he did go out or travel, he wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. But he was not ostentatious or a show off with his wealth.

All agree that Seth was ‘a man who never really felt at home in the modern world.’ “He was a true gentleman in the 19th century manner,” explained Rick. When Seth spent money, it was on others just as much as himself. At home, he was frugal – not to be ‘cheap’ – but because it was a part of his character and virtue."

“THEY WERE A

perfect balance TO ONE ANOTHER.”

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He loved collecting guns and travelling regularly to his family farm acreage in Illinois to hunt. His home was full of gun collecting books and magazines forever fueling plans to find and purchase something custom made or rare.

“Seth was such an interesting man in so many ways,” said Chris.

Seth’s kindness to others was something that everyone also noted. “I don’t think he had an enemy in this world. To the people he knew he was a genuine friend,” said Nick.

Nick came to know Seth more and more as his mother, Dee Nunez, grew to be a close companion with Seth. Mac and Seth were good friends with Dee and her husband, Albert. After Mac, then Albert, passed away, Seth and Dee became close and enjoyed a common bond in their friendship. Nick and his mother spent a good deal of time with Seth.

One other thing about Seth that all of his friends knew, he was never fond of taxes. “He just knew the people in Washington, D.C. were not going to take care of his money,” noted Rick. In the early 2000’s he began considering what he would do to distribute his wealth once he passed away. This is where Southeastern comes back into the picture of Seth and Mac. Seth mentioned to many that Mac was always disappointed that she never attended college. At the time she would have entered as a young woman, she just could not afford the cost. It was something she regretted during her entire life. Seth, on the other hand, was able to attend Southeastern. Chris said he was emphatic that his education at Southeastern was a key to his ability to be a successful investor. Rick also noted that he often talked fondly of his time while earning his degree.

As Seth was beginning to consider his options, Wendy Lauderdale, then director of development under Vice President of Advancement Joe Miller, launched a new initiative in 2003 to communicate the opportunities and value of planned giving – including gifts to the university in one’s estate. “Fortunately for both Seth and Southeastern, the timing was perfect,” said Lauderdale. It was at this point that Seth saw he could accomplish many things in one opportunity. This would minimize the taxation on his estate –

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“Seth Ryan was a reclusive, quiet, intelligent, generous gentleman.” something he was very happy about – it would honor Southeastern, a place that meant a great deal to him, and it could honor Mac in one of the best ways possible, by ensuring future women had the opportunity she did not.

Rick Normand, the longtime friend, was also Seth’s attorney. Seth let Rick know that he wanted to give the majority of his estate to Southeastern with one stipulation. “He had to remain completely anonymous until his death,” said Rick. Being the quiet, reclusive gentleman that he was, he did not want any honors or accolades, and he did not want to be on anyone’s radar to start getting solicitations for his money.

Lauderdale recalled that Rick contacted her with the information that "an anonymous donor would like to include Southeastern in his will, but must remain completely anonymous." As is standard practice in the advancement and fundraising disciplines, one should always thank and steward a donor as a way of sincerely acknowledging a gift or commitment. Seth’s requirement made any direct contact impossible. Lauderdale had to always work through Rick, communicate through Rick and completely trust in Rick.

“Over time, Rick and I built a relationship instead of a direct relationship with Seth,” said Lauderdale.

Years before his passing, Seth decided to start an endowed scholarship with a sizable donation. “His personal check arrived in our office, clearly identifying our anonymous donor,” said Lauderdale, “but the instructions from Rick regarding no contact remained the same.

The hope of ever meeting Seth had to remain just that, a hope.”

Fortunately, his new endowment did provide an opportunity to communicate with Seth. “Scholarship recipients write to their scholarship donors and we were glad to know that Seth would see these letters – albeit through Rick,” said Lauderdale. So the mysterious nature of Seth Ryan remained in place.

Seth became seriously ill during 2015 and ultimately entered a nursing home facility when he could no longer live alone. He passed away in January 2017, and only then did the magnitude of his generosity become known. With a total estate in excess of $14 million, he left over $10 million to Southeastern, including the home and property that both he and Mac so dearly loved.

Seth, being one to make sure to not let control go even after his death, made it clear how the funds could be invested and for what they could be used. Funds were to be conservatively invested so the principle balance would not be put at risk, with the earned money going toward scholarships for women in career-orientated fields.

He honored his beloved Mac by giving women the chance she never had.

of women with the opportunity to benefit from strong careers and better futures.”

Southeastern will ultimately be able to create hundreds of scholarships in business, science, education and medical fields that will be here, in the name of Thelma “Mac” Ryan, for generations.

To honor this legacy, Southeastern also plans to name the current biology building after her.

The love of a quiet old fashioned gentleman for his gregarious outgoing wife will be commemorated by providing others with an opportunity that can be life changing. In the success of hundreds of women in the future, Seth’s love for Mac will never die.

Southeastern President John L. Crain said, “Seth Ryan’s deep generosity will benefit female students in perpetuity. In honoring his wife Mac he has established a legacy that will provide generations

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LOOK AT

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Each spring Southeastern oaks shade new and returning students as they have since our first days in 1925.

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Where to attend college is a big decision with high stakes. Students research degree programs, return on investment and campus life to ensure they make their best choice for higher education. One big concern for both students and their families is the issue of safety while attending classes and living on campus.

Southeastern’s continuing efforts have earned it the recognition as the safest university in the state and 15th in the nation among large colleges and universities by national college guide resource College Choice.

Tanya Parrish’s daughter Leslie will be attending Southeastern in the fall as an education major. Tanya feels the way many parents do: “There is no such thing as too many safety precautions.”

one of the reasons the university continues to see significant growth in our new student population.

Hammond resident Sonja Smith works with the local criminal justice court system and sees “the worst of the worst” daily. Naturally, safety on campus was very important to her as she helped her two daughters choose a university. Sydnee graduated in nursing in 2015, and Baylee is currently a dual enrollment high school student who will be living on campus as a freshman this fall.

“Safety is a huge concern for me because of my job. I have been impressed so far and hope the safeguards only continue to improve,” said Smith. “I am really pleased that my daughters chose Southeastern.”

At Southeastern, we agree. It’s why we have placed considerable resources into safety efforts to ensure that our campus remains a safe place to live and learn. This safe environment for students is SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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The Ways We Keep Our Lions Safe SAFE CAMPUS APP Southeastern's free Safe Campus app is the latest innovation added to its safety offerings. It can be accessed by visiting southeastern.edu/safecampusapp on a smartphone and can direct dial the University Police Department from its home screen and from links embedded throughout its sections. The app provides quickly accessible steps to take in the case of an active shooter or stabbing on campus, bomb threat, fire or explosion, intruder/ mental health emergency or other emergencies. The app also addresses procedures to be taken for a lockdown, shelter in place, evacuation, physical injury, sexual assault, weapons on campus and weather emergencies.

CODE-BLUE EMERGENCY PHONES Southeastern maintains more than 40 code-blue emergency phones located throughout the campus and its perimeter, including the walkways popular with joggers and walkers. Anyone can use the phones to instantly contact University Police with the push of a button. The code-blue phones' flashing blue lights activate during emergency situations impacting campus.

TELEPHONE ALERTS In the event of an emergency, the university telephone system will send emergency voice messages to digital telephones located in each building. The emergency message activates a "telephone tree," in which trained faculty and staff will share the information with others in their respective buildings.

WEB ALERTS

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM Southeastern uses an emergency alert messaging system, via email and/or text, to notify students, faculty, staff and preset relatives/friends in the case of an emergency. Communications are also posted on the website and social media.

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Emergency alerts and updates are posted on the homepage of Southeastern's website, southeastern.edu. This is the most reliable place to check to determine whether the campus will be closed for any emergency, including weather-related closures.

OUTDOOR PA SYSTEM A public address system with speakers strategically located across the main campus can be used to broadcast sirens or voice alerts. The system is loud enough to be heard throughout campus by individuals who are outdoors. If the siren is ever activated, individuals are advised to check their cell phones for details.

SECURITY CAMERAS

POLICE ESCORTS

University Police maintains an extensive network of strategically placed security cameras located throughout the campus in parking areas and in buildings, including residential housing.

The University Police Department encourages students to call and request a police escort if walking on campus at night.

Additionally, if studying in an isolated area, students can call and let the UPD know their location.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS Fire alarm systems in buildings on campus are networked to ensure that University Police are alerted when the system is activated, allowing police and fire personnel to respond immediately.

In addition to these security measures already in place, we encourage daily personal safety among students, faculty, staff and visitors while on campus.

Southeastern parent Anissa Carter knew how seriously Southeastern takes safety because she is a former employee.

Her daughter Emily is an incoming freshman majoring in kinesiology. Emily has previously attended overnight camps at Southeastern and has had the opportunity to stay in the residence halls and walk around campus during the day and night. “I feel very safe on campus, and especially like that Southeastern’s police officers provide escorts at night if I would need to walk alone,” Emily explains.

The People Who Keep Our Lions Safe Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department employs commissioned officers who are on-duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As sworn law enforcement officers, they are vested with powers of arrest, are trained in CPR and first aid, and are armed.

Police investigators respond to all major crime scenes and any other investigations.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS

A Culture of Safety In addition to our safety initiatives and police department offerings, the entire administration at Southeastern works together to foster a culture that promotes safety for every student, employee and visitor to our campus.

University Police and the Division for Student Affairs regularly share safety information on topics relevant to students, including dating violence and mental health concerns. The University Counseling Center provides free mental health counseling services to students, faculty, and staff. Safety is a topic at the forefront of all orientation sessions for new students and employees.

Information about crimes, safety concerns, and violations of the Student Code of Conduct can be reported anonymously.

Simply put, the safety of students, faculty and employees is a paramount priority at Southeastern.

Hammond resident Catherine Cangelosi participated in Southeastern’s high school dual enrollment program and will attend Southeastern full-time this summer as an OSHE major.

“I’ve grown up in the area and have spent time on campus since I was a child,” said Cangelosi. “I have always felt safe at Southeastern, like it’s an extension of my own home.”

We invite prospective students and families to get a feel for what these parents and students mean by taking a campus tour and talking to other parents about safety concerns. See why Southeastern feels like home.

The UPD is committed to making the community safer for everyone. Officers offer programs free of charge in order to encourage students, employees and the community to take proactive steps to enhance their safety, while educating the public to reduce crime and the fear of crime in our community.

Community outreach programs include topics such as sexual violence, contemporary drugs, personal safety, relationship violence, online safety and stalking.

SELF-DEFENSE COURSES UPD offers a free self-defense course for female students and employees every semester. The Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) course is a program of realistic, self-defense tactics and techniques including hands-on defense training. The course is also offered to community members for a nominal fee if space allows.

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CRUSH COMPETITION

SOUTHEASTERN STUDENT BUSINESS TEAMS

Two teams of Southeastern business students recently earned top awards in national and state competitions that tested their business and financial acumen in the areas of community banking and mergers and acquisitions.

A four-student team from Southeastern proved to be the highlight of opening day at the Community Banking in the 21st Century Research and Policy Conference (CRPC) when they presented their first-place winning report at the Washington, D.C.-based Conference of State Bank Supervisors. The conference is a nationwide organization of banking regulators from all states and U.S. territories. In all, 23 student teams from various universities participated in the competition.

A second team of three Southeastern business and finance students captured first place in a regional competition designed to provide students real-world experience in mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, and finances. The team competed and won the top prize in the third annual Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Energy Case Competition held at LSU. Danielle Lewis, Joyce Junguns Professor of Finance, served as faculty adviser to the team.

“In both these competitions, Southeastern teams demonstrated the skills, knowledge and experience they gained through their courses and close interaction with their instructors,” said College of Business Interim Dean Antoinette Phillips. “We are extremely proud of their representation of Southeastern.”

The CRPC competition allowed students to learn more about banking by partnering student teams with local banks to conduct original case studies, said Lewis. She said teams were given two weeks to 32

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prepare an oral presentation supported by PowerPoint and a handout that analyzed a hypothetical business scenario for an energy-related company. The case study was primarily finance related but also incorporated accounting, management and marketing elements.

Students worked from documents provided that included a memo from a chief executive officer outlining the situation, a series of financial statements, and some supplemental information.

The Southeastern team included senior finance major Nicholas Byrd of Denham Springs; senior Tarez Arceneaux Cowsar of Springfield, who anticipates sitting for the CPA exam after graduation in 2017; Joseph Edwards of Monroe, who is currently pursuing a master of science degree in finance; and Andrea Villarreal of Mexico, an academic AllAmerican in Women’s Tennis, who is pursuing a professional career in tennis and resides in her hometown of Monterrey, Mexico. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship award.

First Guaranty Bank partnered with the team and provided banking data to help construct the report. The students worked on the course project as part of Southeastern's Real-World Ready course initiative to incorporate more hands-on, experiential learning into students’ curriculum campus-wide.

“If it were not for FGB’s willingness to be transparent with data, we could not have worked on so many quantitative models that were used in the report,” Lewis said. “The loan level data made all the difference.”

She said the final 25-page report and accompanying 10-minute video were helpful to the bank, showing that FGB had an approximate $1 billion dollar economic impact from 21 branches located in multiple areas throughout Louisiana.

A team of Southeastern business and finance students took the top prize in a Louisiana competition sponsored by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). Pictured are, from left, team members Austin Polk, Hannah Reeves and Nick Byrd and faculty adviser Danielle Lewis.

STATE COMPETITION WINNERS

“The competition simulates real world scenarios,” Lewis explained, “and ACG strives to make the competition as realistic and valuable as possible for the students.”

The other Southeastern team – comprised of Byrd, Austin Polk, a senior finance major from Denham Springs, and Hannah Reeves, a senior business administration major from Franklinton – competed in the third annual Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Energy Case Competition held at LSU.

She said the students worked outside of class on the case study, using the background provided by ACG and the College of Business Bloomberg terminals, which provide students with access to up-todate stock and financial information.

“We pulled numerous all-nighters, and it was so rewarding to see our hard work pay off,” said Reeves, who prepared several spreadsheets correlating the price of oil per barrel to each company’s income statements, a task that impressed the judges. “The competition pulled me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to learn a lot of material very quickly, which was a great confidence boost. I feel much more confident about going into the ‘real world’ now.”

“I feel that I gained experience on what it would be like as a junior level investment banker,” said Byrd. “The ACG Cup is supposed to simulate the stressful environment of investment banking, and I learned that I liked the pressure and excitement that comes with it.

The competition made me realize I enjoy the investment banking culture, specifically mergers and acquisitions. I consider that a real potential career path.”

“We are so proud of our students and Dr. Lewis for the excellent work they did in this competition and for the national attention they have brought to Southeastern’s business program,” said Antoinette Phillips, interim dean of the College of Business.

Southeastern finance students teamed up with First Guaranty Bank and won the national Community Banking Case Study competition, which pitted them against 23 other universities in the nation. Pictured are, front row, from left, student Joseph Edwards, FGB Chief Credit Officer Randy Vicknair, and Chief Financial Officer Eric Dosch; second row, from left, FGB Chief Executive Officer Alton Lewis, students Andrea Villarreal, Nick Byrd, Tarez Cowsar, and Southeastern Faculty Adviser Danielle Lewis.

“The ACG Cup experience was extremely challenging but rewarding when it was all said and done,” said Polk. “It gave me insight regarding mergers and acquisitions that I could not gain in the classroom. But Southeastern has prepared me to think critically, which is one thing required for this competition.”

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GLOBETROTTER AND SOUTHEASTERN STAR NATE LOFTON MAKES THE COMEBACK OF HIS LIFETIME

By Rene Abadie

SOUTHEASTERN BASKETBALL STAR NATHANIEL “NATE” LOFTON LEFT COLLEGE IN 2005, HOPING TO HEAL FROM AN INJURY AND CATCH ON WITH A PROFESSIONAL TEAM. No one could have predicted that it would take an evacuation from Hurricane Katrina with 12 family members and friends to link him with the worldfamous Harlem Globetrotters, where he has made a career playing for the “Ambassadors of Goodwill.”

For 12 seasons now, he has entertained fans with his play and antics in nearly 90 different countries, starred in television shows such as The Amazing Race and the quiz show Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader, and met international figures and numerous TV personalities, including Southeastern graduate Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America, and even Pope Francis.

“I had explored playing basketball overseas, but because of the knee injury I had to wait a bit longer before I was 100 percent,” he recalled. “I also worked out for San Antonio, Toronto and New Orleans of the NBA.” teams don’t. We also spread goodwill off the court in communities around the world. The Globetrotters look for the best basketball players in the world who are also great people and great entertainers."

Lofton’s signature shot is the hook shot. He holds the Guinness World Record for both the longest hook shot and the longest blindfold hook shot.

“Some of the greats – like Meadowlark Lemon, Geese Ausbie and Sweet Lou Dunbar – were masters of the hook shot, so I take pride in making sure I carry on their legacies by making it as often as I can.”

While New Orleans is still Lofton’s home, his work keeps him on the road. The team plays over 400 exhibition games around the world each year.

The Katrina evacuation to San Antonio was one of the most difficult times of his life, but it was also where his life took an unbelievable positive twist of fate. It was during this period when he secured a tryout with the Globetrotters. And he has been traveling the world with the team ever since.

“The Globetrotters have some of the top basketball players from around the world, and we always play to win,” said Lofton, considered one of the team’s top showmen. “We are different in that we are family entertainment, we get fans involved and do fun stuff that other

“We’re known as the ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill,’ so we do a lot of things off the court. We make presentations at over 400 elementary schools and community centers each year, visit kids at 150200 children’s hospitals, and spread joy in many other ways,” he said.

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Nicknamed “Big Easy” due to his New Orleans roots and easygoing style, Lofton played for Southeastern’s basketball team under Coach Billy Kennedy from 2003-05. He was a two-time, first-team All-Southland Conference performer and helped the Lions earn a pair of Southland Conference regular season titles and a berth in the 2005 NCAA Championships. In 2013 he was inducted into the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame.

Lofton returned this spring to Southeastern’s University Center, where he was awarded his baccalaureate degree in general studies after completing the final few hours needed to graduate.

“Before my dad died of cancer in 2009, he had two requests: take care of the family and finish my degree,” Lofton said. “I have three kids, and I get on them all the time about how important education is to their future. So I wanted to set an example by showing them how important it is to MY future.”

Married to psychologist Dr. Amie Lofton, he said education is stressed in his home.

“She pushed me and held me to a higher standard than I had myself when it came to my schoolwork,” he remarked. “She did not accept a just ‘get-by’ attitude. She would tell me, ‘You are the best at everything else you do; why not be the best in the classroom?’”

Lofton returned to Southeastern several times in recent years to speak to the basketball teams and for his induction into the Hall of Fame. He said every time he visited the campus, he would be greeted by Chris Bentley, assistant to the athletic director and academic liaison.

“She would start by giving me a big hug and end with, ‘Hey, when are you going to finish your degree?’ She really cares about every student-athlete that comes in contact with her,” he said.

“Nate and his wife approached me at the Hall of Fame induction and told me how important it was for Nate to finish his degree,” said Bentley. “They asked if I could help him reach his goal. He wanted to be a role model for his children and for them to realize the importance of education. Their dad should have a degree if he expected them to have one. I worked to help develop a plan for Nate to finish and graduate."

Lofton would require an additional 30 hours of credit to graduate.

It did not come easily for him, especially with a demanding, travelheavy schedule and managing a family.

“I really appreciate every professor who helped me these last three semesters, and I did not ask for any favors or special treatment,” said Lofton, who received his degree in May in general studies and hopes to continue his studies at the graduate level.

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“All of his courses were online,” said Bentley. “He found his professors were willing to work with him since he was traveling all around the world with a full time job. I usually talked or texted him weekly during these last three semesters to inquire about his classes and grades. We became good friends.”

Lofton took every opportunity he had to cram in his studies. “I would be on a TV show reading lines for the next scene while also studying for an exam. I was at training camp, where we spend about 18 hours a day between the gym and team meetings, then I would go take a final exam. The professors were amazing by understanding my schedule. They would know there were times when I couldn’t log on because I was doing something like an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America.”

Bentley said it was Lofton’s time management skills that allowed him to accomplish as much as he did in such a short period of time, including passing five online classes for 15 hours in his last semester.

“That and a big calendar on his refrigerator that reminded him when assignments were due and tests scheduled,” she added.

“Returning to Southeastern to graduate is exactly what I am supposed to be doing at this moment in my life,” he said. “My kids were there, and I think it was important for them to see, especially my oldest daughter, who will be a senior in high school next year and will soon be picking a college to attend herself.”

“As with all of our athletes, Nate is a student first. Although I want them all to succeed in their athletic endeavors, my first priority is to see them graduate,” said Bentley. “There is nothing better than seeing someone like Nate, who can excel in both areas. I am thrilled he was motivated to come back and work so hard. There were tears of happiness from both of us as he walked into the arena where he played and received his college diploma. Nate is a true champion.”

Above, Nathenial “Nate” Lofton, center accepts his plaque noting his induction into the Southeastern Hall of Fame from President John L. Crain, left, and Athletics Director Jay Artigues Bottom left, Nate clowns around with a young fan at a recent Globetrotters game.

Bottom center, Chris Bentley, assistant to the athletic director and academic liaison, adjusts Lofton’s graduation cap prior to commencement ceremonies.

Bottom right, Lofton, right, and Globetrotter teammate Herbert “Flight Time” Lang check directions in the television series The Amazing Race.

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IT STARTED AS A DISCUSSION BETWEEN TWO SOUTHEASTERN BIOLOGISTS – how to showcase the excellent science programs being offered at the university. Their answer: let the scientists themselves talk about their research and topical scientific issues in language the average layman could understand.

Science on Tap became the vehicle. Now wrapping up its fourth year of offering approximately eight presentations each academic year, Science on Tap has become an eagerly awaited series of lectures attended by members of the Southeastern faculty and the general public, including school-age children.

“Kyle Piller and I had been talking about some way to bring science at Southeastern to the attention of the public,” explained Brian Crother, professor of biological sciences and assistant dean of the College of Science and Technology. “I had participated in a similar series, Theology on Tap, presented by the St. Albert Catholic Student Association that addressed theological issues in an informal manner.”

The two kicked the idea around a bit and decided that approach would work just as well with their goal of bringing science to the public.

“There are many areas in the diverse field of biology that interest people outside of science,” said Crother. “Our intent is to present these topics in a layman-friendly fashion to increase the knowledge and awareness of biology and its vital role in the ecosystem and in all our lives.”

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Southeastern ichthyologist Kyle Piller, left, graduate assistant Devin Bloom, center, now at the University of Western Michigan, and project collaborator Pablo Gesundheidt collect fish samples in Veracruz, Mexico.

A co-founder of the Science on Tap lecture series, Piller has done several lectures on freshwater fishes of Mexico and Louisiana.

Professor of Biological Sciences Brian Crother holds a vertebra from a whale that is part of the university’s Vertebrate Museum. Crother, who presented a Science on Tap lecture on Darwin’s Origin of Species, is one of the coordinators of the lecture series geared to showcasing scientific research at Southeastern.

Former graduate student Helen Plylar of St. Francisville shows a docile corn snake to Keighly Howard of Ponchatoula at a Science on Tap presentation of snakes of Louisiana.

Southeastern biological sciences instructor Chris Murray holds one of the crocodiles he captured while doing summer research in Costa Rica. Murray has appeared in several Animal Planet television series, including Gator Boys, and discussed the importance of nature television – both the good and the bad – at a Science on Tap lecture.

Crother, a herpetologist, and Piller, an ichthyologist or specialist in fishes, took the initiative and served as the first two lecturers in the fall of 2013. The free presentations would be held the second Tuesday of the month in the same location, Tope la Catering in downtown Hammond.

Crother’s presentation – “Snakes: Farces and Facts in Films” – was a humorous look at how snakes are portrayed in the media in an effort to dispel some of the mythical fears that many people hold on the species. Piller’s discussion, “Tales of a Traveling Fish Biologist,” was a travelogue of his frequent visits to central Mexico and other areas, highlighting his decade-long research on the diversity of fishes.

As the series grew in popularity, Crother and Piller saw the advantages of expanding the topics beyond biology and into other realms of science. They selected topics based on research that faculty were doing at Southeastern, which included chemistry, physics and computer science.

“Everybody who gives a lecture really enjoys it and likes the idea of the series,” Crother said. “We’ve never had a faculty member turn down an invitation to talk.”

Over the years, the topics have spanned a gamut of interests, including sea turtle conservation, wetlands restoration, forensic entomology, climate change and the importance of bees. Other topics addressed included computer programming “the easy way,” quantum mechanics, ethical issues surrounding genetics, and the physics of video games by a Southeastern physicist who consulted on the popular Mythbusters television show and currently works with the Macgyver series.

“Kyle and I have heard so many positive things from people who attend,” Crother said. “The turnout has been strong, generally around 40-50 people, which makes it easy for discussion and questions and answers. They love that we are doing the series and find the talks they attend informative and fun. We hope this makes science less mysterious for people, and we think it advertises the excellent science programs offered at Southeastern.”

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athletics

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MCBRIDE

ANXIOUS TO GET STARTED WITH LADY LIONS

By Mike Kiral

Christopher McBride was probably destined to be a soccer coach from his earliest days playing the sport. “I started playing soccer when I was about five,” said McBride, a native of Prestwick, Scotland.

“My dad was a coach and he coached me for the better part of 13 years. Growing up I always knew I was going to be a coach. My dad coached me and his dad coached him. Playing with my dad in the backyard got me into it and got me a passion for it that’s been going ever since.”

McBride will now look to bring that passion to the Southeastern women’s soccer program after being named the fourth head coach in the Lady Lions’ history this past fall.

“Southeastern is a great university,” McBride said of accepting the position. “There are a lot of good people here. The administration, the university, the programs, the academics, the athletics, everything about the school is really good. When I was called and they wanted to interview me, I was really excited. I thought it was a great opportunity for me and my family. The area is good, it’s a great school, and I felt we could have a lot of success here as a soccer program.”

McBride comes to Southeastern from the University of South Alabama, where he served one season as an assistant coach under head coach Graham Winkworth. He said Winkworth was the one who encouraged him to apply for the Lady Lions job.

McBride will be taking over a program that went 7-11-2 overall and finished fifth in the Southland Conference at 4-6-1 in 2016 under Blake Hornbuckle and interim head coach Matt Muia.

The Lady Lions advanced to their league-best 19th Southland Tournament before losing to eventual tournament champion Houston Baptist 2-1 in the first round.

McBride has been around winning programs before. In his season at South Alabama, the Jaguars captured their fourth straight Sun Belt Conference Tournament title after finishing with a 7-3 conference mark. South Alabama advanced to the NCAA Tournament, losing to 11th-ranked Auburn, 4-0, in the first round to finish the season at 15-6-1 overall.

McBride said his previous experience with successful programs will help him as he takes on the challenge of keeping the winning tradition alive at Southeastern. The Lady Lions have won four conference tournament titles in their history and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, ’13 and ’15. It is one of two programs in Louisiana to have won 200 games.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of three different college programs under three different umbrellas – NAIA, Division I and Division II,” McBride said. “I’ve won conference championships in all three, and I’ve been in three different national tournaments. I don’t feel a lot of pressure from that. I think it’s good for the team to see there

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has been some success. I think it’s good for new players coming in, that they will thrive when they see the success of the program. I’m just really excited and humbled to have the opportunity to coach a successful program.”

McBride got a first-hand look at his future team when Southeastern played South Alabama this past spring. He said he believes that knowledge may have helped him when he interviewed for the job.

“I saw the level of talent there,” McBride said. “I saw what they were like. I saw the potential in them, and I thought it was a place I could really thrive, that we could work together as a team and have some success here.”

McBride has checked off a number of items on his to-do list over the past couple of months. He hired an assistant coach, Mary Mancin, who will help take some of the burden he has been carrying since he was hired. Mancin comes from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she was an assistant/goalkeeping coach for the 2016 season.

“She is fantastic,” McBride said. “She has a wealth of experience.

She’s had some good mentors and coaches she has worked with.

She is a good person to have around, and I’m lucky to have her on the staff.”

McBride and Mancin began filling some holes left by the departure of seven seniors by signing five student-athletes on National Signing Day in February.

“The first recruiting class is very exciting,” McBride said. “We have five extremely strong players coming to Southeastern this fall. All five players cover a lot of positions and give depth to the squad.”

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“This is a great bunch of girls,” McBride said. “They had some adversity to face with the new coach coming in, and everybody responded positively. Everybody wanted to do well and work together as a team. We lost seven seniors, which was a massive hole. But their leadership is coming through. The response from the freshmen and sophomores to the up-and-coming juniors and seniors is very good.”

McBride said the goal now is to make a run at both the Southland regular season and tournament championships. “From what I’ve seen from this team, I really think we can compete for a conference championship,” McBride said. “It’s not going to be easy. We’re really going to have to work hard for it. There is a lot of talent in this conference and some very good teams. We’re going to have to put a lot of time in, a lot of effort, and we’re really going to have to get some focus going.”

Work ethic and focusing on the job at hand are traits McBride has had instilled in him from his days of playing in the backyard with his dad through his playing time at Martin Methodist and in his early years as a college coach.

“I’ve had a lot of players and coaches throughout my time that have had a huge impact on me,” McBride said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have played alongside some really good players and been coached by a lot of good coaches, and they’ve prepared me for the situation I’m in today. When I got this opportunity, I said to everyone, 'they all made me better.' There’s a lot of people who helped get me to this situation today.”

Southeastern Louisiana women’s soccer head coach Christopher McBride addresses his squad following a practice during spring camp earlier this year.

(Photo by Mike Kiral, Southeastern Sports Information)

Previous Page Left: Southeastern women’s soccer head coach Christopher McBride meets with the Lady Lions during their spring scrimmage with Mississippi College in April.

Previous Page Right: McBride, pictured with his wife, Sally, and son, Aidan, was named Southeastern's women’s soccer head coach in November. (Photo submitted) Left: McBride consults with assistant coach Mary Mancin during the Lady Lions’ spring scrimmage with Mississippi College in April.

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CLASS

notes

K E E PI N G

in touch

‘5 1 | DAV I D C . M CCORMIC K of Fort Meyers, Fla. , served as a clinician at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. He began his career as a tuba player in the United States Army Band and served at Southeastern as professor and head of music, vice president for academic and research affairs and as interim president of the University of Louisiana System.

’6 6 | SY LVI A M C LAI N MILLER of Sand Springs, Okla., has published a novel, Spinning Jenny, which tells the story of an ambitious young cotton farmer set in Concordia Parish in the 1830s. The owner of two slaves struggles to find a way to salvage his own life as well as those of his slaves. The book is available on Amazon and as a Kindle ebook.

’6 8 | C LAR A V. ROB ERTSON of Hammond, an educator for more than 40 years, has been honored with the Wilbert L. Dangerfield award of Excellence. The award is bestowed by the City of Hammond.

’7 0 | T. JAY S E ALE of Hammond has been named to the Louisiana State Board of Regents, which oversees higher education in the state. Seale is an attorney and serves as a representative of the 1st Congressional District.

‘ 73 | C LI F FOR D ALLEN B RA DLEY has been named to the board of directors of Stewart Information Services Corporation, a global real estate services company based in Houston, Tex. He previously served as executive chairman and chief executive officer of Amerisafe from 2003 through 2015.

’ 73 | J OAN PAC E K E NNEDY of Angie, La., has published a collection of her work titled Love, Laughter and Living – Receiving and Sharing Poems from the Heart. A retired teacher and librarian, she wrote the anthology of 128 poems over several years. The book is available on Amazon.

‘ 75 | W I LLI AM T. C E FA LU, M.D. has been named the new chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association. He previously served as executive director and professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. He has been active in both clinical and basic science research specifically in the area of Type 2 diabetes.

' 76 | ROB E RT " B OB BY " YA RB OROUG H of Baton Rouge has been named to the Hall of Fame of the Baton Rouge Business Report. He has served as co-owner and CEO of Manda Fine Meats since 1997. He has been recognized for his significant philanthropic work in the Baton Rouge community.

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’7 7 | J U D G E ALLI SON P ENZATO of Mandeville, La., has been elected unopposed to an open seat on Louisiana’s First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge. She has served on the 22nd Judicial District Court for St. Tammany and Washington parishes since 2008.

‘8 3 C H E RY L B R U M F I E LD of Tickfaw has been elected chairperson of the Independence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is employed with First Guaranty Bank in Independence, where she is the vice president, branch lending manager, and commercial and consumer loan officer.

‘8 4 | B EC KY W E B E R , principal at Norco Elementary School since 2013, has been named Principal of the Year

by St. Charles Parish Public Schools.

‘91 | STAC E Y N E AL, executive director of the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation, has been named to the board of directors of the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association, one of the state’s top industrial development organizations.

‘9 5 | LE I G H AN N M ON K of Las Vegas, Nev., has been named a project coordinator with Grand Canyon Development Partners, a construction and real estate development company. She previously worked for McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and Bechtel, one of the world’s largest engineering construction management firms.

’97 | J E F F R E Y ST R AT FORD, PH.D. , an ornithologist and associate professor of biology at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barr, Pa., was recognized with the university’s Carpenter Award for Teaching. The award is considered to be the university’s highest faculty honor.

’0 0 , 0 2 | M I C H AE L WAT KINS of Hammond has been promoted to chief operating officer at North Oaks Health System. He has worked at North Oaks for 14 years, filling positions such as senior vice president of operations and chief compliance officer. He has also served as an adjunct instructor of finance at Southeastern.

’0 1 | K R I ST I N A B OU RG EO IS of New Orleans has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans. She has 15 years with the company and will lead the execution of group sales and the unveiling of the remodeled property.

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CLASS

notes

‘0 4 | AMY CAN I K of Springfield, La., has been named Regions Bank’s senior vice president in the commercial division for the Baton Rouge and Acadia areas. Previously she was with Red River Bank for three years, and before that vice president of community banking for Regions Bank from 2005 to 2013.

‘0 5 | LAU R A ROU SS ELL has been named the new supervisor of elementary education for Ascension Parish Schools. She has 30 years of experience as a teacher with the school system and is an executive master teacher in Ascension Parish and at the Louisiana Department of Education.

’0 6 | H OLLY AT WOO D SYRDA L earned her doctorate in marketing at the University of Texas at Arlington and is now with the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg as an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing and Merchandising.

‘0 7 | KY LE COOK of Baton Rouge, La., has been named a partner with the accounting firm Hannis T. Bourgeois headquartered in Baton Rouge. He is a CPA and a certified construction industry financial professional.

He has played a key role in launching the firm’s young professionals program.

‘ 0 7 | PAU L G E N CO has been named program director for inpatient rehabilitation services with the Tulane Health System. He previously was director of business development at Cobalt Rehabilitation.

’0 8 | R E B ECCA B R AD LEY D OWDY has been named Louisiana Hospital Association Trust Fund's Director of Business Development. She joins the team with more than 14 years of healthcare experience, including 12 years with the Louisiana Hospital Association. Most recently she worked with Affiliated Enterprise Solutions as a healthcare consultant.

‘0 9 | M I C H AE L N OR M A N has joined Florida Parishes Bank in Hammond as a vice president and commercial lender. He previously served at two other financial institutions.

‘11 | AN N BAK E R P H ILLIPS of Bolton, La., High School was named the Louisiana 2016 High School Counselor of the Year. She most recently worked at Lafayette Parish's Acadiana High School, which nominated her for the award.

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‘12 | DARY L COM E RY of Donaldsonville, La., has been appointed the new principal of Lowery Middle School in Donaldsonville. He previously worked as associate principal at Donaldsonville High School and is currently in the Southeastern doctoral program in educational leadership.

‘12 | B R AN D ON S M I T H of Ponchatoula has been named manager of safety, health and security with the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance. He previously was a safety specialist with Pool Corp. of Covington.

’12 | AN D R E W I VAN Y I S KY of Birmingham, Ala., has been named a sales support specialist for Vincari, a medical software company. Previously he worked as a technical recruiter for Aerotek in Metairie.

' 13 | T Y LE R AM M E R M AN was listed in New Orleans CityBusiness' "Ones to Watch" in the area of real estate. He is a project manager with Gulf States Construction Services, Inc., and his current work focuses on commercial renovations.

’13 | D R AG OS F I LI P of Lafayette, La., has become principal cellist of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music. He has also been appointed director of the Acadiana Youth Orchestra program.

‘ 14 | N I A ST E WART of New Orleans has joined the Xavier University of Louisiana sports medicine staff as an athletic trainer. She previously was with Ochsner Health System's sports medicine division and served as an intern athletic trainer with the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. At Southeastern, she was a four-year letter winner in women's track and field.

’16 | B E B E R AF F E RT Y is the marketing coordinator for Perlis, a family-owned clothing business in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. A recent MBA graduate, she holds an undergraduate degree in public relations.

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? f l e s r u o See Y know theastern. Let us know if you ot of a different time at Sou psh sna a are tos . tos pho ic pho tor These his stories to go with these uld love to have names and anyone seen here. We wo rn.edu.

Email editor@southeaste

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In recent years Southeastern students have engaged in the community with 303,650 service hours. That demonstrates that our students not only learn, but they learn to appreciate giving back as well!