Southeastern Magazine: Spring/Summer 2023

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE

SPRING/SUMMER 2023

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ENSURING A GREENER TOMORROW

Southeastern is providing independent, scientific monitoring of Lake Maurepas.

LASTING LEADERSHIP: PRESIDENT

JOHN L CRAIN President Crain retires this summer after 15 years of leading the University.

A FAMILY TRADITION

Since 1925, five generations of one family have followed in each other’s footsteps by attending Southeastern.

LEAVING A LEGACY AND HONORING A LEGEND

Hollis “Roomie” Wilson may be best known for his mascot namesake, but his impact goes far deeper.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY

SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MAGAZINE

PRESIDENT

Dr. John L. Crain

PROVOST & VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Dr. Tena L. Golding

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

Sam Domiano

VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

Dr. Eric Summers

SENIOR DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Mike Rivault

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sheri Gibson

PHOTOGRAPHY

Randy Bergeron

CONTRIBUTORS

Calmer Dighton, Tonya Lowentritt, Aleigh Sanders, Brock Sanders, Rick Settoon

See Yourself?, pg. 52-53

Submissions: Southeastern Magazine welcomes photographs, alumni news, story suggestions, and letters of 300 or fewer words. Items may be used for publication unless the author requests otherwise and are subject to editing. Send submissions to Editor, Southeastern Magazine, Office of University Marketing and Communications, SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402 or editor@southeastern.edu.

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

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

COVER PHOTO:

To ensure the health of the local ecosystem, Southeastern is providing independent, scientific monitoring of Lake Maurepas during testing for a proposed carbon capture project.

Contents.

20 36 38

ENSURING A GREENER TOMORROW

Southeastern is providing independent, scientific monitoring of Lake Maurepas during Air Products’ Clean Energy Complex work.

42

A FAMILY TRADITION

From the time the University’s doors first opened in 1925, five consecutive generations of one family have formed an unbreakable and moving legacy of attending Southeastern.

LASTING LEADERSHIP

Retiring this summer, University President John L. Crain has spent his career effectively serving Southeastern through dauntless determination, acumen, and skill.

17 46

LEAVING A LEGACY AND HONORING A LEGEND

Since 1935, Hollis “Roomie” Wilson’s impact has been woven throughout the Southeastern community, including in a recently added way of a new scholarship in his honor.

MATCHING FOR LIFE

Hundreds of members of the Southeastern community, including alumna Alika Jones, have chosen to make lifesaving gifts by donating bone marrow to unknown patients.

ENHANCING THE HOME OF SOUTHEASTERN ATHLETICS

Plans are underway to create new, state-of-the-art facilities for Athletics and the athletic training program.

& Alumni, Friends, Supporters,

As we begin to approach the end of another academic year, I find myself reflecting on all that has helped make Southeastern such a special place—not only during this past year, but over the long course of its 98-year history. The importance of our University is inextricably linked to our region, our local community, and those who have been and continue to be a part of it, including myself.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary institution. As many of you know by now, this will be my last year as President of Southeastern. While I look forward to retirement and beginning the next phase of my life, this University will always remain a part of me, as it has been and will continue to be for so many others.

This issue of our Southeastern Magazine highlights many such stories of the impact and legacies created over the past near century, including ones that showcase how our past helps shape our future. These stories include how five generations of one family have been linked by a common thread of attending Southeastern, how both our acclaimed Southeastern Channel and Greek Life have evolved over the years, the ways one person’s legacy can impact others to create their own, and even what we can learn about the Hammond area from a recent acquisition of rare antique documents.

As we look ahead, there are many campus improvements still to come, such as major new enhancements to both academic and athletic facilities. Also, true to its mission to serve southeast Louisiana, Southeastern will provide crucial independent monitoring of the Lake Maurepas ecosystem to help safeguard its health during newly proposed carbon capture projects. And finally, with implementation of our new brand platform, we are launching a major marketing campaign to significantly raise awareness of Southeastern’s unique and attractive brand, hopefully encouraging potential students, donors, and others to want to engage with the University.

Much has changed during the course of my 37 years at Southeastern, and I look forward to seeing what still lies ahead.

Please enjoy these glimpses, and more, into our University’s past, present, and future. When you are finished reading, I encourage you to be an advocate for Southeastern by passing this copy along to someone else.

Thank you for reading the Southeastern Magazine, and I hope to see you around soon!

John L. Crain PRESIDENT

get there

INTO TRAINING THE PROS

After discovering first-hand as a high school athlete the powerful physical and emotional impact athletic trainers can have, athletic training major Liam Daigle Aucoin knew he wanted to one day make a career out of helping players come back stronger and more confident than ever.

As a Southeastern student, he’s already achieving this dream at an epic level—by working hands-on with some of the best players in the country during a summer-long internship with the New Orleans Saints.

Liam’s action plan

Serve as secretary of the Student Athletic Training Association.

Become a triple threat by winning the Athletic Training Program’s Rookie of the Year, Leadership, and Academic awards

Help NFL athletes stay at the top and make colossal connections during a student internship

Line up a job before even graduating with an SEC football team

Apply to grad school for a master’s in athletic training

Liam Daigle Aucoin

Create a ROAR

BRINGING THE GREEN AND GOLD TO SOCIAL MEDIA

samuelconners18

Print material right here.

fgbank

We never miss a chance to #LionUP Happy Homecoming Week @southeastern

wiseguysdaiquiris Having fun at Southeastern Fall Fest! #LionUp

mrobertson_05

Lion Up! SLU Scholars Showcase #godsplan #slu #lionup #senioryear

Claire Cyrus Photography let's hear a little commotion for the dress

Celebrating GOLDEN GRADS

Every fall semester, Southeastern honors its Golden Graduates, those who have reached their 50-year graduation anniversary. This past Dec. the University was proud to welcome its newest group, the class of ’72, to the Golden Grad family during a special reunion weekend.

On Dec. 9, the day before Winter Commencement, 43 of these alumni enjoyed lunch and mingling with both old friends and new acquaintances.

A breakfast and second get-together, with guest President John Crain, was held the next morning before a longstanding Southeastern tradition: the leading of the Commencement procession by the University’s distinguished Golden Grads.

This annual tradition will continue on Dec. 8-9, ’23, in celebration of the class of ’73 and all who came before. If you graduated in or prior to ’73, be on the lookout for more announcements from the Alumni Association about this year’s event.

OCTOBER 08 -14 Save the Date

BEST COLLEGE FOOD in Louisiana

Students’ opinions and taste buds earned Southeastern 2023 Best College Food in Louisiana recognition and a national Top 50 ranking, too. The rankings were published by Niche, the market leader in connecting colleges and schools with students and families.

At the national level Southeastern came in at number 35. Only one other Louisiana university made the Top 50 cut.

“With the expansion of our Student Union, we completely transformed the dining experience on campus,” said Connie Davis, director of Auxiliary Services.

“After much research, we found that trends in campus dining include a central location that offers both healthy and delicious options with affordable variety for the students and campus community. The Mane Dish restaurant has an ever-changing menu that can be customized to the consumer's preferences. Located in the Student Union, it’s a great space to relax and enjoy a meal while on campus.”

The ranking was based on survey responses obtained from students at more than 1,300 public and private traditional four-year colleges and universities across the United States. Among the criteria considered were healthy and organic options, overall quality, and variety of offerings.

Student opinions collected in the survey referred to the many options for campus dining, the variety of meals from which to choose, quality and freshness of food, and reasonable prices.

“The food is great and also good for you,” said one student online reviewer. Another said, “The quality of the dining experience is fantastic. The staff is friendly and the food is always fresh and delicious.” “There are plenty of options to choose from to eat; I love having so many choices,” said a third.

In addition to its Mane Dish dining facility, which offers all-you-care-to-eat meals made on site, Southeastern also maintains a food court, featuring a variety of nationally-based vendors.

Cheerleading Squad Wins NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Southeastern cheerleading squad won its second national championship, taking home the gold in the Open Coed Game Day competition at UCA/UDA College Nationals at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The win marks the second time in three years the team has taken home the championship in the Open Coed Game Day, having previously earned a national title in 2021’s virtual competition. Southeastern spirit groups have won a total of four national championship golds in the past six years, as the Lionettes dance team won titles in the Division I Hip Hop category in 2018 and 2021.

“This was a special group that put in a lot of work outside of practice and it paid off,” Southeastern Spirit Coordinator Catherine Lawrence said.

“We’re extremely proud of both groups for putting their best efforts forward on the mat and the floor when it counted.”

In addition to the gold medal, the cheerleaders also earned a bronze medal in the Division I Small Coed competition.

Southeastern spirit groups left Orlando with three medals to add to the trophy case, as the Lionettes earned a silver with a second-place showing in Division I Game Day. The runner-up performance was the highlight of a successful competition that also saw the dance team finish 5th in Division I Small Coed and 12th in Division I Jazz.

Reaching NEW STUDENTS Through Targeted Ad Campaign

Following extensive market research and the launch of new logos in 2021, last summer the University announced a reimagined, unified brand to better represent Southeastern today and resonate with target audiences. Throughout the fall and winter, this new branding—with refreshed elements from language to design, photography, and videography—quickly became a bold and ubiquitous identifier of Southeastern.

With these parts now in place, Southeastern is able to effectively enter the next step: a comprehensive, strategic marketing campaign to bring the brand far beyond campus and into the lives of new potential students and their families.

One component of this is Google keyword advertising for searches pertaining to certain degree programs. Through this, Southeastern will be boosted to the forefront of more potential applicants' minds as having the academic excellence and options they are looking for. This advertising, which began in Dec. ’22 for undergraduate programs and Jan. ’23 for

graduate programs, runs through May ’23 to generate leads for the Fall ’23 semester.

A second component is the launch of both digital and vinyl billboard ads across the region, stretching from Slidell through Baton Rouge and Amite down into New Orleans. These billboards vibrantly display the University’s new branding and tagline, “Get There.”—a bold, straightforward, confident, uplifting, and supportive message that conveys wherever you want to go, Southeastern can help you get there.

The competition within higher education has been growing at an exponential rate, with no signs of it ever slowing down. Thanks in part due to a significant amount of funding from the Southeastern Foundation, the University is able to carry out these plans as another way to proactively adapt to and remain competitive in an increasingly changing market and world.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AWARDED $5 Million Grant

Southeastern’s College of Education has received a five-year $5 million federal grant to strengthen the recruitment and preparation of new teachers, including increasing the number of teachers from underrepresented populations. The project is titled Building Rigorous Induction and Development for Growing all Educators, or BRIDGE.

“By partnering with school districts, the BRIDGE project will support beginning teachers beyond graduation,” said College of Education Dean Paula Summers Calderon. “In doing so, we will help districts retain qualified teachers beyond the threeto five-year lifespan of a new teacher.”

The Teacher Quality Partnership grant funds a partnership between Southeastern and selected district partners. The project will begin by engaging partners in the Tangipahoa Parish School System in the second year of the grant. The St. Charles Parish School System will be added in the third year of the grant, and a third district will be selected to join the project in year four.

Principal investigators Calderon and Cherissa L. Vitter will work closely with the school districts to recruit teacher candidates from underrepresented populations and to provide support to ensure their persistence through the

program, resulting in classroom retention. The project will focus on the preparation of teachers in the shortage areas aligned with the current needs of the districts to reduce both out-of-field and uncertified teaching.

Calderon said the project will result in the preparation and induction of 375 more effectively trained, highly supported and diverse new teachers over five years and increase the instructional leadership skills and knowledge of 150 mentor teachers who will support them.

“We are excited to work with the University and district partners to train mentor teachers as part of the solution for retaining and developing new teachers,” said NIET CEO Joshua Barnett. “Teacher leadership is a proven strategy for retaining and developing effective teachers by providing timely, relevant and actionable support for their continued growth and improvement.”

Training for mentor teachers will increase the number of teachers prepared for leadership roles in their schools as they become available, expanding their impact to more students and teachers over the long term.

“We are committed to helping every student excel,” said Superintendent of Tangipahoa School System Melissa Stilley. “The ability of our district to hire effective teachers and school leaders is highly dependent on the skills of teacher and school leader candidates. We are excited to partner with Southeastern and NIET to support our teachers in continuing to improve their classroom practices and better support student success.”

“This partnership will create high expectations for new teachers and support for teacher candidates in a yearlong residency,” said Superintendent of St. Charles Parish Public Schools Ken Oertling. “This will be followed by induction support in their first years of teaching.”

Combined, these strategies will provide high-quality support for aspiring teachers that bridges their preparation program and their first two years in the classroom.

The BRIDGE project will address these challenges by enhancing Southeastern’s teacher preparation program, recruiting a more diverse cadre of new teachers, and creating induction programs in partner districts to support novice teachers to be more effective earlier in their careers.

William Wainwright Selected as SOUTHEASTERN’S NEW PRESIDENT

On April 27, 2023, the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System (ULS) selected William S. Wainwright as the 15th president of Southeastern. Wainwright takes the helm June 5, upon the retirement of President John L. Crain.

Wainwright was chosen after an in-depth process spearheaded by ULS. This selection process included an oncampus visit for semifinalists to openly address questions from students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the community, along with a series of formal interviews by the Board.

Wainwright comes to the position with over 24 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education. He additionally has a firm knowledge of Southeastern, the region, and the unique challenges and opportunities for both.

Most recently, Wainwright served for 12 years as chancellor of Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC). During his tenure at NTCC, he helped lead exponential growth and success for the institution, expanding campuses and tripling enrollment, causing NTCC to become one of the fastest growing community colleges in the nation.

Top Educator in the Nation AWARD RECIPIENT

Instructor of Industrial Technology Anthony Blakeney has been honored with the WEMCO Excellence Award as the top educator in the country. He was nominated for this honor by his peers.

“For over two decades, Anthony has dedicated himself to teaching our students about welding technology. He has single handedly developed the welding program into one that is not just regionally recognized, but also nationally recognized,” said College of Science and Technology Dean Daniel McCarthy. “He is more than deserving of this prestigious award, and we are proud to have him as a member of our faculty at Southeastern.”

WEMCO created the annual Excellence in Welding Awards to recognize individuals and organizations that are instrumental in raising the image of welding, strengthening the industry, and have shown exemplary dedication to promoting the image of welding in their communities.

“I am humbled to be recognized by my colleagues within the American Welding Society and by the American industrial sector,” Blakeney said. “My passion for my students has always driven what I do.”

LOUISIANA WRITER Award Winner

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing David Armand has been selected as the recipient of the 23rd annual Louisiana Writer Award by the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library. The award is given to a contemporary Louisiana author in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Louisiana’s literary and intellectual life exemplified by the writer’s body of work.

“Professor Armand is a truly gifted writer and teacher. He is skilled in a variety of genres, and communicates his love of words to all of his students,” said College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Karen Fontenot.

Armand has published four novels, The Pugilist’s Wife, Harlow (which was listed on Amazon’s list of best novels about dysfunctional families), The Gorge, and The Lord’s Acre, all set in Louisiana; two poetry chapbooks, The Deep Woods and Debt; a full-length poetry collection, The Evangelist, soon to be released; and a memoir, My Mother’s House. He is also the author of an upcoming collection of creative nonfiction essays, Mirrors, to be published this spring.

NURSING School of the Year

Southeastern’s undergraduate nursing program has been recognized by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation with the Nightingale Award as the Nursing School of the Year. The awards recognize the achievements of the nursing program’s students and faculty.

This is the fifth time Southeastern has been recognized with a Nightingale Award for the undergraduate nursing program. The competition is evaluated by a panel of out-of-state judges who review the nominations submitted by nursing programs throughout the state. The Nightingale Awards are the foundation’s highest recognition for quality, service, commitment and excellence among Louisiana registered nurses.

Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said nursing programs are evaluated for the award by a wide range of criteria, including accreditation status, innovations in education and teaching, nursing examination passage rate, and comments solicited from graduates, faculty and area employers.

School of Nursing Department Head Ken Tillman attributes the nursing faculty and teaching resources to the ultimate success of the undergraduate program’s students and graduates.

“Our nursing faculty are dedicated to the success of our students,” he said. “Teaching resources, such as great instructional spaces, skills practice labs and patient simulation labs, both on campus and at the Baton Rouge Center, are another top feature of our program.”

“The nursing program’s clinical affiliation agreements with leading healthcare systems located on the Northshore and in the Baton Rouge region are another advantage for students,” Tillman explained. “Our nursing students have an opportunity to learn and apply their knowledge by working side-by-side with some of the best nurses and healthcare professionals anywhere.”

Southeastern’s nursing school also operates a completely online RN to BSN degree program that allows registered nurses with an associate’s degree or nursing diploma to complete courses leading to a bachelor of science in nursing degree.

In addition to being named Nursing School of the Year, Southeastern was also recently nationally and locally ranked by EduMed for its nursing program. Southeastern ranked number 1 in the state in Best Online Nursing Programs, number 4 nationally in Most Affordable Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs, and number 31 nationally in Top Nurse Practitioner Programs – Four Year Schools.

Sales Team and Program Earns INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The Southeastern Professional Sales Program has been standing out across the globe through both an international competition win and acceptance into the University Sales Center Alliance.

The program’s Sales Team recently competed against 160 competitors at the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC) in Orlando. After four rounds of competition, Southeastern’s Gabriel Pevey brought home the first place (World Champion Award) and Zakiya Miller brought home the fourth-place award in the sales Role-Play Competition.

In the ICSC World Cup Competition, Southeastern's team came in second place out of 80 universities. The World Cup is made up of points from the Role-Play Competition, the Sales Management Case analysis and presentation (Southeastern competitors Jesse Demars and Aniya Ally), and the Speed Selling Pitch Competition (Southeastern speed sellers Reed Godbery, Zakiya Miller, Emily Stark, Troy Marks, Aniya Ally, and Jolie Waddell). This major win comes on the heels of numerous awards from competitions within the region.

Recent acceptance of the Professional Sales Program as an associate member of the University Sales Center Alliance

(USCA) will help Southeastern remain at the cutting edge of producing top professionals in this growing, in-demand field.

The USCA is a consortium of sales educators who are dedicated to advancing the sales profession through teaching, research, and outreach. Membership to the USCA is only extended to those sales programs that meet a set of high-quality standards.

“The level of student engagement that USCA member schools provide their students ensures that those students are learning more than just content,” said USCA President Scott Inks. “Our USCA certification signals that a sales program is providing a much richer educational and developmental experience.”

The USCA consists of 67 universities from the U.S. and Europe dedicated to preparing students for success in professional sales roles. USCA sales centers offer students an unmatched combination of specialized sales courses, mentors, internships, and other forms of actual sales experience to help students learn, develop, and sharpen their sales skills. Students successfully completing these programs have shorter ramp-up times and out produce those without this sort of specialized preparation.

Giving Day Impact INCREASES

Southeastern Giving Day has become an annual fall tradition since it was first implemented in 2014. The initiative encourages all members of the University community to come together for 24 hours in support of Southeastern and its students.

Developing momentum, Giving Day has continually grown over the years in both numbers of participants and amounts raised. During this past year's event, held Sept. 14, 1,472 people turned out to raise $303,541. This was an increase of 31 percent in participants and 22 percent in donations as compared to the '21 event, which was itself a record-breaking year. Giving Day '22 also kept with the established structure of allowing people to choose where their money goes by contributing directly to the college, department, or initiative of their choice.

To date, well over $1 million has been raised for our University and all those it serves.

Mark your calendar now to join in during this year's event— Sept. 14, '23—to help keep the tradition and impact growing.

2022 ALLY ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Southeastern was honored recently by the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA) with the Ally Organization of the Year award. LaFASA is the coalition agency that serves statewide sexual assault crisis centers through education, professional training, technical assistance, and community engagement resulting in safer, healthier, stronger, and better-informed communities throughout Louisiana.

Groups on campus that contributed to being named Ally Organization of the Year include University Police, the Miss Southeastern Pageant, Title IX, and the CARE team.

ENSURING A GREENER TOMORROW

Southeastern

is providing independent, scientific monitoring of Lake Maurepas during

Air Products’ Clean Energy Complex work.

With the ever-increasing rise of greenhouse gas emissions, the risks to the health of our planet—and all who call it home—are colossal.

According to the United Nations’ Paris Agreement, emissions “must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43 percent by 2030,” as well as reach net zero by 2050, to keep global warming to no more than 1.5° C and preserve our planet’s livability. Failure to do so could result in increased heatwaves, rainfall, droughts, and much more.

To help combat these greenhouse gas emissions and their destructive results, carbon capture is emerging as a possible avenue.

Air Products, an industrial gas supplier headquartered in Allentown, Pa., is studying the viability of the Lake Maurepas area for a proposed blue hydrogen production carbon

capture and permanent sequestration project. Blue hydrogen is hydrogen produced from natural gas and supported by carbon capture and storage. The CO2 generated during the manufacturing process is captured and stored permanently underground. The result is low-carbon hydrogen that produces no CO2.

An essential component of the initial studies will be extensive, independent environmental monitoring of the Lake Maurepas region so that any impacts of the project can be understood and data can be made publicly available. With a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the area as well as reputation for excellence in research, Southeastern was selected to provide this independent, scientific monitoring.

“Southeastern will be monitoring all facets of this project involving the lake to ensure up-to-date data and information are available. We will make all the data we record available to the public to ensure everyone’s right to know any findings,” said Dan McCarthy, dean of the College of Science and Technology.

The goal behind the project is to store CO2 in pockets beneath the lake, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere to help combat global warming and climate change. A natural gas that allows sunlight to reach the Earth, CO2 also prevents some of the sun’s heat from radiating back. Varying fossil fuels generate different amounts of CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage can reduce emissions by more than 8090 percent, making it an extremely effective way of stopping carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Researchers believe that carbon capture is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse emissions. In fact, carbon capture can achieve 14 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed by 2050 to achieve net zero. It is also generally viewed as the only practical way to achieve deep decarbonization in the industrial sector.

The scientists from Southeastern will be monitoring the marine life populations (fishes, crabs, shrimp) as well as the plant life in the surrounding wetlands, and they will also be on watch and studying any variations in water quality. All findings will be uploaded to a publicly accessible website that will be housed through Southeastern once monitoring efforts are fully underway.

“We realized from the outset that we needed comprehensive and independent monitoring of Lake Maurepas and said so publicly early in our work on this clean energy project,” said Louisiana Clean Energy Project Manager at Air Products Andrew Connolly. “We are pleased to have Southeastern serve in this important role. Their scientists have been studying this ecosystem for decades and, with the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, they are singularly and best qualified to conduct this monitoring study.”

President John L. Crain

Retiring this summer, University President John L. Crain has spent his career effectively serving Southeastern through dauntless determination, acumen, and skill.

BY SHERI GIBSON

Over the past 15 years, the world—and with it the Southeastern region—has undergone sweeping changes. From the Great Recession, devastating hurricanes, and COVID-19 to technological shifts in how we gather information, are entertained, work, and interact with each other, resulting in alterations within our cultural fabric, the past decade and a half has indeed been eventful.

With all these momentous events and transformations taking shape, it could have become easy for Southeastern and those who call it home to become entrenched in uncertainty or to falter and fail to adapt in the face of both hardships and change.

But the Southeastern community continues to remain strong. Against the seemingly endless barrage of obstacles imparted by the outside world, this strength has been not only ensured but fostered by the University’s leader, President John L. Crain. Under his guidance, as president and even prior, the nearly century-old institution has been able to continue its mission of helping students reach their best possible futures while serving as an integral resource and economic driver within the region.

Born John Luther Crain in Franklinton, La., in 1960, his knowledge of the Southeastern area and what makes it so special, along with dedication to serving it and all who call it home, runs deep.

“I grew up in a small town in nearby rural Washington Parish,” said Crain. “As the nearest university, Southeastern figured largely in all sorts of high school-related events like the science fair, literary rally, and music competitions. I became familiar and comfortable with the campus long before enrolling. I also became keenly aware of the impact Southeastern had on my home community as so many people I knew were alumni.”

Crain’s aptitude and commitment to excellence was apparent from early on. In 1978, he graduated from Franklinton High School first in his class. And when it came time to pick a college, he chose Southeastern. In 1981 he completed a BS in accounting, and in 1983 he gained certification as a public accountant, working for the firm of Seal, Smith, and Vaughn, CPAs.

But as a motivated, life-long learner, his formal education didn’t end there. In 1984 Crain, who is also an accomplished pianist, earned an MBA from Southeastern. He then was accepted into an accounting doctoral program at the University of Mississippi, from which he graduated in 1988.

John Crain has his Southeastern freshman yearbook photo taken for the 1981 Le Souvenir. Image courtesy of Le Souvenir/ Office of Student Publications

“One of the real watershed moments in my life occurred during the MBA program at Southeastern,” said Crain. “After I successfully completed the CPA exam, the head of the Department of Accounting, Dr. Ernie Correa, asked me to teach a section of Introductory Accounting as part of my graduate assistantship. That was my first experience teaching, and after that first semester, I was hooked. As a result, my education and career plans changed completely, and I turned down a slot I had earned to study law at LSU and instead enrolled in the doctoral program at Ole Miss.”

During his doctoral studies, his ties with Southeastern remained close, and in 1986, while working on his dissertation, Crain officially became a faculty member in Southeastern’s Department of Accounting, a position which he held for 15 years. In 2001 he became interim provost, and one year later was officially named provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Throughout his years at Southeastern prior to becoming president, Crain served the University and demonstrated deep leadership qualities in many ways. He rose through the ranks to become head of the Department of Accounting, chaired the Council of Department Heads, coordinated faculty research for the then College of Business and Technology, was president of the Faculty Senate, and oversaw the University’s Small Business Development Center as interim director.

Crain led within the broader arena outside of Southeastern as well. He provided guidance on the Louisiana Board of Regents Master Plan National Advisory Panel Workgroup on Retention and Completion, was a member of the Louisiana Blue Ribbon Commission on Educational Excellence, and chaired the Accounting Education Issues Committee of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. He has also contributed as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; the Executive Committee of the Northshore Business Council; the board of North Oaks Foundation; the board of GNO, Inc; the Committee of 100 for Economic Development; the Hammond Rotary Club; the board of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum; and the board of the Louisiana Children’s Discovery Museum. He has additionally been a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Accounting Association, American Taxation Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants.

In addition to learning to become an effective leader and demonstrating exemplary skill at being one, he also made many esteemed scholarly contributions, authoring 63 articles in academic journals and delivering at least 35 academic conference presentations. He also served on the review boards for reputable journals, including the Accounting Educator’s Journal and the Delta Business Review.

Crain’s academic research focused on taxation and the oil and gas industry, and in 1992 he became the recipient of Southeastern’s President’s Award for Excellence in Research, one of the University’s most distinguished honors.

In 2008, succeeding Randy Moffett, he was named interim president. The next year, Crain was officially selected as the 14th president of Southeastern Louisiana University. His efforts and well-cultivated skills had culminated in an appointment to the highest possible position within the institution he has been so dedicated to serving.

With the Great Recession having already taken a firm grip on the University, as it did to countless others across the country, Crain’s transition to president came at an opportune time. Jumping in immediately, his extensive background in accounting was a boon to the institution, and combined with his staunch determination and calm, receptive, resilient, and professional demeanor, he was able to successfully lead Southeastern through one of its most trying times.

Since then, through the unavoidable ups and downs and everchanging world, Crain has remained a steadfast and reliable stalwart, facing anything that arose head on and in turn not only holding the University together, but keeping it thriving for countless generations to come.

This summer, Crain embarks on the next chapter of his life, one that has been unequivocally well earned: retirement.

Many may find it hard to imagine the University without John L. Crain, a now 45-year member of the Southeastern family. But even after his last day in office, his vast and deeply rooted impact will continue to be felt across Southeastern and all those he has served through it.

"I have very mixed emotions about retiring and leaving the University that has been such a big part of my life for so long,” said Crain. “I also have immense gratitude for being given the opportunity to serve as president of my alma mater, and I thank all the individuals with whom I have had the chance to work. As much as I still enjoy the work and the people, I also know instinctively it is in both my personal best interest and that of the University to not stay too long. As the Bible says and as the song goes, to everything there is a season, and 15 years as president is indeed a long season.”

HONORING NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL ORGANIZATIONS

A recently unveiled plaza on campus provides a physical monument to and tells the story of Black Greek-lettered organizations.

BY ALEIGH SANDERS

Black Greek-lettered organizations are an indispensable component when reviewing America’s rich history. The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC) is an umbrella organization for nine historically Black, international Greek-lettered fraternity and sorority organizations. These fraternities and sororities were once referred to as the “Divine Nine” by author Lawrence C. Ross Jr, a name which has stuck.

The NPHC was established in the early 1900s when Black collegiate students were denied essential rights and privileges on university campuses. The Divine Nine is composed of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

The NPHC is represented at Southeastern by eight of the Divine Nine. The first of the Divine Nine organizations to represent Southeastern was the Kappa Nu Chapter of Alpha

Phi Alpha Fraternity in 1975. Since then, the NPHC has grown to represent many historically Black, international Greeklettered fraternity and sorority organizations. Southeastern’s eight chapters work together by engaging in collective programming and ideas through a variety of functions and activities. Through community service and philanthropy, they work to create a powerful impact on the University and the surrounding community.

Southeastern recently honored these Black, Greek-lettered organizations, none of which previously had a dedicated physical spot on campus, with the construction of a plaza that marks each of the Divine Nine with a plot. These prominent monuments portray the historical legacy of the nine fraternities and sororities composing the NPHC.

A plot dedication ceremony was held at Student Union Park in Oct., 2022, during Homecoming Week. Southeastern President John L. Crain and members of the NPHC gathered together to celebrate the monumental project that had been in the works for five years.

The opening ceremony allowed members of the council to gather and celebrate their history as Black, international Greek-lettered organizations.

Southeastern joins universities across the world in advocating for and increasing awareness of these organizations. President Crain emphasized the importance of this monumental project that was first introduced by the 2017-2018 SGA President, Seth Leo.

“This is an important day for the University and our students,” Crain said. “This was one of the top projects he [Seth Leto] presented and said was a top priority for SGA. There were a few hiccups along the way, but we stayed the course. I’m very proud of the outcome.”

Southeastern students and community members are encouraged to visit the plots to learn more about the rich history of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. For more information regarding the NPHC, email nphc@southeastern.edu.

1930s

Whether dirt or paved, the path leading around Friendship Circle to some of Southeastern’s most historic buildings (including Pottle Hall, pictured here) has led students into a world of learning and opportunities for nearly a century.

26 SOUTHEASTERN MAGAZINE

GAINING A Piece of the Past

Southeastern recently received a collection of rare documents that brings to life an important part of the area’s history—from nearly two and a half centuries ago.

BY TONYA LOWENTRITT

Last July an impressive and extraordinarily rare batch of documents, previously part of the Thomas W. Streeter Collection, went up for auction. Leon Ford Endowed Chair and Director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Sam Hyde said he was contacted by one of the center’s biggest benefactors who notified him about the documents.

“Ann Reilly Jones describes herself as first and foremost a hunter,” Hyde said. “And fortunately for us, one of the things she hunts for are rare documents pertaining to this region.”

In the competitive bidding process, Jones invested $13,000 to purchase some impressive documents to add to the center’s holdings. One of the documents included was the first printed document ever in the Gulf South—a British land grant to a former soldier who fought in the French and Indian War. Also included were British grants of land in the present-day Southeastern area to loyalists who were fleeing persecution during the American Revolution in Carolina.

“The documents are all British land grants along the Natalbany and Amite rivers, mostly to soldiers who served in the French and Indian War,” Hyde explained. “The grants, issued in 1777 and 1778, as the American Revolution raged, also included some to British loyalists who were being persecuted by the Americans during the revolution and who fled to British controlled West Florida, a territory that chose not to join in the revolution. All of the documents include maps, replete with identified ‘witness trees’ that were used to delineate the dimensions of the grant, and some include the seal of West Florida.”

Louisiana’s Florida Parishes remain the only place in North America where every major European power that intruded into the continent held governmental authority. The native peoples did not issue land grants and the initial French explorers of

the region issued very few. It was the British who first began issuing substantive numbers of land grants.

After processing in the center, the pristine documents were included in an exhibition for the Louisiana in Continuity and Change Symposium that highlighted historical challenges confronting the Bayou State through the course of Louisiana’s development.

“We basically told our student workers to create an exhibition that conforms to the mission of the symposium and cut them loose,” Hyde recalled. “With the exception of a little editing, they did it all themselves.”

The exhibition included rare documents, artifacts, and photos that highlight critical issues confronting Louisiana from the colonial period to the present.

“The most rewarding part of constructing the exhibition was witnessing our ideas come to life,” said Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies

Graduate Research Assistant Brooklyn Sherrod.

“Yet it was not a simple task.”

“One of the biggest challenges was narrowing our focus,” added student worker Max Hopcraft. “There are so many colorful stories included in the holdings of the center that we struggled to select which were the most crucial to our state.”

The exhibition, along with a forthcoming book highlighting the proceedings, revealed the purpose of the symposium, which was designed to draw attention to issues that have diminished the quality of life in Louisiana, while also suggesting means to overcome such challenges.

Above image: Governor John Bel Edwards, center, attended a symposium at Southeastern called Louisiana in Continuity and Change: Challenges Past and Present Confronting the Bayou State. During his visit, he toured a newly created exhibit in the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies that highlights the themes of the symposium. Pictured with Edwards, from left, are Southeastern students that helped create the exhibit: Max Hopcraft, Lauren Guillory, Brooklyn Sherrod, and Ashley Tarleton.

20 YEARS Southeastern Channel

BY RICK SETTOON

of the

A flip of the switch was all it took, and the Southeastern Channel was formally “on the air,” christened by a small group of officials from Southeastern and Charter Cable as the University’s new educational access television station. Little did any of the group realize at that moment on July 9, 2002, in University Center Room 130, that they were launching what would become one of the premiere college television stations in the country.

Now in its 20th year in operation, the channel has already won over 500 national, international, and regional awards, including 23 Emmy awards and first place in the nation 12 times. It has produced over 200 graduates working in the television, video, film, and marketing industries.

In the beginning, the Southeastern Channel was established as an educational cable channel by thenSoutheastern President Randy Moffett, who saw the station as an innovative educational outreach venture that would allow the University to reach into the homes of students and residents.

The channel’s programming would help realize the University’s mission of furthering the educational, cultural, community and business development of southeast Louisiana, while also providing great promotion of the University, its faculty, and its programs. The Southeastern Channel would also serve as fertile training ground for students focused on careers in broadcasting, television, video production, and marketing.

In creating the channel, Southeastern partnered with executives at Charter Communications, who loved the idea that its local educational channel would produce and air original telecourses, or academic courses that could be watched and taken for course credit by students who couldn’t make it to the University’s campus. Over the next 20 years, this would result in Southeastern television courses spotlighting faculty in a wide variety of fields.

Initially, the Southeastern Channel reached into Tangipahoa Parish and half of Livingston Parish on Charter for a potential viewing audience of 57,000 viewers. Within a year Southeastern’s station had expanded to cover St. Tammany and Washington parishes as well, essentially all of the Northshore, for a potential Charter viewing audience of 240,000.

In addition to Charter (now Spectrum) cable channel 199, today the channel can be watched anywhere on the popular

streaming services Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and the Spectrum App. The live 24-7 webcast can be viewed at thesoutheasternchannel.com and mounthermonTV.com.

At the outset, almost all of the channel’s programming, roughly 98 percent, had to be acquired or licensed from educational providers like Annenberg, the Research Channel, NASA-TV, Classic Arts Showcase, and Louisiana Public Broadcasting. However, to meet the demand for original, local programming, which was also the channel’s initial plan, within two years 95 percent was originally produced and focused on people and topics within the viewing area.

Over the next few years, that push resulted in over 40 original TV series covering the channel’s programming mission of educational, community, entertainment, and sports. The channel began producing newscasts; newsmagazines; sportscasts; coach’s talk shows; game broadcasts; documentaries; faculty lectures and forums; public affairs roundtables; and shows about Northshore business, history, tourism, nature, schools, and health organizations.

Additionally, the Southeastern Channel produced and aired Northshore and statewide political debates and forums, including the Louisiana Gubernatorial forums in 2003 and 2015. In the latter, the channel partnered with LPB for a live statewide forum moderated by a Southeastern Channel news anchor, Paul Rivera, with University students as panelists.

On the entertainment end, the 24-7 lineup was dotted with student comedy, film, and music video shows, along with a series spotlighting Northshore artists. The

Then Southeastern President Randy Moffett (front row, second from left) officially opens the Southeastern Channel at a ribbon cutting with channel General Manager Rick Settoon (front row, third from right), faculty, staff, and partners.

channel shot and aired Southeastern live events like music concerts and dance, opera, and theater productions together with concerts at the Columbia Theatre performed by tribute bands for iconic performers like Elvis, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and Eagles.

As well as important video production and audiovisual services for a variety of Southeastern departments, the channel’s commercials, promos, and annual live production and streaming of events have promoted the University for a large number of viewers.

Along the way, the channel and its students have earned an abundance of awards, which can be attributed to it fulfilling another of its primary missions—that of training students for careers in the television, video, film, and marketing industries. The top-shelf training in both television and film for all formats, programs, and positions—both in front of and behind the camera—can be credited to national award-winning channel staff members along with television instructors in the Department of Communication and Media Studies.

Within seven years of the start of the Southeastern Channel, the department initiated a concentration in electronic media to take advantage of Southeastern Channel training opportunities. The enrollment eclipsed 200 students within three years.

Comprehensive TV and video courses were offered in television studio production and operations, basic and advanced field video production and video editing, television reporting and newscast producing, on-camera performance, television commercial production, and newsmagazine and sportscast reporting and producing.

Those classes have continued in the new television/ multimedia journalism and sports communication concentrations. One exciting new sports communication course is producing the live game broadcast, allowing students to operate all positions of a Southeastern game broadcast of all sports for live streaming on ESPN+.

For the past 20 years, the Southeastern Channel has been located in the University Center, but students will soon enjoy brand new TV and film studios located in the heart of Southeastern’s campus.

A somewhat scientific polling of ALUMNI

How

you know it you said it

What’s your favorite type of

What's

RECENT Publications

Southeastern faculty and staff regularly produce publications in nearly every imaginable genre and field. Here is a sampling of some of the recent book releases.

An Inquiry into AnalyticContinental Metaphysics: Truth, Relevance, and Metaphysics Towards a Critical Existentialism: Truth, Relevance, and Politics

BY JEFFREY BELL

Professor of Philosophy Jeffrey Bell recently published two books by Edinburgh University Press that delve deep into philosophical topics and demonstrate his excellence in his field.

An Inquiry into Analytic-Continental Metaphysics: Truth, Relevance, and Metaphysics offers a novel approach to thinking about a number of longstanding problems in metaphysics, issues that have persisted through the history of philosophy.

According to Michael Della Rocca of Yale University, “With stunning erudition, interdisciplinary insight, and characteristic boldness, Bell highlights the vicissitudes of the Principle of Sufficient Reason. Equally at home in the history of philosophy and in contemporary philosophy, as well as in both analytical and continental traditions, this pluralist manifesto powerfully challenges the one-sided alliance with science that has led to an unfortunate scaling back of philosophy's traditional pursuit of the questions of relevance and meaning.”

Alan D. Schrift of Grinnell College said that in Towards a Critical Existentialism: Truth, Relevance, and Politics, Bell has created a “profound and original reflection on our current situation. Jeff Bell draws upon a wealth of social scientific research and an astonishing variety of philosophical resources, from Hume, Russell, and Wittgenstein to Kierkegaard, Camus, and Deleuze, to propose critical existentialism as the solution to the most fundamental of problems, that of making sense.”

Rebel Bayou

BY SAMUEL AND SARAH HYDE

Southeastern Leon Ford Endowed Chair, Professor of History, and Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies Director Samuel Hyde and his wife Sarah Hyde, River Parishes Community College professor of history, have combined their talents to produce a work of historical fiction titled Rebel Bayou

The book, published by University of Louisiana Press, is designed to illuminate the troubled and fascinating history of southeast Louisiana and the surrounding environments, while also entertaining through an exciting story of hardship and hope.

“For years we have had people asking us to create a book that tells the story of this region in an easy-to-read format,” Samuel Hyde said. “This book offers an exciting dive into the dramatic story of our development and the adjoining regions of the Gulf South, absent the statistical analysis of our non-fiction books.”

Dino Days of School

BY LACY DAVIS HITT

While an assistant professor in Southeastern’s College of Education, Lacy Davis Hitt created and published Dino Days of School, a charming children’s book that also conveys some important life lessons.

Published by Yorkshire Publishing, the book tells the story of an ordinary girl who inadvertently begins to turn into a dinosaur after starting school, causing struggles, until a new teacher steps up to help.

“Every child is unique with their own struggles and hardships,” the book description states. “There is no one size fits all model for children. Even something as small as picking up a book for someone or having a kind thing to say can make a difference in someone's life. As a person in a child's life or a child yourself, will you be the change?”

MATCHING FOR LIFE

Hundreds of members of the Southeastern community have chosen to make life-saving gifts by donating bone marrow to unknown patients. Here is just one of their stories.

BY SHERI GIBSON

During Homecoming Week 2013, Southeastern student Alika Jones made a choice that would eventually save a life—and inspire countless others to do the same. At a tent set up near Friendship Circle for recruiting potential bone marrow donors, she participated in a quick mouth swab to register for the donor database, setting herself on a life-altering path.

Southeastern’s campaign to help increase the donor database and matches started the year before, when beloved alumna Robin Roberts announced she would be receiving a bone marrow transplant to combat bone marrow myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Her sister Sally-Ann Roberts, long-time WWL-TV anchor, was able to provide the needed bone marrow for her, but for many others finding a match isn’t so easy. In fact, around 70 percent of patients have to rely on anonymous donors.

Another five years later she had the opportunity to talk to Josiah and his mom, Keesha Wilson, for the first time. "Just speaking with his mother, hearing everything she went through, made me feel so good to know I was able to help them,” Alika said. “It was overwhelming.”

“I’m very appreciative of how Southeastern worked with Be the Match to set up the drive, and of the love that they still have for Robin and others,” she added.

This February, in honor of 10 years since Robin’s own bone marrow transplant, another drive was held on campus in partnership with Be the Match and Good Morning America (GMA). And with it came a special surprise for Alika.

On the court of the University Center, where Robin once played, Alika was seated for an interview with the GMA crew about her own experience donating. Then at the end, some special guests walked in: now 20-year-old Josiah and his family. They had flown in from California just to finally share their gratitude with Alika in person.

“I’ll appreciate her for the rest of my life. Have a bond with her for the rest of my life,” said Keesha, after the emotional, heartfelt meeting. “Josiah is so happy now.”

Their story was later broadcast across the country, inspiring others to participate as well. And that same day on Southeastern’s campus, students and other members of the University community once again turned out to give back— with over 230 new registrants added to the Be the Match database.

When Southeastern administration heard what Robin would be going through, they jumped into action to show their support for her all along the way. A campaign called Swabbin’ for Robin was launched in partnership with Be the Match, a national bone marrow donor registry and program, with events spanning over the course of the next year. Students turned out in droves in honor of Robin and to help others who they have never met.

“We did this because Robin had to have bone marrow and to support her,” said Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale. “But there were so many students that came forward, like the story here today [of Alika Jones].”

In total, 140 people from the 2012-2013 drive were matched with patients, helping them live long into the future.

Alika was in this number. It can often take years for a match to be made, and about five years later she received a call. There was a teenage boy, Josiah Knight, who needed her help.

Although facing some health obstacles of her own, Alika was determined to do what she could for this family she had never even met. “Being a mother made me want to do it even more,” she said.

“Be aware, find out, because you could save a life too,” said Keesha.

“And you don’t even know whose life you could be saving.”

Robin Roberts arrives in Hammond in 2013 for Southeastern's Swabbin' for Robbin event.

Keesha Wilson (second from left), mother to bone marrow recipient Josiah Knight (second from right), embraces her son's donor, Alika Jones. The meeting was a surprise for Alika during a GMA interview with her during Southeastern's 2023 Be the Match event.

Plans are underway to create new, stateof-the-art facilities for Athletics and the athletic training program.

Enhancing the

Home4 of Southeastern Athletics

BY TONYA LOWENTRITT

Athletics have been an integral part of Southeastern since 1930, only five years after the University’s founding. Since then, the spirit for competition and school pride has only grown—as have the number of sports, players, and game attendees.

Recent plans for enhanced facilities, coupled with a $100,000 NCAA grant, will help Southeastern Athletics and its studentathletes continue to flourish for many more years to come.

These new state-of-the-art facilities will help elevate both academics and Athletics at the University. The facilities improvements will encompass over 50,000 square feet and are made possible through a combination of public and private funds.

The multi-phase, multi-year project began with an update and enhancement for the home of Lion Baseball, Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, where a new entranceway, ticket booth and additional concessions area are being constructed. In addition, along the left-field line, a newly constructed baseball fieldhouse facility will include locker rooms, offices, meeting areas, and storage space, as well as improved athletic training facilities. This new home for Southeastern Baseball is expected to be completed in late 2023.

In conjunction with private funds made available through the efforts of the Lion Athletic Association and Southeastern Foundation, Southeastern was approved for a capital outlay project during the 2022 Legislative Session that will provide significant renovations and enhancements for the academic athletic training program, as well as Intercollegiate Athletics.

The new and upgraded facilities will serve as home for the University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training, along with Southeastern Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition to classrooms

and laboratory facilities for the athletic training program, expanded space for sports medicine, new locker rooms, and offices for Southeastern football and soccer programs will be part of the project.

Southeastern is one of only three universities in the state of Louisiana that offers a master's degree in athletic training. The new facilities confirm Southeastern’s ongoing commitment to the athletic training academic program and greatly assist in helping ensure athletic training students become “real-world” ready as part of their academic experiences.

“We’re excited to announce this historic addition for Southeastern Athletics and our athletic training program,” said Southeastern Director of Athletics Jay Artigues. “This project is a game changer, as the facility enhancements will not only be beneficial to our department, but to the University and community as a whole. Our student-athletes continually embody our mission statement of excellence in the classroom, community, and competition, and this project will give the Lions and Lady Lions the opportunity to build on that success and elevate our programs to the next level.”

“Athletic trainers are highly trained healthcare professionals that support the sports medicine team,” said College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Ann Carruth. “As such, a strong partnership with Athletics to provide real-world experiences is integral to the success of the program. We are very fortunate to have these new resources that will benefit the academic program and our students.”

The athletic training and Intercollegiate Athletics facilities project is currently in design, with construction anticipated to begin in early 2024 and completion expected by the fall of 2025.

Enhancements to Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, including a new entranceway and ticket booth, are being made this year.

“We are excited that donors, athletic boosters, and corporate sponsors are stepping up to provide private support to match state funds for these facility enhancements. For example, all of the baseball program enhancements are being made entirely through private funds. Significant private matching funds are also being raised to support the other facility enhancements,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain.

These exciting changes will come alongside other campus enhancements, including a full renovation of D Vickers Hall that will feature a new, ultramodern television and video production teaching space.

And the good news doesn’t stop there. Southeastern also became one of only 13 recipients of the NCAA’s ’22-’23 Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) Award.

The NCAA annually awards more than $1 million in AASP grants to colleges and universities to help boost academic programs and initiatives, which tie to graduation and the overall success of its student-athletes.

Southeastern, Austin Peay, Cal State-Northridge, Cleveland State, Coppin State, Delaware State, Indiana State, Nicholls, Norfolk State, Saint Peter’s, Tennessee State, Texas Southern and UT Martin were this year’s recipients.

The $100,000 grant will be used for student-athletes to attend Summer Bridge; for life skills programming; to assist in degree completion; and to support technology upgrades and professional development for academic support staff.

“One of the pillars of our department’s mission statement is excellence in the classroom,” Artigues said. “Our studentathletes have consistently set new semester records for department-wide grade point averages, and this grant will assist us in continuing that trend of success.”

New and upgraded facilities are bing planned for the athletic training program and Intercollegiate Athletics.

Did you KNOW?

SOUTHEASTERN’S FIRST DECADE

9 11 20

months after Linus Sims first conceived the idea for Southeastern, the school opened its doors (as then Hammond Junior College) on Sept. 14, 1925, with 40 students

faculty members were on board by 1929, growing from five upon first opening players were on the first football team in 1931, which played five games during its first season

6 1-2 13

students from other colleges were convinced by Sims to transfer to the new school in 1925, allowing Southeastern to have a graduating class its very first year in operation

1st

student organization was The Leather Stocking Club, which produced two one-act plays in the school’s auditorium during its first year

was the record for the women’s basketball team’s opening season in 1929, with the group originally consisting of eight players students, who also decided to form the Thirteen Club, made up the school’s first junior class in 1931

5 $100,000

official student groups were formed by 1930, including the men’s basketball team

bond was approved by the legislature in 1932 for the construction of two much-needed new buildings due to rapid growth: the Women’s Gymnasium (opened in 1932) and McGehee Hall (opened in 1934)

A

TRADITION Family

Five Generations of Southeastern Lions

Since the University’s doors first opened in 1925, consecutive generations of one family have formed an unbreakable and moving legacy of attending Southeastern.

BY CALMER DIGHTON

Members of the University's first faculty and class assembled on Alumni Day 1951, including Dorothey Snell Bonicard (back row, second from right).

Almost 100 years ago, in 1926, the first class graduated from Southeastern. Since then, over 75,000 people have earned their degree and joined them as Southeastern alumni. For one family, following in these footsteps and attending Southeastern has become a tradition characterized by excellence, dating all the way back to that first graduating class.

Leigh Henderson, a class of 2021 marketing major currently working on her MBA at Southeastern, is the great-greatgranddaughter of Dorothy Snell Bonicard. Dorothy earned her two-year teaching certificate in 1926 as a member of the first graduating class at what was then called Hammond Junior College. According to Scott Henderson, Leigh's father and a fellow Southeastern alum, “Dorothy was inspired to attend Southeastern to become a teacher while still having the opportunity to be close to her community of Ponchatoula.” Since Dorothy graduated, five generations have attended Southeastern, with 18 family members earning degrees from the University.

So what inspired these generations to continue the legacy of attending Southeastern? Leigh answered, “I am big on tradition. I am also a member of the fifth generation to attend Saint Joseph and Ponchatoula High School. All of my family went to Southeastern, so it only made sense to me to continue that tradition. My parents married while attending Southeastern in their senior year, and it was the first place they lived together in the on-campus married housing. My grandmother, Trudy Bonicard Henderson, attended the University for an education degree. While she never completed her degree, she spoke highly of the faculty, especially the College of Business. That and the ability to stay within my community were a big impact on me choosing Southeastern, but being able to continue building the legacy of attending Southeastern was a big deal to me.”

Trudy Henderson, the granddaughter of Dorothy and grandmother of Leigh, said she was inspired to attend Southeastern by Dorothy. “Grandma Bonicard wanted me to go to Southeastern. She strongly encouraged me, but did not press me to choose a specific major. That was for me to decide. She encouraged me to choose between education, nursing, business education, and accounting.”

Dorothy graduated from Hammond Junior College with the first graduating class. When the requirements for teacher certification changed to a four-year degree, rather than quit teaching and stay at home, Dorothy decided to return to school to meet the new requirements by earning a bachelor’s degree. Scott emphasized the importance of this decision to the family.

Dorothy Snell Bonicard shares the new family tradition with her parents and daughter Marion at her second Southeastern graduation.

Melissa DePaula Henderson, Scott Henderson, and Susan Bonicard Quinn (aunt and faculty) celebrate together at at Southeastern's 1996 Commencement.

“Dorothy returned to Southeastern and earned her four-year certification, all while keeping a family and working. Her return to Southeastern is equally impressive to our family as her being a member of the first graduating class. The fact that she balanced school, family, and a job while completing the fouryear requirements inspired me to attend Southeastern.”

Dorothy had an interesting set of events that ultimately led her to attend Southeastern. Trudy shared, “This is a funny story, she actually attended college in North Louisiana at first, and while there, she decided she wanted to become a pharmacist. When she came home from college, her father (O.C. Snell) read her report card and challenged her on why she was taking classes to become a pharmacist, which he had told her she could not be. He then made her return home, where she attended Southeastern and changed her major to education. As an interesting side note, in 1941, she, my grandfather, my father, and my aunt moved up to Connecticut for one year to work in a munitions factory supporting the war effort. Who knows what would have happened if she had become a pharmacist or even stayed up north in Connecticut, but one thing is for sure, our rich family history at Southeastern may never have been.”

Scott was one of the last Southeastern ROTC cadets to be commissioned before the program took its hiatus in 1995. “As a member of the ROTC program, I was able to compete with the ranger challenge team, a varsity sports team that competed against other schools in the South like LSU and Alabama," he said. "That built a lot of my college experience. I still keep in touch with a handful of friends today who were a part of that program and were commissioned into the Army with me. During my junior year, Dr. Sally Clausen became the University president. The University was going through growth in so many

ways, and Dr. Clausen was unique in how she engaged directly with the student leaders. ROTC was not always recognized as a sport, but she recognized it as a sport and brought other student leaders and me to a round table to be heard.”

Scott still connects with Southeastern through the nowreinstated ROTC program. “Since the program started up again, I have been able to attend events like the ROTC alumni dinner. It was nice to be able to meet other legacy officers, as well as the new cadets.”

When asked what being a Southeastern graduate meant to her, Leigh heartfeltly answered. “It means family, and not just my own birth family, but also the family I made at Southeastern. When I started cheering for Southeastern, I made connections quickly. The people I got to know on the cheer team are some of the same people I will probably have standing in my wedding.”

Scott added, “Being a Southeastern graduate means being a deeper member of the community, representing higher education and achievement in this community.”

To Leigh, being a fifth-generation attendee of Southeastern and carrying on the family legacy in such a beneficial, enriching way is particularly meaningful—invoking an inseparable link throughout her own family and the University she loves so dearly.

“Knowing that I have gone through something five generations of my family have gone through is an incredible feeling,” Leigh said. “Southeastern has the same effect on people who attend today as it did back almost 100 years ago.”

Bottom left: Fifth generation Southeastern students (from left) Hannah Henderson, Leigh Henderson, and Alyssa Henderson stop for a moment together after Spring 2021 Commencement.

Bottom right: Henderson family and friends gather around to celebrate Leigh's graduation at Fall 2021 Commencement.

Most people know the name of Southeastern’s mascot is Roomie the Lion; however, not many know how he got his name. Our mascot was named after a farm boy from Monticello, Ms., named Hollis Wilson.

Wilson attended Southwest Mississippi Junior College (SMJC) in Summit, Ms. It was there that he developed a passion for sports. He played football, baseball, basketball and tennis. After graduation, he was named “Athlete of the Year,” and in 1973, he was posthumously inducted into the SMJC Sports Hall of Fame.

To further his college studies, Wilson started at Southeastern Louisiana College (today Southeastern Louisiana University) in 1935. His love of sports allowed him to participate in football, basketball, baseball, and track—and he lettered in all of them. He was a guard on the undefeated 1936 football team and a guard on the basketball team. Wilson was ultimately inducted into Southeastern’s Sports Hall of Fame for Football in 1949 and set a record starting in 39 straight games, becoming known as the “60-minute man.”

Working any job he could to help fund his college education, Wilson joined the construction crew to build Strawberry Stadium in 1937, which only took 16 weeks. He and the other football players resided in the first men’s dormitory that was part of the new stadium. His roommate Tommy Womack nicknamed him “Roomie,” and the name stuck.

at Southeastern as a professor of biology with special expertise in botany and entomology.

To honor her father’s legacy for his dedication to Southeastern, academic excellence and love of Lion athletics, Jane Wilson Alldredge recently decided to establish a scholarship in biological sciences, as well as help fund the soon-to-beconstructed new Athletics Building.

“The many years that I have visited the campus and family in Hammond, I have been so impressed with the growth, both at Southeastern and in the Hammond area,” Alldredge said. “I wanted to honor my father’s memory, so I met with both Dan McCarthy, the dean of the College of Science and Technology, and Jay Artigues, the Athletics director, to see how I could make that happen. As a result of those meetings, I established the Hollis “Roomie” Wilson Endowed Scholarship in Biological Sciences and Research and made a donation to the building fund that will allow the players of all sports to have an updated facility with updated equipment.”

Alldredge added that the building fund donation will also result in the coach’s office being named after her father. “Although he was not the coach, my father represents the many players that will enter that office in the future.”

Wilson was hired by Southeastern as superintendent of buildings and grounds after graduation in 1939. That Christmas Eve, he married Erhma Lee Hinson, a fellow student from Hammond. In 1942 he joined the United States Naval Reserves and served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII, stationed in Norfolk, Va., until the war ended in 1945. Wilson, his wife, and new baby daughter Jane then returned to Hammond, where he ultimately worked

Both donations are fitting, as Wilson excelled as a professor at Southeastern, very popular with his students, and as an athlete, athletic official, and super fan.

During remarks made honoring Wilson after his passing in 1964, his former roommate, Womack, remembered him fondly.

“I like to remember him as the student who worked at every job that could assist him in completing his college education, taking outside work, such as a basketball official, night-watchman, and even as an off-hour salesman, determined to complete his college work and prepare himself for better things ahead in life,” he said.

Wilson's dedication and love for Southeastern made him a natural choice for president of the Alumni Association, a position in which he faithfully and capably served. This leadership continued into the world of sports.

“As an athletic official, which began in the 1930s when I, his roommate, saw him learn the rule book—the ‘Bible’ for any official—backward and forward, until his death, he was of immeasurable help to many officials in the field of sports,” Womack explained.

Wilson was in charge of the Tangipahoa Parish High School Officials Association for football and basketball. He assigned officials in the Gulf States Conference and served as president of the Southeastern Conference Officials Association. He also officiated in the NCAA play-offs and at many conference tournaments.

Womack recalled that one of the nicest tributes to Wilson was spoken to him in the privacy of his office by a Hammond attorney, who told him how Roomie Wilson encouraged and helped him as a youth in the city’s recreation program, a program in which he also took a leading part.

“Life was a challenge to Roomie, and he met that challenge head on,” he said.

Wilson’s memory and love of biology and Lion athletics will live on thanks to Alldredge continuing his legacy of giving back to both the University and community he loved.

“His entire adult life was working at Southeastern and being a big part of the Hammond community. He wanted and made a good life for his family,” Alldredge said. “Because of his presence at Southeastern, he was instrumental in helping many people lead meaningful and productive lives.”

A LEGACY THAT LASTS FOREVER

Would you enjoy knowing generations will benefit from your legacy? Now is the perfect time to consider starting an endowment. An endowment carries your wishes forward not only for today and tomorrow, but forever.

Benefits of an Endowment:

• Impact lasts forever

• Simple to establish

• One-time gift creates many returns

• You can always add to your endowment

• You can create an endowment now or in your will

• Use a variety of assets to fund your endowment

May We Help You?

For more information or to set up your endowment, please contact Southeastern Development staff at 985.549.2239 or advancement@southeastern.edu. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and work with you.

Other Considerations:

• Your gift gives you tax benefits

• Your endowment lasts forever

• Your children and grandchildren see your legacy in action

• You determine your endowment’s purpose

Scan here to learn more.

KEEPING

RICHARD BEAUGH has been hired as corporate marketing and communications director for Investar Bank. He previously worked as director of strategy for JCW Creative and director of communications for Catholic High School.

'88

DAVID LEE recently became the newest member of the HFG Wealth Management, LLC team. He joined the company in Oct. ’22 as a wealth advisor.

'93

TAIT DUPONT was named athletic director for Iberville Parish. He previously served as Plaquemine High School’s athletics director and head baseball coach and has led 430 baseball wins throughout his coaching career.

'94

LISA LAVIGNE was awarded ’22-’23 Educational Diagnostician of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Educational Diagnosticians. She has been in her current position as a district educational diagnostician for the past six years.

'97

BRIAN BADINGER has been promoted to vice president, technical programs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. He will be responsible for developing, overseeing and ensuring the successful completion of large, strategic, cross-company programs.

'97 & '12

SHELLEY FARMER was appointed principal of Galvez Middle School, where she previously served as vice principal. She has 23 years of experience in education.

'98

JONATHAN CHAPMAN

has been selected as president and CEO of the Florida Association of Community Health Centers. He has dedicated his career to boosting primary care access, including through his previous position as chief project officer for Capital Link.

'99

CHERYL MERCEDES, an Emmy and Murrow Award-winning investigative reporter and anchor, has begun co-anchoring weekend evening news at KHOU 11 Houston.

RASHANDA BOOKER, PH.D., recently became the inaugural chief diversity officer at Fresno State University in California. She previously served as the inclusive excellence and engagement director at the University of Mississippi.

AMY CANIK PROVINCE has been promoted to market executive for Baton Rouge at Regions Bank. She is also heavily involved in her community, including serving on the board of directors for the YMCA of the Capital Area and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

'05

RHEA LONEY was named chief compliance officer for BetMGM. Her previous positions include VP of compliance, regulatory affairs and strategy for Penn Interactive, and assistant attorney general for the Louisiana Department of Justice, Division of Gaming.

'09

AMBER SHEPPARD recently formed the nonprofit Be Fierce & Kind Canine in order to develop and implement therapy dog programs in local courthouses. She also runs her own law firm, Sheppard Law, in Slidell, La.

SAHARA HANEY, ED.D., has been promoted to director of instructional technology for East Baton Rouge Parish School System, for which she has worked for over 11 years.

in touch

'13

'15

ROSE DEPAULA- COX, M.D., has joined Magnolia Obstetrics & Gynecology in Hammond. After earning her Southeastern degree in biological sciences, she went on to attend medical school in New Orleans. '16

REID SHORTER has been named regional vice president of Schell Martin. He previously served as outside sales rep for the electrical manufacturers' representative agency.

DEVIN CHAMPAGNE, PH.D., recently became sector manager at Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, LLC. He started with the company in 2020 and has already received two promotions.

IN MEMORIAM

'17

KAYLAN RICHARDSON joined Baker Donelson as a lawyer in real estate law, helping clients navigate complex real estate transactions. He is also a member of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society.

'20

GABRIELLE LEVET accepted a position as account manger for Search Influence, a digital marketing agency based in New Orleans. She previously worked as marketing director for Cate Street Seafood Station LLC and is also pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communication at Southeastern.

DR. BENJAMIN H. ALSIP JR.

DIANE FIDUCCIA CAMELO

JOAN BERNARD CARVER

DANIEL T. "DAN" CHATWOOD JR.

SHARON HEIN CREWS

DR. BOBBYE J. DAVIS

JIMMY D. DAVIS

LOIS HUSSER DOWLING

DR. JOAN DE LA BRETONNE FAUST

DR. WILLIAM F. "BILL" FONT JR.

DR. YU HSING

LEO P. JONES

SUSAN A. KOPPENOL

DR. DONALD W. LEA

BETTY LUMMUS MCDONALD

MICHAEL R. MCGILL

JENNIFER KAY TRIPLETT MCINTYRE

BETTY JO MCKNEELY

DR. KAREN BASHAM MOODY

ANGELINA M. "ANGIE" NAVARRA

DR. EDWARD T. NELSON

DR. BRIAN R. O'CALLAGHAN

COLLEEN HILDEBRAND has published a book titled In the Ether: A Memoir of Holding Space. She is also an English teacher in the St. Tammany Parish School System.

'21

CHANTE SCHNYDER graduated valedictorian from St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Regional Peace Officer Standards and Training Program. She is currently serving the Southeastern community as part of the University Police Department.

JOY PETERMAN

TONY "BUTCH" ROMANO

BELITA WATKINS SCHILLING

ERNEST M. "ERNIE" SIMONEAUX JR.

EDNA HONEA SMILEY

DR. BETTY C. TACKNEY

DOROTHY E. "MIM" TIMBERLAKE

RAISA B. VOLDMAN

DR. JERRY L. VOORHEES

MARVIN WHITTINGTON

Former and Current Faculty and Staff Lost in 2022

See Yourself?

98 YEARS OF BUILDING CONNECTIONS

For nearly a century, members of our University community have formed unbreakable friendships, had unforgettable experiences, and found a home at Southeastern. Here is a glimpse into their stories.

If you know names or details behind these photos, please share them by emailing editor@southeastern.edu.

Identified:

Thank you to our readers who wrote in to share information on photos in our Fall ’22 issue.

Brothers of the Kappa Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. are at a display booth for the spring of ’83 Greek Week festivities. Members include (from left to right) Ronald Valentine, ’84; Byron Lee, ’83, a business owner and a Jefferson Parish councilman; and Ralph W. Harris, ’83, a U.S. Army retired colonel and current aero space and defense executive living in Alexandria, Va.

From Ralph W. Harris

Melissa Chauvin Parrish celebrates with her Alpha Omicron Pi sisters.

From Rachel Green

Office of Advancement, SLU 10293

Hammond, LA 70402 southeasternfoundation.org

Southeastern was recently ranked one of the top 50 public schools in the South and one of the top national performers for students’ social mobility by U.S. News and World Report.