ULM Magazine SPRING 2019 • VOLUME 18, NO. 2

SPRING 2019 • VOLUME 18, NO. 2

ANTICIPATED VCOM

A GAME-CHANGER FOR NORTH LOUISIANA

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

FROM OUR PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

photo by Emerald McIntyre

Dear Alumni and Friends of the University of Louisiana Monroe, We started the Fall 2018 semester on a high note when the College of Health Sciences was approved for the Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate program.

This is important because students can complete the entire PT curriculum at ULM, which will lead to more PT professionals practicing in our region. We are looking forward to the Summer of 2020 to accept the first class.

The first cohort of students at the anticipated Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is also expected in 2020. In the last issue of the ULM Magazine, we shared photos from the exciting groundbreaking ceremony for the 100,000 square feet, four-story building. Today, if you drive down Bon Aire (between the Laird Weems Center and the Water Ski House) you can see the immense scale of this construction project.

A medical school will be a game-changer for the economy in north Louisiana and we are honored to host VCOM on our campus.

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Along with the excitement of the anticipated medical school, we continue to recognize the strong traditions at ULM. During the White Coat Ceremony at the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing, 61 new nursing students took an oath of patient care. Their time in nursing school will pass quickly and soon these young people will be providing health care at hospitals, clinics, medical offices and more. They

PRESIDENT

will join a force of ULM alumni who have been providing nursing care to our region since 1960. Northeast Louisiana is truly fortunate to have ULM and the health care professionals educated and trained here to provide services to people in this region.

We are also proud that The National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging presented ULM with a $350,000 grant.

This will allow ULM professors to continue studying components of olive oil which have the possibility of treating Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer. This is an example of the cutting-edge research happening right here at your university.

Another notable grant, $352,000, was awarded to Dr. Matthew Talbert to study obesity and diabetes; two diseases of particular concern in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Cancer Foundation also continued its support of breast cancer research with a $10,000 grant to Dr. Paul Sylvester, Associate Dean of Research in the ULM College of Pharmacy. Over the years, the LCF has donated $117,000 to ULM’s breast cancer research.

A $10,000 New Horizons grant from The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation was awarded to the Autism Center at ULM. Director Dr. David Irwin and Dr. Linda Bryan, Services Coordinator, will study the "unique stressors and problems of families who live in a rural and impoverished environment

while raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder." This is an extremely challenging family situation and for ULM to be a part of the solution is not only an honor, it is a responsibility.

As a university, our priority is to not only provide a superior education for our students, but to also improve our community and the lives of the people in the region. We remain steadfast in both initiatives.

As you can see, monumental things are happening at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Professionals in health care and related fields are being trained at ULM more than any other university in the University of Louisiana System. From the high science of cancer research to the complexities of autism, ULM is discovering the solutions that will make the world a far better place.

I invite you to enjoy reading more about the exciting things happening at ULM in this magazine and know the good news will fill you with pride for your alma mater.

We have a saying here that rings true for all: the best has been and always will be on the bayou!

TAKE FLIGHT! Nick J. Bruno, Ph.D. ULM President

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ON THE COVER A rendering of the proposed VCOM medical school building at the University of Louisiana Monroe.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

CONTENTS

ANTICIPATED VCOM A GAME-CHANGER FOR NORTH LOUISIANA

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YOUR UNIVERSITY: ALUMNI KELSI AND MARK WHITE

31 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MAKING A DIFFERENCE

16 PHARMACY SCHOLARSHIP HONORS BILL AND MARSHA BOURN

38 TAKING POSITIVE STEPS FORWARD WITH FICHTNER

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TALBERT RECEIVES MORE THAN $352K TO STUDY OBESITY, DIABETES

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CONTENTS

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 • VOLUME 18, NO. 2

EDITORIAL TEAM

PRESIDENT Nick J. Bruno, Ph.D. CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Lisa F. Miller (MS ’94) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Julia B. Letlow, Ph.D. (BA ’02, MA ’05) DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Hope Young, Editor CREATIVE DIRECTOR Srdjan Marjanovic (BFA ’12) GRAPHIC DESIGN COORDINATOR Shanette L. Washington (BFA ’02) DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Emerald McIntyre (BFA ’13) DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Jeanette Robinson SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST & WATER SKI COACH Joey McNamara PROJECT COORDINATOR Sharon Bratton EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ULM FOUNDATION & ALUMNI RELATIONS Susan Chappell (BBA ’82, MBA ’87) PRESIDENT, ULM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION W. Adams Rodgers IV (BBA ‘98) DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS Melissa Kiper (MBA ’07) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS Jenny Pankey (BS ’97) CONTRIBUTORS Paul Letlow | Mark Henderson | Brent Tippen Kim Dismukes | Mary Lamarca Rhea Katie Kelley | Monica Whitman | Eric Elliot Jansen A. Nowell The ULM Magazine is published for members of the ULM Alumni Association and friends of the University of Louisiana Monroe and friends of the ULM Alumni Association.

www.ulm.edu

Send letters & comments to: The ULM Magazine Office of Marketing & Communications 700 University Ave. Monroe, LA 71209-2500 Email: ulmmagazine@ulm.edu Any letters or comments may be published and edited for length and style.

Contents © 2019 by the University of Louisiana Monroe and the ULM Alumni Association. All rights reserved.The University of Louisiana Monroe is a member of the University of Louisiana System.

photo by Emerald McIntyre

President Dr. Nick J. Bruno and Dr. James Henderson, President of the UL System, at the 2018 Fall graduation. Dr. Bruno gave Dr. Henderson a commemorative medallion honoring former President Dr. Dwight Vines.

DR. JAMES HENDERSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER ULM PRESIDENT DR. DWIGHT VINES Torrential rains and gusty winds did not stop 760 soon-to-be graduates from filling Fant-Ewing Coliseum on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. President Nick J. Bruno welcomed the guests, University of Louisiana System President Dr. James Henderson and UL System Board Member Shawn Murphy.

He introduced Henderson to pay tribute to a former ULM president. Henderson has a special relationship with the former president and said, “He also happens to be my mother’s older brother. I’m talking about Dr. Dwight Vines." Vines served as the university’s fifth president from 1976-1991. He joined the faculty in 1958 as an instructor of management. He was Dean of the College of Business Administration for nine years before becoming president.

“When he retired, Dr. Vines had served ULM for 33 years, 16 of those as president,” Henderson said. His uncle hardly retired, and continually shares ideas and thoughts with his nephew. “I get at least 12 emails from him a day,” Henderson said. “Recently, he said that after his wife, his children and his grandchildren, his greatest love is NLU, that’s what he calls ULM. You could not have a more devoted admirer,” Henderson said.

To honor Vines, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors named him President Emeritus of the University of Louisiana Monroe. “I know that Dr. Vines wishes he could be here today, I know he is watching online,” Henderson said. Bruno presented Henderson with a commemorative medallion for Vines.

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DIRECTOR

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Melissa Kiper Director of Alumni Affairs (318) 342-5244 mkiper@ulm.edu

In January, the Laird Weems Center really came alive when students returned to campus and our 31 Ambassadors started filing in ready to make connections with students and alumni. We are sure Mr. Don Weems would have been beaming with pride seeing the young faces so excited to be in our new building and seeing his vision of a high-profile, high-energy organization celebrating alumni and building lifelong relationships being realized.

The Alumni Association believes that the alumni experience doesn’t just begin when you walk across the graduation stage, it begins when you enroll at ULM. Our 31 Ambassadors help us cultivate a relationship with current students and instill in them the importance of recognizing the journey as a collegiate student. The college experience does fly by so fast. We encourage students to make memories while they’re here and realize the magnitude and responsibility that comes with being an alumni. The connection to “Your University” should remain long after graduation and an interest

to give back should be inevitable.

We encourag e ever yone to stay connected by visiting our alumni network website, alumni.ulm.edu. It has countless features that support our mission to provide meaningful engagement to our alumni.

You’ll also want to stay informed of all our spring events. One such happening is our Ouachita Parish Alumni Chapter event, Wine Over Water. You will want to save the date for Thursday, April 25th. This is an unforgettable night on the bayou that supports scholarship funds to local ULM students. Your ticket purchase ensures students of Northeast Louisiana can continue to strive for academic excellence and helps ease their financial burden.

Tickets are available online at www.ulm. edu/wine or by calling or stopping by the Laird Weems Center during office hours.

FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR

he Alumni Association had a busy fall season hosting numerous events on campus for our alumni and the community to enjoy. It was exciting to host tailgates, many homecoming festivities, HawktoberFest, (our newest event), our annual Chili Cook-off, and our Alumni Awards Brunch. Whether you’re an alumni or alumni by choice, we truly believe the University of Louisiana Monroe is “Your University.” We want everyone to feel at home here and enjoy everything ULM has to offer.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

FROM THE ALUMNI

Also be on the lookout for alumni chapter events in your area. We’re working closely with chapter presidents to increase the number of informational and scholarship building events across the country. We also ask that you follow us on our social media sites as we are initiating an extensive marketing campaign this spring. We want you to know everything that’s going on with “Your University” from academic departments to changes to the landscape of our campus to student organizations/sports that you were a part of. We encourage you to get involved this year and continue to advocate for ULM in your community. Great things are happening at the University of Louisiana Monroe where “The Best is on the Bayou.”

TAKE FLIGHT! www.ulm.edu

Melissa Kiper Director of Alumni Affairs

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

D

r. Ray Morrison keeps watch on construction sandwiched between Bayou DeSiard and Bon Aire Drive via a camera transmitting a live feed to a monitor in his Sandel Hall office.

He’s a dean of a program that doesn’t exist. Not yet, anyway.

There are no students. Only a few faculty members are in the pipeline. And although Morrison works out of an office at the University of Louisiana Monroe, he’s not a Warhawk (but he does root for them!).

BY MARK HENDERSON

ANTICIPATED V

A GAME CHANGER FOR NOR

Still, as Morrison glances at the construction on his monitor, he knows that he’s not only watching a building rise, he’s overseeing a grand experiment at ULM. He is the founding dean of what is, for now, referred to as the anticipated Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus.

ANTICIPATED VCOM

“We’re just about ready to pour the foundation,” Morrison said of the new medical school building rising along the bayou. The site work is finished, with contractor Lincoln Builders having driven 462 pilings some 55 feet deep. The underground infrastructure is complete.

“Lincoln Builders has been working six days a week,” Morrison said. “We’ll soon be going vertical with steel.”

Construction of the $38 million-plus campus is on schedule. The building’s architecture includes classic Southern features. “It’s modeled after our Auburn (Alabama) campus with some Acadiana touches,” Morrison said.

The Louisiana campus will be the fourth site for Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, or VCOM, a private institution that started out as a foundation. The college operates three other campuses – on the Virginia Tech University campus; in Spartanburg, South Carolina; and at Auburn University.

VCOM was granted a long-term lease by the Louisiana Board of Regents for its campus at ULM in May but will operate separately from the local university.

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The building will house administrative and faculty offices, two classrooms for first- and second-year lectures that will provide 204 seats in each. The fourth floor will include a cadaver lab, an osteopathic manipulative medicine lab, and simulation labs.

Across Bon Aire Drive ground has

Ray L. Morrison, DO, FACOS Founding Dean – Anticipated VCOM Louisiana Campus Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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Construction should be substantially completed at the end of 2019. Morrison expects the community will be impressed by the campus. “I have a significant budget for beautification. There will be plenty of live oaks and lots of flowering bushes and plants.”

RTH LOUISIANA

photo by Emerald McIntyre

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

VCOM

been cleared for a parking lot. While that won’t relieve congestion at ULM, it means “we won’t be taking any parking away,” Morrison said.

In the meantime, Morrison is busy recruiting faculty for the medical school.

He plans to have his various chairs and administration in place by July.

– DR. RAY MORRISON

ANTICIPATED VCOM

“The target is to begin classes in August of 2020 if all goes well with accreditation. We will be sharing the curriculum already used with success on our other campuses.”

VCOM teaches the osteopathic approach to medicine. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a D.O. is a fully trained and licensed doctor who has attended and graduated from a U.S. osteopathic medical school. A doctor of medicine, an M.D., has attended and graduated from a conventional allopathic medical school. Osteopathic medicine is the modern practice of a 2,000-year-old art utilizing the most current methods of surgery, medicine and body framework manipulation to find in the individual patient the best expression of health. The profession itself is young at just over 100 years old. Morrison will be hiring doctors of both approaches.

But a school isn’t complete without students, and Morrison can’t recruit students until the program becomes op erationa l . That happ ens onc e accreditation is achieved.

Morrison stated that VCOM has shipped the equivalent of two 4-inch binders bulging with information about the proposed program to the Commission of Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). He anticipates accreditation to be granted between April and September of this year. Dr. Morrison feels the COCA process is fair and anticipates a thorough examination process, but he is confident in the application.

Morrison said he expects the inaugural class to be about 150 students. The four- ▶

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Once VCOM gets the green light, then the search for students can begin. “The target is to begin classes in August of 2020 if all goes well with accreditation,” Morrison said. We will be sharing the curriculum already used with success on our other campuses.”

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ANTICIPATED VCOM year program requires applicants to have a bachelor’s degree. There will be a grade point average requirement for admission in addition to a competitive score on the Medical College Admissions Test.

ULM President Nick Bruno approached VCOM to establish the campus. Morrison said ULM’s strong programs in health sciences offer opportunities for students of both institutions to work together, especially in research. He said the two will likely share faculty as well.

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As part of the collaborative agreement with ULM, VCOM students will be have access to ULM activities, facilities and dining options on campus. But time to enjoy those facilities may be hard to find.

The average student will carry a 30-hour course load each semester.

The first two years will consist of academic course work. The third year,

(Above) Construction for the foundation of the anticipated VCOM Medical Center building.

(Below) Dean Ray Morrison, D.O., describes the VCOM building during a meeting at Bayou Pointe.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ANTICIPATED VCOM

photos by Emerald McIntyre

“We’re No. 6 in the country in terms of the least expensive private medical schools.”

Tuition for VCOM medical students will be $44,700 a year. “We’re No. 6 in the country in terms of the least expensive private medical schools,” Morrison said.

“We’re competitive with many staterun schools. And, of course, there are scholarships, grants and loans. Some schools require their students to cover the costs of liability insurance, for instance.

We help our students by providing them their insurance coverage, which lowers their costs.”

Morrison said the average student graduates with $240,000 in indebtedness.

“But they start paying it back when they start their residency, for which they get paid. The default rate of the students on their loans is very low.”

VCOM’s mission is to provide physicians to practice in medically underserved areas. Morrison said the college has been successful.

“Where our colleges are placed, along a crescent of the Appalachian ridge and the delta region of North Louisiana, we cover some of the poorest places in the country.

We will recruit heavily in the areas we are located. Our students may have to leave the state to do their residency, but most people want to come back home. Sixty-six percent of our graduates work in states with Appalachian cities or counties, many of which are medically underserved areas,” Morrison said.

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– DR. RAY MORRISON

students will be placed in one of several rotations throughout north Louisiana working with physicians at various clinics and hospitals. The fourth year covers elective rotations for a student’s prospective residency specialty and the student’s search for a residency that will cover from three to seven years after graduation.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

YOUR UNIVERSITY

YOURUNIVERSITY

WELCOME HOME

THE WHITES COME BACK TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED KELSI & MARK WHITE

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Alumni

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BY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Presidents James Cofer and Nick J. Bruno were serving during Kelsi’s ULM years and she remembers both men knowing students by name. She recalled that they were often seen at campus events and were more approachable than their positions might suggest.

As a freshman, Kelsi represented ULM on the homecoming court and the Campus Activities Board. Kelsi was approached about entering the Miss ULM Pageant, but declined because she thought it was too much responsibility for a freshman.

The Whites’ roots in Monroe run deep.

Kelsi’s grandmother, Dorothy Crain, earned her degree in elementary education from the university and her grandfather, Willie Crain, served two terms as the president of the booster club and was instrumental in acquiring the funding for the ULM Library.

It was in her sophomore year that Kelsi competed and was crowned Miss ULM. Kelsi went on to become Miss Louisiana in June of 2010.

Mark’s dad, Dean White, is a founding member of the ULM chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. They also have many other family members who are ULM alumni. Mark and Kelsi believe in roots and fostering hometown connections for the betterment of their community.

“I remember being so proud to be able to compete at Miss Louisiana as Miss ULM,” she said.

Mark White, a graduate of Ouachita Christian School, entered ULM on a baseball scholarship. Following an arm injury his freshman year, Mark remained on the baseball team for two more seasons. He then decided to use his remaining athletic eligibility on the Warhawks football team.

He graduated in business management in 2008 and for one year worked as an environmental inspector for a company based out of Houston. The work required living away from his family and friends for extended periods of time. Being that far from home was not how Mark wanted his life or his career.

While home, and during a discussion with his mother, Mark decided to continue with his original plan of going to law school.

Mark later learned his mother had signed him up to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). After passing the exam, he immediately enrolled in law school at Southern University in Baton Rouge.

– KELSI CRAIN WHITE

In July of 2015, Mark took Kelsi for a birthday dinner at Waterfront Grill. That birthday dinner was actually a surprise engagement party. Don Weems gave the couple a boat ride on the bayou and Mark proposed right beside the water at the ULM Alumni Center in front of their family and friends. The location was fitting for the couple, who found each other at a football game.

The couple married in Monroe on July 16, 2016. After two more years in Baton Rouge, the two moved back to Monroe to be close to family and to build one of their own.

Kelsi works as a physical therapist at St. Francis Outpatient Rehab Clinic and Mark works in the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office. They are happy to make their home in Monroe and enjoy spending weekends with family and cheering on the Warhawks. Mark and Kelsi are excited to welcome their future Warhawk, Baby White, in March 2019.

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Mark and Kelsi both recall people who were instrumental in their success during their time at ULM. Dr. Bruce Walker was one of Mark’s business professors, and they remain in contact. Walker emphasized the importance of Mark’s studies, showing how it all translated to the workplace. Dr. Ulas Ograk was Mark’s advisor and helped him navigate his college career.

“I remember being so proud to be able to compete at Miss Louisiana as Miss ULM.”

In November of 2012, ULM honored members of the football team that beat Alabama in 2007. Mark, a member of that team, returned to Monroe for the game at Warhawk Stadium. Mark noticed Kelsi while at the game, and it wasn’t long after that the two began a long-distance relationship. Kelsi was in Shreveport at physical therapy school and Mark was in Baton Rouge working for the district attorney’s office. Often meeting in Monroe for the next few years, they called their distance “the triangle,” but it proved worth the travel.

YOUR UNIVERSITY

As Miss Louisiana, Kelsi took off the required year to serve as hostess for the state of Louisiana and compete in the Miss America Pageant. After her reign was over, Kelsi returned to ULM. She finished in 2013 with a kinesiology degree and graduated from the LSU-Shreveport Health Sciences Center in 2016 with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

K

elsi Crain White initially chose to attend ULM to stay close to home. A graduate of Ouachita Parish High School in 2008, she majored in kinesiology and focused on pre-physical therapy.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

YOUR UNIVERSITY

YOURUNIVERSITY

BUILDING A LEGACY

FOR HIS COMMUNITY JONATHAN HILL

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Alumnus & Owner of Jonathan Hill Construction

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BY BRENT TIPPEN

All through his high school years at Ouachita Christian School, Jonathan knew that he wanted to continue his dream of home building at ULM’s School of Construction. He knew that ULM had one of the top programs in the nation and was one of the first programs to be accredited. Jonathan enrolled at ULM in the fall of 1994 as a commuter student, while still putting in 25 hours a week at the family construction business. He gained experience drawing house plans, working with framing crews, and putting in time at a cabinet shop, all while taking classes.

Jonathan also enjoyed the on-campus activities ULM provided. Jonathan reconnected with old friends from Ouachita Christian School as well as made new friends who had similar interests. Jonathan also worked with The Construction Guild, which competed in construction projects in cities such as Dallas and Las Vegas, as well as participated in volunteer projects for various organizations.

During his sophomore year he met his future wife, Tara. They have been married for 21 years and have three children, Jon Mical, Mallory, and Julianna.

Their eldest, Jon Mical, is a senior at Claiborne Christian School and is now looking at colleges. Jonathan and Tara

When Jonathan was away from construction classes, he was often putting the lessons he learned at ULM into practice in his family’s business.

Having the opportunity to ask seasoned professionals about things, such as electrical techniques, carpentry designs and concrete foundations helped Jonathan better understand the classwork.

“Having a strong construction program at ULM has a huge effect on my line of work.

I trust the interns I employ and the ULM graduates in my field have the same level of high-quality education that I received.”

– JONATHAN HILL

Jonathan was the first person in his family to graduate college, and he attended ULM with the help of a scholarship from the Home Builders Association.

After graduating, Jonathan worked for five years in the family business. There came a time of transition in the business, and after many prayers, Jonathan felt God leading him to step out in faith and begin his own journey. It was 2003 when he branched out on his own and began Jonathan Hill Construction.

YOUR UNIVERSITY

While Jonathan was at the School of Construction, he made several life-long friends. Most of Jonathan’s classwork centered on math and construction.

One of his favorite classes was Herb McCaskill’s estimating class. McCaskill’s engaging teaching style made the class easy to understand and enjoyable. Another influential professor was Dr. Keith Parker.

Along with being his professor, Dr. Parker was also Jonathan’s advisor and a member of the Home Builders Association. After graduating in 1998, Jonathan maintained a friendship with Dr. Parker.

have encouraged him to consider all the opportunities available locally. Their wish is for him to be judicious with his choice and embrace the college experience.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

J

onathan Hill had a background in construction long before his days at the University of Louisiana Monroe.

As a third generation builder, Jonathan practically grew up on the job sites.

Jonathan tries his best to run his business with integrity, and he strives to treat people the way he would want to be treated. One of the things Jonathan enjoys most about homebuilding is the opportunity to build relationships with his clients. He loves the fact that he gets to spend so much time with his customers during the building process. From drawing the plans to selecting finishes to helping with design choices, Jonathan enjoys the personal nature of custom homebuilding.

For him, a contractor’s ultimate goal is making sure the client’s fingerprint is on the final product.

Jonathan recognizes the impact ULM has on this community. Having a strong construction program at ULM has a huge effect on his line of work. He trusts the interns he employs and the ULM graduates in his field have the same level of high-quality education that he received. Jonathan is grateful for the opportunity he had to attend ULM and highly recommends ULM’s construction program to anyone interested in the field.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

CAMPUS NEWS photo by Emerald McIntyre

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recent study found the University of Louisiana Monroe contributed $566.8 million to the Northeast Louisiana* economy in Fiscal Year 20172018.

Conducted for ULM by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), the compelling study shows how the university is unmatched in its positive impact to the students, the region and the state. The university supports a variety of businesses and it benefits society as an economic driver, among other contributions.

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“The fabric of Northeast Louisiana is woven through with the economic fiber created by the university,” said President Dr. Nick J. Bruno. “It would be difficult to imagine the Northeast

“It would be difficult to imagine the Northeast Louisiana economy without the almost 1,000 employees and 10,000 students who live here and spend money here.”

– DR. NICK J. BRUNO

Louisiana economy without the almost 1,000 employees and 10,000 students who live here and spend money here.”

ULM supports more than 10,000 jobs, and one out of every 18 jobs in Northeast Louisiana is supported by the activities of the university and the students, according to the study.

The study includes an investment analysis evaluating benefits to students, taxpayers and society. For every dollar students invest in a university education, they will see a return of $4.60 per dollar in lifetime earnings.

Those with a bachelor’s degree from ULM will see an average increase in earnings of $19,400 each year over someone with only a high school diploma working in Louisiana,

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

CAMPUS NEWS

BY HOPE YOUNG

ULM CONTRIBUTES $566 MILLION TO

NELA ECONOMY

– DR. NICK J. BRUNO

“ULM benefits Northeast Louisiana in so many ways that people either don’t know about or they don’t consider, especially economically,” Bruno said. “For example, the alumni generate another $427 million in added income to the region.”

The study confirmed that ULM benefits Northeast Louisiana with increased economic prosperity and improved lifestyles, including reduced dependence on government services, less crime and improved health.

On the topic of health care and the

economy, construction is underway now on the ULM campus for the anticipated Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). The medical school will accept its first class of med students in 2020 and expects a graduating class in 2024. The predicted economic impact from VCOM is $60-$70 million annually.

Having a medical school at ULM will lead to more students enrolling in the pre-med sciences. These and other courses must be maintained and grow in order to meet the needs of pre-med students. *Northeast Louisiana consists of Ca ldwell , Ea st Carroll , Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll parishes.

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“ULM benefits Northeast Louisiana in so many ways that people either don’t know about or they don’t consider, especially economically.”

“It is easy to think of ULM as ‘those buildings over there,’” said Bruno. “I ask you to really think about who are in those buildings – thousands of students, faculty and staff.

photo by Emerald McIntyre

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 Attending a ceremony for the Bill and Marsha Bourn Endowed Superior Pharmacy Student Scholarship included President Dr. Nick J. Bruno, left, Bill Bourn holding the check on the left, College of Pharmacy Dean Glenn Anderson holding the check on the right, ULM Foundation development officer Morgan Patrick, and members of the Bourn Family. Bill Bourn was dean of the pharmacy school from 1986-2003.

BY MARY LAMARCA RHEA AND KATIE KELLEY

FRIENDS OF BILL AND MARSHA BOURN ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUPERIOR PHARMACY STUDENT

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ULM FOUNDATION

he Bill and Marsha Bourn Endowed Superior Pharmac y Student Scholarship was established by Kenneth and Ann Wilson as a way of giving back to the University of Louisiana Monroe and the College of Pharmacy.

“ULM, or NLU as it was known when Ann and I graduated, has been a very important part of our lives. We met while attending pharmacy school and made many lifelong friends there. ULM provided each of us our basis for a successful career,” says Kenneth Wilson.

Kenneth and Ann are 1984 and 1985 graduates of the College of Pharmacy, respectively.

At a Dean’s Advisory meeting in June 2018, Wilson was talking with Glenn Anderson, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, and other pharmacy alumni and expressed his interest in doing something for the college to honor Bill and Marsha Bourn.

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Bill and Marsha were married for 53 years. Bill Bourn served as Dean for the College of Pharmacy for 17 years, from 1986-2003. After his retirement, the Bourns remained active in the College of Pharmacy. After Marsha’s sudden passing in October 2017, Bourn remains a strong presence within the College. He continues to serve on the College of Pharmacy Dean’s Advisory Council and also founded the College of Pharmacy’s “Dufilho Society,” an endowed fund for the support and advancement of the ULM College of Pharmacy. Wilson says the Bourns were

always a couple he looked up to and respected. He says they were two of the best people you could ever meet.

After visiting with ULM Development Officer Morgan Patrick and exploring various gift options, the Wilsons decided to establish an endowed scholarship in honor of Bill and Marsha Bourn. The Wilsons generously contributed the first $25,000 to start the scholarship fund.

“The decision to honor Bill and Marsha was an easy one. I have been blessed to call Bill a friend since he was my pharmacology professor at NLU. We’ve served on various boards together and he has always been a source of wisdom and guidance,” says Wilson.

At the 2018 Louisiana Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting an additional $40,000, to contribute to the scholarship fund, was raised in just a few short hours by their friends and pharmacy alumni. One could easily see the love felt for Bill and Marsha.

Bourn says, “This is truly an honor for Marsha and me, and I want to thank all of the generous alumni who have supported the College of Pharmacy and our students over the years. I thank God for letting me have Marsha for 53 very happy years — she was a wonderful and remarkable woman. In my service as dean, at the many extracurricular activities involving our students and alumni she was always with me; while I was only doing my job, she was giving her time to the college, our students and alumni far above and beyond

expectations for a dean’s wife. And she loved every moment of it.”

The purpose of this scholarship is to recruit and retain high-quality graduate students in the College of Pharmacy.

Applicants that meet the required criteria will be reviewed by the College of Pharmacy Scholarship Committee to confirm eligibility and determine awards.

Since $60,000 for the endowment has already been raised, a $40,000 match from the Louisiana Board of Regents can be applied for, bringing the total endowment to $100,000. The principal will never be touched while spendable interest will be generated each year. Annual awards will be based upon the earnings of the endowment and the spending policy established by the ULM Foundation. Any unused funding will be carried forward to the following year. Contributions may be added at any time.

On establishing this scholarship, Wilson says, “Ann and I are honored to have been able to start this scholarship and to forever be associated with Bill and Marsha Bourn and the ULM College of Pharmacy.”

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If you are interested in contributing to this scholarship, you can contact the ULM Foundation, 318-342-3636 or foundation@ ulm.edu.

a legacy that stands

The Test of Time

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Even though astronauts last took steps on the moon in 1972, the imprint from their steps remains today.

What a tremendous legacy!

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

What would you do if you had the power to do something remarkable today while making an impact that would last forever, the kind of impact that takes little time and costs you nothing? All of this is possible when you take a moment to review and update the beneficiary designations for your retirement and bank accounts.

If you have any of the following, then you have a great opportunity to leave your own lasting impact: • IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) retirement accounts • Investment accounts • Checking, savings or CD account • Life insurance you no longer need The process of naming beneficiaries is easy. It gives you the power and control to tell your administrator who will inherit your accounts when you pass away. With a beneficiary designation, you still own the account and can continue to use it to meet your needs. www.ulm.edu

To name your beneficiaries, ask your account custodian, insurance agent or bank to send you a beneficiary designation form, fill it out and return it. You can name family, friends or an organization like ours to inherit your account. When you leave a gift to us, we will be able to continue our work.

700 University Avenue | Monroe, LA 71209

318.342.3636 • foundation@ulm.edu

18 photo by Emerald McIntyre

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ULM FOUNDATION

Retired Judge Jimmy Dimos and his wife Dale have made an estate gift of $100,000 to the ULM Foundation. They have established the Nick Dimos Business Scholarship in honor of his father.

BY HOPE YOUNG

JIMMY AND DALE DIMOS

ESTABLISH ESTATE GIFT “We are very honored and grateful for Jimmy and Dale Dimos.” www.ulm.edu

– SUSAN CHAPPELL

T

“We are very honored and grateful for Jimmy and Dale Dimos’ many years of generosity to the university,” said Susan Chappell, Executive Director of ULM Advancement, Foundation and Alumni Relations.

“It was an honor and a pleasure to have attended and graduated from Northeast Louisiana State College, which is now the University of Louisiana Monroe,” said Mr. Dimos. “I arrived from Yugoslavia in 1951, graduated from Neville High School in Monroe in 1956 and from Northeast in 1960. Northeast prepared me well for Tulane Law School. I also appreciate the benefits that ULM has on our community.

My wife Dale and I are pleased to include a gift in my will for the Nick Dimos Business Scholarship.”

The estate gift will be contributed to the Nick Dimos College of Business Scholarship, named for Mr. Dimos’ father, an endowed pool of funds to support students within the College of Business and Social Sciences.

Dimos had a lengthy career in Louisiana politics. Dimos served in the Louisiana State Legislature from 1976 to 1999 and he was Speaker of the House from 1988 to 1992. He is a retired 4th Judicial District Court Judge (1999-2006).

he University of Louisiana Monroe Fo un dati on a nn o un c e s th e $100,000 estate gift from Retired Judge Jimmy Dimos and Mrs. Dale Dimos.

The Dimoses have an almost 40-year history of giving to the university.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

LEGACIES

LEGACIE S

www.ulm.edu

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

COLLEGE OF HEALTH &LEGACIES PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

“The College of Pharmacy has a state-ofthe-art pharmaceutical lab and mock pharmacy where pharmacy students get hands-on training in real-life situations.”

BY HOPE YOUNG

DR. VERLENCIA TARVIN MONROE NATIVE SERVES OUACHITA PARISH AS A PHARMACIST What does VERLENCIA TARVIN, PharmD have to say about her alma mater?

Plenty. This 2013 pharmacy graduate sees the University of Louisiana Monroe as the foundation of her success — and the region.

"ULM is my university because it offers one of the top-ranked pharmacy programs in the country. As a Monroe native and daughter of an ULM alumnus, ULM has always felt like home. Furthermore, ULM awarded me with academic, dance, and student involvement scholarships that allowed me to complete all three years of the pre-pharmacy curriculum with no outof-pocket costs", Tarvin said.

Tarin was a member of the Warbonnet/ Hawkline Dance Team for three years, and was an officer for two years. She was a junior maid on the 2008 Homecoming Court and

a senior maid on the 2009 court.

“My favorite memory at ULM is receiving my long white coat from Dr. Mary GauthierLewis. Dr. Lewis was the most challenging professor I encountered during my rotations.

The moment she put my white coat on my shoulders was so rewarding because it signified my evolution from student to colleague. I earned that!” she said.

"The university helped me succeed by effectively preparing me for my board exams and life beyond the classroom. The College of Pharmacy has a state-of-the art pharmaceutical lab and mock pharmacy where pharmacy students get hands-on training in real-life situations. I also obtained my first job as a pharmacist through the annual career fair hosted by the ULM College of Pharmacy. Because of ULM, I

was able to seamlessly transition into the work force.

Tarvin said ULM is valuable to Monroe and Ouachita Parish because it brings diverse people from all over the world to our area for higher learning. Oftentimes, students decide to make Monroe/Ouachita Parish their home after graduation and use their talents to service the local community.

As an undergraduate, Tarvin was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Kappa Mu Epsilon Math Honor Society, historian of the Pre-Pharmacy Organization, and a member of the Theta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In pharmacy school, she was a member of Kappa Epsilon, APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists, and Rho Chi Academic Honor Society.

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www.ulm.edu

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

“He is the lead editor on an upcoming reference handbook on Exercise and Sports Genetics.”

COLLEGE OF HEALTH &LEGACIES PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

BY HOPE YOUNG

DR. J. TIMOTHY LIGHTFOOT ULM ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR IN KINESIOLOGY IN 2010 Department of Defense to conduct research on the genetics of physical activity. His lab also has a unique interest in the physiological responses of athletes in a variety of non-traditional venues such as auto racing and in musicians. He is the lead editor on an upcoming reference handbook on Exercise and Sports Genetics from Routledge Publishing, and author of a book series called “Living and Prospering in Academia”, the first book of which “Finding the Best Faculty Job for You: Living and Prospering in Academia Book 1” is currently available. His research has been featured in numerous general media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Time.com, National Public Radio, the Rush Limbaugh show, CNN, the NBC Today Show, MSNBC, Revista Epoca (a Brazilian weekly magazine), and on Australian National Radio.

Dr. Lightfoot is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, an ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, a Past-President of the Southeast Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, and a past member of the Board of Trustees for the American College of Sports

Medicine. He has been named Teacher of the Year in his College at three different Universities (Florida Atlantic University, University of North Carolina Charlotte, and at Texas A&M University) and was awarded the Henry Montoye Research Scholar Award by the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine in 2010. He was named Alumnus of the Year of the University of Louisiana Monroe in Kinesiology in 2010 and at the University of Tennessee in 2016, gave the keynote lecture at the 2013 Performing Arts Medical Association meeting, the President’s Keynote Lecture at the 2014 national American College of Sports Medicine meeting, the Keynote Speaker at the 2018 Southeast American College of Sports Medicine meeting, and was recently named the Pease Family Scholar Speaker at Iowa State University. He was awarded the University Graduate Student Mentor of the Year at Texas A&M in 2018 and the national ACSM Citation Award in May 2018. He is a native Texan and married to a brilliant and beautiful woman (Faith), used to race automobiles for fun, and has a passion for playing the bass guitar, which he does in live settings with a variety of bands.

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www.ulm.edu

DR. J. TIMOTHY LIGHTFOOT is currently the Omar Smith Endowed Professor of Kinesiology and the Director of the Sydney and JL Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance at Texas A&M University. Dr. Lightfoot received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from University of Louisiana Monroe and his doctorate from the University of Tennessee. He completed a research consultantship with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Kennedy Space Center in the Biomedical Laboratory and then a three-year National Institute of Health postdoctoral research fellowship in the Division of Physiology at Johns Hopkins University.

He was an Assistant and Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University for 6 years (two years as Department Chair), and a Professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte for 14 years, 9 years of which he was Chair of the department. Dr. Lightfoot has published over 70 scientific, peer-reviewed articles on the genetics of daily physical activity and exercise endurance, as well as the physiological response to high-G exposure and hemorrhage and thus far has had ≈ $3 million in external funding from the National Institutes of Health and

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COLLEGE OF HEALTH &LEGACIES PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

“I've worked with pharmacists from across the country and felt as well-trained, or better, than any of them. Also, because there are only two pharmacy schools in the state, the network of alumni in Louisiana is quite phenomenal.”

BY HOPE YOUNG

T. J. WOODARD OWNER OF PRESCRIPTIONS TO GEAUX IN BATON ROUGE It was a road of hairpin turns and sometimes driving at night that brought T.J. WOODARD and his wife Aimee, to the front door of their own business, Prescriptions to Geaux in Baton Rouge.

Both graduates of the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy (PharmD, 2007), T.J. talks about what led them to become small business owners in a corporate climate.

“I love being a pharmacist and left Monroe thinking I could change the world. I went to work with some ‘big box pharmacies’ and quickly became burnt out and cynical.

I actually went back to get my MBA at night to get out of the pharmacy world, altogether.

www.ulm.edu

“Through a crazy twist of fate, I was convinced by some of my colleagues and friends to consider opening my own pharmacy. I quickly realized that all that I had grown to hate about pharmacy was from red tape and corporate bureaucracy. So my wife Aimee and I decided to give it a shot.

“We had no clue what we were doing, but I thought if I treated people the way I'd like to be treated, and practiced pharmacy the way I imagined it should be practiced, we could be successful. It was a slow go, and there were plenty of bumps along the way, but we've been open six years now and are in the process of opening our second store.

“What makes our pharmacy unique is the ‘small town feel.’ We know our patients. We laugh with them. We cry with them. But, most importantly, we take care of them.

It's not an overly complicated process, but it's what has been missing in the world of retail pharmacy. Our patients are our best advocates, because we treat them like family.

“In our first store, in Downtown Baton Rouge, we deliver on a bicycle to homes/ businesses throughout the day, so when people leave work, or get home, that's one less thing they have to worry about,” T.J. said.

T.J. said the best thing that happened to him at ULM was meeting his wife, and

attending the College of Pharmacy.

“In my opinion, the College of Pharmacy at ULM is among the best in the country. I felt more than adequately prepared to tackle the complicated world of pharmacy, be it retail, hospital, clinical, or otherwise.

“I've worked with pharmacists from across the country and felt as well-trained, or better, than any of them. Also, because there are only two pharmacy schools in the state, the network of alumni in Louisiana is quite phenomenal. There are literally ULM pharmacists in every corner of the state. That's a tremendous resource for an independent pharmacy owner, like me.

Many of my most important mentors are fellow pharmacists who sat in the same classrooms in Sugar Hall....some of them many, many years before,” he said.

T.J. and Aimee have three children, Lilly, age 9, Lola, age 6 and Wesley, age 3.

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Alumni Association Ouachita Parish Chapter Y O U

T O

A T T E N D

ULM MAGAZINEFALL ULMMAGAZINE SPRING 20182019

I N V I T E S

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COLLEGE OF HEALTH &LEGACIES PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

7-10 p.m.

ULM CAMPUS BRIDGE

$60

In case of rain, the event will be held in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

APRIL

25

2019

Cork Pull, Wine Sampling & Heavy hors d’oeuvres Entertainment by

FLASHBACK 5 For Tickets:

www.ulm.edu

DRESSY CASUAL

THURSDAY

ulm.edu/wine • 318.342.5421

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BY HOPE YOUNG

SKY HIGH: ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

STEPHANIE ROBINSON LICENSED TO FLY DRONES

T

he University of Louisiana Monroe's UAS Management (Unmanned Aerial Systems aka drone) program has achieved a milestone: UAS major Stephanie Robinson is the program’s first FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) licensed female drone pilot. Robinson mastered the demands of this innovative and unique program and passed the FAA small UAS pilot knowledge exam with flying colors.

This exam is like any other FAA pilot knowledge exam in that it is conducted under strict time controls and under video surveillance until completion of the exam.

The FAA requires this certification for people to commercially utilize drones.

CAMPUS NEWS

Robinson, 21, is a junior from Start. She has been actively engaged in ULM's drone management program while she is pursuing her goal of becoming a manned aircraft pilot. She is one of only two students who are qualified and allowed to legally fly drones that are part of ULM's fleet.

"I hope to get a job working with drones whenever I graduate," Robinson said. "Possibly working with agriculture or environmental assessments."

The program is working in collaboration with external partners to incorporate drones into environmental assessments, as well as other applications.

According to Dr. Paul Karlowitz, Associate Professor of Aviation and Director of UAS Operations, "Stephanie is one of the most active students in supporting ULM's drone program. She is an exceptional student who has devoted lots of time to becoming licensed and growing our program. We are very happy that she is the first ULM female student to earn this FAA designation."

www.ulm.edu

The UAS program is looking at additional ways to get other talented students more involved in the UAS program, including increased drone flying times with a variety of drones and various sensors. This increased flight experience and hands-on technical support of drones and drone fleet management is invaluable to the legal and ethical applications of drone technology.

For Robinson, it all leads toward her dream job.

"My goal in life is to become a pilot for UPS," she said.

â–

photo by Emerald McIntyre

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BY HOPE YOUNG

KATIE DAWSON NAMED

FOR HER WORK WITH ULM ONLINE

photo by Emerald McIntyre

K

atie Dawson, Interim Director of ULM Online, has been named the 2018 Post Secondary Teacher of the Year for Region 8, an award she received for her innovative work with the University of Louisiana Monroe’s online programs.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

TEACHER OF THE YEAR She was presented with a certificate on Nov. 28, 2018, at the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators 34th Annual Conference. The association’s goal is to “enable the full utilization of the power of technology to assist in the fulfillment of the goals of education.”

CAMPUS NEWS

"It was such an honor to be recognized with this award, and even more so to be nominated by a great faculty member. I feel fortunate to work in an innovative, collaborative, and supportive environment,” Dawson said.

Dawson was nominated by Dr. James Boldin, Associate Director and Associate Professor of Music of the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts.

Dr. Eric Pani, Vice President of Academic Affairs, commented on Dawson’s award, saying, “Katie Dawson’s commitment to online learning has made her one of our state’s leaders in distance education. She has worked with ULM Online since its inception and was involved in online learning before that.

Her effort as a curriculum designer helped all the faculty who worked with her produce high-quality classes. As Interim Director of ULM Online, her performance has reached an even higher level of achievement, and her influence in making online learning better has expanded. I feel she has earned this award and want to congratulate her on this welldeserved recognition.”

“I started as an adjunct faculty member in

the Department of Communication at ULM in January of 2010. I joined the staff of the newly developed eULM Office, now ULM Online in August of 2013, and I became Interim Director of ULM Online April 30, 2018,” Dawson said. “I've been fortunate to grow professionally at ULM and that as a staff member I can continue teaching a couple courses online each semester.”

Dawson’s approach to online course design is to take ideas used to teach in a face-toface course and creatively redesign them to be used online. She realized that she could design online courses which fulfilled the educational requirements and were engaging and interactive for students at a distance.

For five years Dawson was Coordinator of Online Programs. It was in that role that she helped full-time faculty develop online courses for the ULM Online programs. As demand for online programs increased, the University expanded the online options for students. Dawson was a resource for helping

faculty and programs create online courses to meet those needs.

Her curriculum vitae states some of her work as coordinator was to “facilitate online course development process for faculty, develop innovative course assignments and assessments, maintain undergraduate online course designs …”

Dawson and online learning are making an impact for the adult students who make up the majority of ULM Online students.

Dawson came to ULM from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. “I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate/Organizational Communication in 2006 and my Master of Arts in Communication in 2009 from Western Kentucky University,” she said.

She is finishing her Doctorate of Education, Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Ed Administration from Louisiana Tech.

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www.ulm.edu

Her first position at ULM was as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Communication Department where she prepared syllabi, course material, and taught a variety of courses. Dawson taught several classes, including public speaking, fundamentals in communication, interpersonal communication and honors communication. She was named the ULM Honors Faculty of the Year in 2013-2014.

Katie Dawson is Interim Director of ULM Online. Her approach to online learning is to take ideas used to teach face-to-face and redesign them to be used in an online format.

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photo by Emerald McIntyre

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 Shalanda Stanley, Ph.D., with her newly published YA book "Nick & June Were Here." Stanley is Interim Associate Director in the ULM School of Education.

BY HOPE YOUNG

CAMPUS NEWS

"NICK & JUNE WERE HERE"

COSMO OBSESSED WITH NEW BOOK

C

osmo magazine named Nick and June Were Here the #3 Young Adult (YA) book to be "obsessed" with in 2019. This new novel by University of Louisiana Monroe faculty member Shalanda Stanley, Ph.D., made its debut at a book launch on February 12, in ballroom A of the SUB. Stanley, a YA author, is Interim Associate Director in the ULM School of Education.

Stanley was joined by author John Corey Whaley, a National Book Award finalist. A Q&A was held after Stanley and Whaley have a conversation about her latest work.

"Writing this book was a challenge," said Stanley. "There were many times where I felt I had to wrestle the words out of me, and often they were the wrong words. I rewrote this book so many times. It was my love for Nick and June that kept me coming back though. I wanted to give them the best story I could and I am so happy with the end result."

www.ulm.edu

Kirkus Reviews writes of Nick and June Were Here, “Spare, evocative prose captures the intimate details of a life in a small Arkansas town with clear-eyed affection, endearing vulnerability and terrifying

honesty; even the most minor characters are seen with sympathy and nuance. Not so much a ‘love story’ as a story about love: romantic love but also love for friends, family, a place and a dream."

“I believe that some of the most complex and elaborate storytelling is done in children's literature, which includes Young Adult literature.”

– SHALANDA STANLEY

The author said writing for the YA reader sometimes carries more weight than writing for other genres.

"I believe that some of the most complex and elaborate storytelling is done in children's literature, which includes Young Adult literature. These are stories where the characters are not just experiencing typical story arcs, but who are also trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into the world," Stanley said.

"I would even say that there is no other time in your life where a book means as much to you as when you are a child.

These are the stories where children find their representation, or just as important, learn about people they have nothing in common with," she said. "They learn to appreciate everyone's differences and think critically. These stories are vital to our own growth and I hope to continue writing them for years to come."

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COLLEGE OF HEALTH & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

2019 SCHEDULE FEB. 15 FEB. 16 FEB. 17 FEB. 22 FEB. 23

7:00 PM 6:00 PM 11:00 AM 6:00 PM NOON 3:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM

MAR. 17 MAR. 19 MAR. 22 MAR. 23 MAR. 24 MAR. 26 MAR. 27 MAR. 29 MAR. 30 MAR. 31 APR. 3 APR. 5 APR. 6 APR. 7 APR. 9 APR. 12 APR. 13 APR. 14 APR. 16

COASTAL CAROLINA* SOUTHERN MISS TEXAS STATE* TEXAS STATE* TEXAS STATE* LOUISIANA TECH JACKSON STATE GEORGIA SOUTHERN* GEORGIA SOUTHERN* GEORGIA SOUTHERN* MISSISSIPPI STATE GEORGIA STATE* GEORGIA STATE* GEORGIA STATE* NORTHWESTERN STATE APPALACHIAN STATE* APPALACHIAN STATE* APPALACHIAN STATE* LOUISIANA TECH

1:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:30 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:30 PM 5:00 PM 1:00 PM NOON 6:00 PM 5 PM NOON 11:00 AM 6:00 PM

HOME GAMES IN BOLD | *SUN BELT CONFERENCE

APR. 18 APR. 19 APR. 20 APR. 23 APR. 26 APR. 27 APR. 28 APR. 30 MAY 3 MAY 4 MAY 5 MAY 10 MAY 11 MAY 12 MAY 14 MAY 16 MAY 17 MAY 18 MAY 21-26

LITTLE ROCK* LITTLE ROCK* LITTLE ROCK* SOUTHERN ARKANSAS STATE* ARKANSAS STATE* ARKANSAS STATE* ALCORN STATE UT ARLINGTON* UT ARLINGTON* UT ARLINGTON* TROY* TROY* TROY* NORTHWESTERN STATE RAGIN’ CAJUNS* RAGIN’ CAJUNS* RAGIN’ CAJUNS* SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP

6:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 4:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 3:00 PM 1:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM TBD

www.ulm.edu

FEB. 24 FEB. 26 MAR. 1 MAR. 2 MAR. 3 MAR. 5 MAR. 6 MAR. 8 MAR. 9 MAR. 10 MAR. 12 MAR. 15 MAR. 16

LSU AIR FORCE ARMY SIUE SIUE SIUE SIUE NORTHWESTERN STATE TENNESSEE WESTERN KENTUCKY NORTH FLORIDA SOUTHEASTERN LA SOUTHEASTERN LA MCNEESE MCNEESE MCNEESE SOUTHERN COASTAL CAROLINA* COASTAL CAROLINA*

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

BY HOPE YOUNG

TALBERT RECEIVES

MORE THAN $352K TO STUDY OBESITY, DIABETES

COLLEGE OF ARTS, EDUCATION, & SCIENCES Dr. Talbert observes the progression of the fruit flies inside the incubator

T

he number is staggering. According to a June 2017 report by the Centers for Disease Control, 100 million U.S. adults are diabetic or prediabetic. In Louisiana the latest number by the American Diabetes Association is 575,000 adults with diabetes.

www.ulm.edu

A researcher at the University of Louisiana Monroe is working to lower this number. Dr. Matthew Talbert, ULM Associate Professor of Biology, has received a $352,500 grant to support his research into the obesity-diabetes connection. The grant is from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases.

Talbert and his team are using fruit flies as the test subjects. The Drosphila melanogaster is a fruit fly that exhibits functions much like

humans, especially in handling incoming nutrition. According to earlier work by Talbert, " ... flies can become insulin resistant as part of an obesity and type-2 diabetes state.

"In addition to insulin resistance, these 'obese' and high-fat-diet-fed fruit flies have shown a large reduction in lifespan in the laboratory, cardiac dysfunction and many indicators of neurological decline," he wrote.

Talbert states, "... a key question for those of us that are trying to find ways to improve therapies for obese and diabetic humans is this: what are the molecular pathways and genes involved in causing the onset of insulin resistance in body tissues? Not all obese individuals become diabetic or ever become seriously ill ... If we can understand these pathways to disease in obese and diabetic

photos by Emerald McIntyre

patients, we can focus mammalian model research and drug development, and our research hopes to do that."

"Dr. Talbert’s research on obesity and genetics is fascinating and, given the recentlyreleased statistics on the percentage of Louisianians who are overweight, certainly relevant to our society," said Dr. Eric Pani, Vice President of Academic Affairs. "He is one of ULM’s successful up-and-coming faculty members and has helped advance the research culture here. I congratulate him on this award and know that even better things are in the future."

Talbert said the funding would not have been possible without the work of his student researchers, and he's looking forward to working with students thanks to the new grant.

29

“He is one of ULM’s successful up-andcoming faculty members and has helped advance the research culture here.”

Through the microscope, male fruit flies have dark, rounded genitalia at the tip of their abdomen, whereas females have light, pointed genitalia.

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www.ulm.edu

With the fruit flies asleep under anesthesia, Dr. Talbert gently separates the females and males with the tip of a paintbrush.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive And Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R15DK118515. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

COLLEGE OF ARTS, EDUCATION, & SCIENCES

– DR. ERIC PANI

"As someone who joined the faculty at ULM primarily because I saw an unrivaled opportunity to be a mentor, I am therefore honored and very thankful for this federal funding," Talbert said. "These types of research efforts and all the benefits that can be derived from them are not attainable without it."

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

"I think it is important to note that this will support a project that will enhance our research environment and provide an amazing mentoring opportunity for our students," he said.

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photo by Jansen A. Nowell

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Through hands-on opportunities in the pharmacy laboratories, students gain practical experience and develop leadership skills.

BY HOPE YOUNG

NEW DUAL DEGREE FOR

PHARMD AND MBA T

he University of Louisiana Monroe is now offering a dual degree program for a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration.

Because of the growing need for pharmacy professionals to be knowledgeable in the business of operating a pharmacy, the ULM College of Pharmacy and the ULM College of Business and Social Sciences have developed a program for the professional pharmacy student to graduate with both a PharmD and MBA.

www.ulm.edu

"Health care is a business and a system of healing the sick. PharmD and MBA as a dual program is very progressive. It demonstrates ULM's foresight to plan for the future needs of Northeast Louisiana, and have the ability to deliver the workforce with the expertise to meet those needs," said ULM President Nick J. Bruno.

Graduates with both the PharmD and MBA are in high demand for leadership positions in retail and hospital pharmacy operations, federal and state health care agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution.

In addition to completing the curriculum of the PharmD program, the dual degree student will also complete the curriculum of the Pharmacy concentration of the MBA degree. Some courses within the PharmD curriculum also satisfy the MBA degree requirements and this decreases the length of time to obtain both degrees. Students may complete both degrees together or finish the PharmD and then complete the MBA online after graduation with the PharmD. There are several pre-requisite courses required prior to beginning the MBA program.

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“It demonstrates ULM's foresight to plan for the future needs of Northeast Louisiana, and have the ability to deliver the workforce with the expertise to meet those needs.”

– DR. NICK J. BRUNO

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

BY HOPE YOUNG

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

MAKING A DIFFERENCE photo by Emerald McIntyre

it became evident Aubrey James was having trouble eating. In the midst of her health issues, our physician suggested occupational therapy for Aubrey James as she was not exhibiting the tone that a typical baby her age should. Our initial thought was, absolutely not. Our baby did not need this. However, we wanted the best for our little girl so we agreed.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

“It was after a several-days stay in the hospital that our difficult journey would take an amazing turn for the better. An extraordinary angel named Dr. Patti Calk at the University of Louisiana Monroe called my phone. She had been referred to us by one of our wonderful doctors. Dr. Calk said she would be more than happy to help us with occupational therapy as well as feeding therapy.

Dr. Patti Calk of the Occupational Therapy Center works with Aubrey James Hendrix. Aubrey James' mother, Sarah Hendrix, says her family will be "forever grateful" for the OT her little girl has received.

T

here is a very special place at the University of Louisiana Monroe.

It's colorful, and bright, and filled with voices. It's the Occupational Therapy Center in Caldwell Hall. The center, under the direction of Dr. Patti Calk, is making life better by helping adults and children with different challenges.

One of the children who goes there is Aubrey James Hendrix. Her mother, Sarah Hendrix, shares their story:

“After spending five days in the hospital to monitor Aubrey James’ oxygen level, we were relieved to be sent home. Once home,

– SARAH HENDRIX

“We have been attending occupational therapy for over a year and a half. Aubrey James has flourished. While her unknown physical delays will probably never be explained, it really doesn’t matter. The amazing ULM Occupational Therapy team showed us how to cope with difficulties and find another way to succeed.

“We are so incredibly blessed. Dr. Patti Calk, Donna Eichhorn, Dr. Barbara Johnson, Dr. Carolyn Murphy, Dr. Emily Mike, Loretta Sims, the OT students and the entire OT department have been an integral part of Aubrey James’ success, and we will be forever grateful.

“The OT staff is an extraordinary asset for ULM. We now know how important it is for a child to receive occupational therapy when he or she is showing a delay... and we are most certainly receiving the absolute BEST care for our daughter through ULM OT.”

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www.ulm.edu

“Being a first-time parent is scary. Being a first-time parent with a child with unknown physical delays is even scarier. When our beautiful baby girl, Aubrey James, was born, everything seemed fine. However, we would quickly learn she has several holes in her heart, one of which is close to her aortic valve.My husband and I were informed we would need to see a pediatric cardiologist.

“Being a first-time parent is scary.

Being a first-time parent with a child with unknown physical delays is even scarier..”

“Nervously, I met with her the following week for an assessment of Aubrey James. My nerves quickly dissipated as I could feel Dr. Calk’s positivity and care radiating from her.

This new adventure would be an incredible gift. Dr. Calk eased my worry and restored hope for us.

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COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

BY MARK HENDERSON

DENTAL HYGIENE PROVIDES VITAL

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ULM students, supervised by instructor Dr. Kimberly Ensminger (center), perform routine checkups on Cypress Pointe Elementary schoolchildren in the Mobile Dental Hygiene Clinic.

A

teacher knocks on the door of the University of Louisiana Monroe Mobile Dental Hygiene Clinic, parked behind Cypress Point Elementary School in Monroe.

She has in tow three smiling kindergarten students.

Kimberly Ensminger swings open the door, and the children squeeze in. On this Tuesday morning, the three arrivals put the number inside the van at 13. Add to that three dental chairs, X-ray machines, computers, dental utensils. It’s a tight fit.

www.ulm.edu

The newcomers wait as three dental hygiene seniors finish working on three other students. A junior observes the work, while another senior stays on top of the administrative aspects of filling out records and sending X-rays to a dentist working at a lab in Caldwell Hall back at ULM. He will determine if the students seen at Cypress Point need restorative work done, such as fillings. If follow-up work is needed, a referral slip will be sent home. That happens

with regularity, Ensminger says.

“We see many kids with generalized decay, and we do see some extraordinary cases.”

It’s Ensminger role to supervise and double check the work.

Before the day is over, Ensminger and her team of students will have taken care of at least nine elementary school patients, perhaps more if the cases are not too severe.

Many of the students at the school are on Medicaid, and that program assigns a dentist to the patients, but Ensminger says the students seen at the lab often have never seen a dentist or hygienist.

“It’s a matter of education and incentive on the part of the parents. They don’t see the importance of it. Or they are unemployed,” she says.

The mobile dental hygiene lab is designed to fill that void. During the spring semester, students are seen on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Every student at Cypress Point whose parents have filled out a consent form will be seen

“It’s a matter of education and incentive on the part of the parents.”

– KIMBERLY ENSMINGER

during the semester, about 200 total.

Each child seen at the mobile unit will have teeth cleaned and X-rayed, an examination and sealants applied if needed. Each will also be screened for cancer.

At the end of the semester, the contract will run out and the mobile unit, whose operation is funded through a Living Well Foundation grant although staffed by ULM’s dental hygiene program, will be parked for the summer at ULM. In the fall, the unit will be moved to a new location. So far, the unit has treated children at schools in the Ouachita, Monroe City, Morehouse, Richland and East Carroll school systems, Ensminger says, concentrating on underserved rural areas.

– SHARON CHANEY

Since many who come to the lab for services have no regular dentist, Chaney says the dental hygiene program is always busy rustling up patients. “We’re always doing outreach. We go the Head Start. We go out to the community. Each student must do five talks about dental health and to build awareness of our services. We do a lot of word of mouth,” Chaney said.

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“Our main goal,” Ensminger says, “is to teach the students how to clean their teeth and what to eat, to stay away from candy and soft drinks.”

“Many of our patients have lost their insurance and are glad to learn about our services.”

appointments are made for each of the 16 chairs in the lab, allowing it to serve 128 people each week. In the 2016-17 school year, 2,068 clients were served by the program.

Chaney says that amounts to an estimated $676,945 in free dental services to the community.

Patients come easily, however, at the mobile unit. Most leave as they arrived, with a smile.

Ensminger says that the students, ranging photos by Emerald McIntyre

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The mobile unit is only one staffed by ULM students and faculty. Another permanent clinic operates at Riser Elementary School, set up with the balance of grant money obtained by the school to serve students displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

On the ULM campus, a lab complete with 16 examination chairs hums in Caldwell Hall.

“The students have to have clinical experiences,” says Sharon Chaney, who heads the dental hygiene program at ULM. “To get your program accredited, you almost have to have a clinic.”

Chaney says ULM also sends students a week at a time to the Overton Brooks VA Hospital in Shreveport, whose work is checked by hospital dentists there.

ULM’s 25 seniors in the dental hygiene program must prove their competency in order to earn their licenses to practice after graduation. Since the program was created in 1972, all but two students passed their national board exams in their first attempt.

Chaney estimates that 90 percent of the dental hygienists working at dentist offices in northeastern Louisiana are graduates of ULM. Each ULM senior, by the time board exams roll around, will have seen about 50 patients at the different clinic locations. Each appointment will run 90 minutes to two hours. And the seniors will have seen and treated children, adolescents and several highneed indigent patients.

The lab at ULM, therefore, serves two purposes. It provides clinical experiences for the seniors, providing juniors an opportunity to observe in the process. But the community is a big winner as well, Chaney says.

The visits are free to the patient, who must be willing to sit for extended appointments so that the cleaning can be done by a student and checked by a faculty member before a dentist, working as a volunteer, checks for the need for surgical or restorative work.

The equipment for the labs is obtained through grants, while the operational costs come out of the state budget money, Chaney said.

The lab operates four days a week. Two

from 4 to 17 years old, that the mobile unit treats are happy because they get out of class.

At the end of their appointment, they get a toy out of a treasure chest.

But Chaney says those smiles can have a deeper meaning.

“We see a lot of low economic kids. I remember one child we treated who was smiling because he was finally getting own toothbrush. He had been sharing one with his brother and sister,” she says.

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www.ulm.edu

“Many of our patients have lost their insurance and are glad to learn about our services,” Chaney said.

Dental Hygiene student Camille Lalanne teaching oral health care through fun practices encourages children to exercise these routines at home.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

MONICA WHITMAN is a junior prepharmacy major minoring in chemistry from Tioga, Louisiana. She was recently accepted into the ULM School of Pharmacy and will begin level one classes in fall 2019. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a clinical pharmacist. Monica is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and president of Warhawks for Life. She has been named to the Dean’s List and is a recipient of the ULM President’s Distinguished Scholarship. Monica will compete for the title of Miss Louisiana right here in Monroe at the Jack Howard Theater June 20– 22.

MISS ULM 2019 www.ulm.edu

photo by Emerald McIntyre

N

ovember 9, 2018, was a day I checked off a huge goal from my list. This was the day I was crowned the 66th Miss University of Louisiana Monroe, a dream I have had since I was 10 years old.

I grew up watching the Miss Louisiana pageant. For several years, Miss ULM or a former Miss ULM were crowned Miss Louisiana. I wanted to be on that stage one day because I realized it is a true legacy to hold the Miss ULM title.

As Miss ULM, I have participated in events across campus and the community; I’ve danced at the annual campus Christmas tree lighting ceremony, performed the coin toss at a home football game, been recognized at a men’s basketball game, been in the Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras parade, and I have a calendar full of events for the remainder of my year.

As Miss ULM, I am an advocate for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which is the official philanthropy of the Miss America Organization. During ULM’s Spring Fever week, I will be hosting the second annual Mr. ULM male scholarship pageant and all proceeds will benefit CMNH. I also have plans for another fundraiser with the help of a very special celebrity ULM alumni, so I encourage you to stay on the lookout for that information!

toured this campus, and there was no question about wanting to compete for this incredible opportunity to represent my university; the only question was when. Coming into college, I knew my academics were first priority and that was the main reason I chose to put off pursuing my dream of being Miss ULM until my junior year, just before starting at the College of Pharmacy.

Knowing I had one shot at this now decade-long dream made the night I was finally crowned one of the best nights of my life. This job has brought me nothing but joy every single day, and I have loved each second of representing my Warhawks and being the official hostess for what is truly the best on the bayou.

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Growing up, I was involved in the Miss Louisiana and Miss Louisiana’s Outstanding Teen programs that consist of girls and women who have dedicated their lives to academics, service, talent, and personal character.

the importance of making health a priority in our lives, especially as college students.

Creating small healthy habits, both physically and mentally, and learning to implement them into daily lifestyles will not only help maintain our physical and mental health now as college students, but carry on with us into our futures.

The children at these CMN hospitals are fighting for their lives, and I am dedicated to spending my year promoting and furthering this organization and doing my part to make a difference in each child’s life.

ULM has had my heart since the moment I

MISS ULM 2019

MISS ULM 2019

One thing I will continue to strive for throughout my year is a healthier ULM. I have designed a personal social impact issue I call "Making Healthy a Habit," which emphasizes

BY MONICA WHITMAN

www.ulm.edu

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

FEATURE CAMPUS STORY NEWS

2019 SCHEDULE

www.ulm.edu

UAB BLAZER BASH BIRMINGHAM, AL FEB. 8 AUSTIN PEAY 12:30 PM FEB. 9 WRIGHT STATE 10:00 AM AUSTIN PEAY 12:30 PM FEB. 10 WRIGHT STATE 9:00 AM UAB 11:30 AM FEB. 13 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 3:00 PM HOUSTON CLASSIC HOUSTON, TX FEB. 16 MARYLAND 9:00 AM NEVADA 11:30 AM FEB. 17 NICHOLLS STATE 11:30 AM HOUSTON 2:00 PM BAMA BASH TUSCALOOSA, AL FEB. 22 MINNESOTA 11:00 AM MISSOURI STATE 1:30 PM FEB 23 MISSOURI STATE 11:00 AM MINNESOTA 6:00 PM FEB. 24 ALABAMA 1:30 PM FEB. 26 MCNEESE 6:00 PM

UCA TOURNAMENT CONWAY, AR FEB. 28 MISSOURI STATE 6:00 PM MAR. 1 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 11:15 AM MAR. 2 ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 3:45 PM COPPIN STATE 6:00 PM MAR. 8 TROY* 6:00 PM MAR. 9 TROY* 2:00 PM MAR. 10 TROY* NOON MAR. 15 APPALACHIAN STATE* 6:00 PM MAR. 16 APPALACHIAN STATE* 2:00 PM MAR. 17 APPALACHIAN STATE* NOON MAR. 19 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 5:00 PM MAR. 22 TEXAS STATE* 6:00 PM MAR. 23 TEXAS STATE* 2:00 PM MAR. 24 TEXAS STATE* NOON MAR. 27 LOUISIANA TECH 6:00 PM MAR. 29 COASTAL CAROLINA* 4:00 PM MAR. 30 COASTAL CAROLINA* 2:00 PM MAR. 31 COASTAL CAROLINA* NOON APR. 2 SOUTHEASTERN LA 5:00 PM

APR. 5 APR. 6 APR. 7 APR. 9 APR. 12 APR. 13 APR. 14 APR. 16 APR. 18 APR. 19 APR. 20 APR. 23 APR. 24 APR. 26 APR. 27 APR. 28 MAY 2 MAY 3 MAY 4 MAY 8-11

GEORGIA SOUTHERN* 6:00 PM GEORGIA SOUTHERN* 3:00 PM GEORGIA SOUTHERN* 11:00 AM LOUISIANA TECH 6:00 PM UT ARLINGTON* 5:00 PM UT ARLINGTON* 1:00 PM UT ARLINGTON* NOON MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 5:00 PM SOUTH ALABAMA* 6:00 PM SOUTH ALABAMA* 6:00 PM SOUTH ALABAMA* NOON LSU 6:00 PM STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 6:00 PM GEORGIA STATE* 5:00 PM GEORGIA STATE* 1:00 PM GEORGIA STATE* 1:00 PM RAGIN’ CAJUNS* 6:00 PM RAGIN’ CAJUNS* 6:00 PM RAGIN’ CAJUNS* NOON SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP TBD

HOME GAMES IN BOLD | *SUN BELT CONFERENCE

D

The awards ceremony was Nov. 16 at Delta Community College with the theme “Exemplifying Excellence Through Service.”

CAMEO stands for Community Service, Arts, Medicine, Education, Organization.

The CAMEO Awards began in 2003 when, according to the sorority, they “chose to celebrate those in the community who gave tirelessly of their time and talents to promote the greater good of mankind.”

Bruno was chosen because, “Your visionary impact on our community and your dedication has earned you the right to be honored …,” according to AKA-OIO.

“I am honored

by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Iota Omega Chapter for presenting me with their CAMEO Award for Education.”

– DR. NICK J. BRUNO

* Former UL System vice president for business affairs.

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* 8th president of the University of Louisiana Monroe. * Revitalized ULM campus with $100 million in improvements. * Has served on the board of directors for the Monroe and West Monroe-West Ouachita Chambers of Commerce.

Bruno was recognized at the event by keynote speaker Rick Gallot, President of Grambling State University, and CAMEO event organizers Patricia Turner, CoChairman; LaTanga Blackson, Mistress of Ceremony; Kimberly Davis, Chaplain; Raven Owens, President; Kathy Gray, CoChairman; and Judge Aisha Clark.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

r. Nick J. Bruno, President of the University of Louisiana Monroe, has been recognized for his outstanding work in education, diversity and the community with the CAMEO Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Iota Chapter.

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photo by Emerald McIntyre

CAMPUS NEWS

“I am honored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Iota Omega Chapter for presenting me with their CAMEO Award for Education,” said Bruno. “This organization is acutely aware that to support education is to support the future. And that future is students; students who have as much right as we do to an education, but they don’t yet have the right to secure it. That responsibility is up to us.”

Patricia Turner, AKA-OIO member and Co-Chairman of the 12th Annual CAMEO Awards, stated of Bruno’s selection, “ … for over 40 years Dr. Bruno has made exceptional strides in his career as an educator. We respect and salute all of his achievements, but ultimately selected to honor him for arriving in Monroe and reaching out to the community by creating the Business and Community Advisory Committee, a group that analyzes the workforce needs of the region."

“This is the type of vision that creates jobs by pulling and keeping businesses in the area. It pulls people of all ethnicities together and seeks to bridge the divide and celebrates diversity. And, yes, we honor him for his love of family, his love for ULM and this entire community and for his candor, commitment and courage; we remain proud to have honored this outstanding educator!" she said.

Bruno’s write-up by the sorority mentioned just a few of his accomplishments.

Dr. Nick J. Bruno, President of the University of Louisiana Monroe, was recognized by Alpha Kappa Alpha because "Your visionary impact on our community and your dedication has earned you the right to be honored."

BY HOPE YOUNG

AKA HONORS DR. BRUNO

WITH CAMEO AWARD FOR DEDICATION TO EDUCATION, DIVERSITY, COMMUNITY

www.ulm.edu

Turner cited Bruno’s community impact as a champion of diversity, stating, “We honor him for his direct approach to tackling the growing anguish of his ULM minority students by hosting a race forum to hear their concerns; and for his continuous support of the ULM Black Alumni Organization which is evident by his recurrent attendance at their biennial reunions.”

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

T

he first-year head coach sent a few e-mails, gathered her belongings and was preparing to leave when she paused. Outside she could still hear music booming and the voices of her players carrying across campus on this late February afternoon.

"I'm like, 'What's going on?'" Molly Fichtner said with a smile. "I walk outside and they're laughing, cutting up, hitting BP, shagging fly balls, diving all over the place like they'd only been out there 10 minutes.

That was fun to see."

Fichtner's enthusiasm has taken hold of the ULM softball program since her arrival last September. A former Alabama catcher who played in the College World Series, she brings the ex-player credentials, zest for life and a positive touch that command attention.

FEATURE STORY

"It's easy to be out there when you're having fun," infielder Tori Fugatt said. "It's not like, 'Oh my gosh, we have practice again.' It's like, 'I have tests, and I have stress and stuff. I get to go to the field and be with my teammates and my coaches and play softball. It's a positive getaway for a little part of the day.'"

Said outfielder Victoria Pederson: "This year, everybody has bonded and gets along.

Everybody hangs out with one another. That started with Coach Molly setting a good tone for the team."

On her first day with the squad, Fichtner asked each player to talk about themselves for 30 seconds without mentioning softball.

While the conversation eventually turned to the sport, the message was clear from Fichtner's first pitch. She wanted to know more about the players as individuals first.

"She cares about us off the field as people," Fugatt said. "No matter if I go 0-for-3 or 5- for-5, she's going to care about me as a person first, then as her player. That's really important."

"When she came in, we knew she played at Alabama and we knew she'd grow a culture here," infielder Jayden Mount said.

"She played in the College World Series and that's obviously our goal. It's awesome having her here bringing that new life. It's a breath of fresh air. She's such a leader and so positive.

It rubs off on us."

www.ulm.edu

photo by Emerald McIntyre

Watch the team preparing this preseason and it seems like the players never stop moving during their high-energy sessions.

They have eight seconds to race on and off the field from their positions, with the coach

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

BY PAUL LETLOW

TAKING POSITIVE STEPS FORWARD

WITH FICHTNER counting down. Rapid-fire defensive drills take place with music blaring so loud you can't hear anything else, which requires keen focus.

– MOLLY FICHTNER

Fichtner takes nothing for granted when it comes to fundamentals either. ULM players learned that right away.

"When you think of college ball, you think you know the little things," Mount said. "You think you know how to throw a ball and catch a ball. Our first practice with her, we literally went over how to throw, how to catch. We even did base running techniques that I'd never heard of before. That really set something into me. I'm going to be a coach one day, and I've learned so much from her."

As she worked her way up the ranks from player to assistant to her first head coaching job at ULM, Fichtner never forgot her most effective mentors. She always took notes and maintains a binder that serves as her own personal playbook.

While they spend countless reps finetuning their athletic skills, Fichtner's players are also drilled with lessons they can lean on long past the games.

"Coach Molly sets a positive tone every day," Pederson said. "She always talks about gratitude and being selfless. She wants us to do more service for others than taking from others. That gives us a positive vibe that leads right into practice."

Team-building exercises serve as daily reminders to always strive to take the right approach in life. For example, after a recent practice the players gathered in a circle and conducted their "positive to the right" activity.

Explained Fugatt, "Whichever teammate is to your right, you say something positive and you just keep it positive all the way around.

We do stuff like that all the time."

The softball facility itself is seeing upgrades too, including a batting cage and VIP lounge for the players. Midway through a recent preseason workout, Fichtner sent them scampering to their new hangout for a quick snack of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so they could finish the day strong.

"If I was a young kid just coming here, I'd be like 'Dang, you're getting stuff done," Pederson said. "She's making things happen, which is what we need. She's building things up. Outside looking in, you'd think this place is about to be a palace."

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www.ulm.edu

"The coaches I respected the most were the ones who cared about me as a person," Fichtner said. "That's the type of coach I want to be. I want them to know that I might chew your butt out at practice. But when we go home and we're off the field, I'm still going to love you. That's not going to change.

FEATURE STORY

“Your value is not going to change based on your performance. It never will. Get them to understand that softball is what you do. It's not who you are. If they think softball is who they are, I'm not setting them up for life.”

"We try to spice things up," Fichtner said.

"I don't want to do the same things every day because it does get monotonous. We try our best as a coaching staff to make things fun and make them want to be out here. Even though we have the music going for defense, it really is for them to communicate over the music.

At the same time, you see them relaxing on the side when they're not playing. You get a little of both."

Your value is not going to change based on your performance. It never will. Get them to understand that softball is what you do.

It's not who you are. If they think softball is who they are, I'm not setting them up for life."

As of February 4, 2019

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THE KITTY DEGREE

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

BELL TOWER SOCIETY

The Kitty Degree Bell Tower Society honor roll is named for the university’s most generous contributor, Dr. Kitty DeGree.

Bell Tower Society members have contributed at least $50,000 to the university and have extraordinary histories of support to ULM. Their names are permanently inscribed on ULM’s “Wall of Honor” located in the ULM Conference Center.

BELL TOWER SOCIETY www.ulm.edu

TOWER SOCIETY $1,000,000 AND ABOVE Kitty DeGree Chip Lyman Ella S. Johnson Thomas H. and Mayme P. Scott Foundation Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Emy-Lou Biedenharn Foundation Stephen W. and Ernestine M. Brown CenturyLink Contractors Educational Trust Fund John and Billie Smith Jonathan and Sheila Davies Chase St. Francis Medical Center Glenwood Regional Medical Center Linda and Eric Liew Lallage F. Wall Coca-Cola Refreshments Susan Denmon Banowsky William S. Banowsky, Jr. The Darrell and Mary Calhoun Foundation Milburn and Nancy Calhoun Nancy J. Johnston Estate of Hanna Spyker Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau BAYOU SOCIETY $500,000 - $999,999 Estate of Mildred Summers Maurer The Radio People Patrick and Catherine Mitchell Bennie and Nelson Abell Stephanie and Nelson Abell The Strauss and Mintz Families Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon The Department of Insurance Mary Goss Charities North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic Regions Bank Sunil and Rekha Kumar Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Inc. Bruce and Lizabeth Boulware Capital One Bank John E. Huntsman and Sharon D.

Harrison Johnny's Pizza House James and Lynn Moore Elsie Webb LA State Licensing Board for Contractors Charles Freeman Stamper Bruce and Carol Hanks Willis-Knighton Health System City of Monroe OUACHITA SOCIETY $100,000 - $499,999 Don Beach JPS Equipment and JPS Aviation Bonnie and Frank Maxwell, III John F. and Lucy Shackelford The News-Star Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Carole and Tex Kilpatrick Bancroft Bag, Inc. T. O. Bancroft, Jr. Bernard W. Biedenharn P & S Surgical Hospital Origin Bank Clarion Inn and Suites Lawrence J. Danna Entergy Services, Inc. Charles H. and Kay McDonald Kay and Hugh McDonald State Farm Insurance Companies Joe and Linda Holyfield Chris and Andi Holyfield Guy and Loura Barr Lev and Anne Dawson IberiaBank Graphic Packing, Inc. Elee and Terri Trichel Central Management Company Teddy and Susan Price Dixie Shell Homes and Self Storage Johnny and Carleen Reeves Ronnie Ward Toyota of Ruston Ronnie and Sharon Ward Michael H. Woods The Martin Foundation Duke and Liesha McHugh

IN MEMORIAM KITTY DEGREE devoted her life to bettering her community. This true philanthropist showed unparalleled dedication to ULM. DeGree died on Oct. 25, 2012, leaving a lasting legacy as part of the ULM family. DeGree’s commitment to ULM ensured the remarkable progress of several university programs and facilities.

Kitty’s capital gifts include: the Kitty DeGree Computer Center, which is the key student resource area of the Clarke M. Williams Student Success Center; the Kitty DeGree Pharmacy Student Resource Center and Library; and the Kitty DeGree Speech and Hearing Center. DeGree also provided funding for the focal part of the University Library and Conference Center, including the entry tower. The Kitty DeGree Bell Tower is now an icon and was included in an official university logo in recent years.

After an additional seven-figure gift to the university, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved the naming of the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing in June 2012. On April 12, 2013, the university unveiled Kitty DeGree Hall, which houses the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing.

Busch Media Group Sara L. Simmonds Blake and Juanita Pitre Robert B. and Susan L. Toups Ed and Betty Davis Stephen M. Futrell Thomas & Farr Agency, Inc. Shirley Boyce FedEx Express Yvonne and Kent Anderson Billy and Florinell Laird Jackie and Ellen Yeldell Guide Corporation Sandy and Thomas C. Dansby, Jr. Wal-Mart Foundation American Medical Response Dan and Hope Robertson Bobbie and Tommy Matthieu John and Susan Jackson Van and Ann Pardue Estate of John H. Smith, III Cross Keys Bank Rig Site Rental, LP Anne and Elton Kennedy Cooper Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Inc. Rusty and Lisa Haile Wimbledon Health Partners Louisiana Machinery, Inc. Central Oil & Supply Corp.

Judy and Francis Huffman Stagg Cattle Company Estate of Ernest Duncan Holloway La Capitol Federal Credit Union Richard and Cheryle Dickenson West Carroll Health System Louisiana Tom's Vending James A. Thom, III Joe and Sandra Banks St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary Violet Little Liner Thomas D. and Attie W. Day Jeanne R. and John H. Pere R. Britton Katz Northwest Louisiana Chapter of the ULM Alumni Association Richland State Bank Interstate Automotive Group TXI Texas Industries Eckerd Corporation Foundation Ray L. Crowell E. Orum Young AT&T Wireless Your Local Dodge Dealers Estate of Gertie M. Allen Green Estate of Louise Briley Leake GlaxoSmithKline Como Charitable Foundation, Inc. est.

by Luella V. Snyder Ray and Melba Scurlock AmWins Group, Inc. Frenchmen's Bend Golf & Health Club Kenneth and Ann Wilson CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, Inc. Tom and Katie Torregrossa The Doug Pederson Family Basil and Gail Doles

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BELL TOWER SOCIETY

Ken and Kathryn Huff Newcomer, Morris, and Young, Inc. The Mark L. Mitchell Family Glen L. Davison Ken and Mary Parnell Renwick First National Bank The Community Foundation of North Louisiana Salvador Scaccia Bertha Marie Masur Gorn Christopher Youth Center Steel Fabricators of Monroe, LLC Suzie Jackson Lawrence A. and Elizabeth Ann Robinson CORNERSTONE SOCIETY $50,000 - $99,999 William F. Crowder Rhonda Wray and Mark J. Neal Moore Oil Company, Inc. ESPN Jim and Louise Altick Sidney R. Wilhite Ken and Carol Holland American Petroleum Institute KAQY TV Keith Ouchley Home Builders Association of Northeast Louisiana Bob and Donna Brooks Scott Truck and Scott Idealease The Toggery/Her Toggery Deanie and Tom Baker Shirley Buchanan Downtown Monroe Lions Club TEXO Linda and George Campbell Biedenharn Foundation R. Stewart Ewing, Jr. Ouachita Parish Women's Republican Club Outback Steakhouse Tom Scott, Jr. Scholarship Foundation Catherine and William R. "Billy" Boles John and Cyndy Perry Aeneas Williams Dealerships Joey and Cyd Jacobs Tom and Sue Nicholson Lee Edwards Mazda David Doles McDonald's Overton Brooks VA Medical Center Doug and Glenda Gates Otten Indian Aquatic Club The Links at Muny, LLC Michelle Egan Luv N' Care Marty and Catherine McVay OPUS Broadcasting T.J. and Wanda W. Shuflin St. Francis North Hospital Ecoutez Press Ltd. HomesPlus Peter and Nancy Illing Louisiana Real Estate Commission Marilyn and Lou St. Amant Daniel and Trudi Wood

www.ulm.edu

St. Francis North Hospital Auxiliary Kirby and Susan Arceneaux John & Tasha Gardner Drew and Joe Farr Shawn D. and Donna Kay Murphy AmSouth Bank Scott Powerline and Utility Equipment Dale and Jimmy N. Dimos Julie and Dewey Weaver TBA Studio Tim and Jolie Brandon John and Karen Wells Betty Caskey Gorsage Gary and Jan Luffey Ouachita Parish Chapter of the ULM Alumni Association James Kurt and Irmgard Kahn Fisher Waterfront Grill Noe Corporation, LLC The Phillip R. Smith Family Jody and Bishop Johnston Ronny and Judy Graham Fred A. and Lillian Marx Ryan Auto Group Mike and Loretta Ashbrook Faulk Collier Moving & Storage The Atrium Hotel and Conference Centre Larry and Cecille Bradley Sparks Nissan Kia Hertz Rent-A-Car Davis and Denise Hardy The Sol Rosenberg Family John and Rosemary Luffey Jay and Teri Lewis Brookshire Grocery Company Stewart, Donna, Steward, Jr. and Erich Cathey ADIDAS Katherine and Jerry Warner Dansby's Taylor Rental Center Thomas Dansby, Sr. OEDC Land Corporation Action Moving and Storage, Inc. Nick J. and Linda C. Bruno George Thomas and Mary Ellen Walker Loucille G. Kinsey Delta Ridge Implement, Inc. Randy and Cherry Morris West Carroll Health System ONB Educational Trust Fund Jim Taylor Chevrolet Lynn and Gail Lincecum Paul Fink William T. and Kandy A. Little BancorpSouth Bank Harry and Mary Lou Winters Aramark Raising Cane's Waste Management Tim R. and Wanda Holcomb Freddy and Reba Nolan Randy and Rosemary Ewing David and Sharon Turrentine Charles E. "Chuck" Finley Kathryn Huff Insurance Agency

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Lance and Tammy Jarrell Stanfill Louisiana Associated General Contractors Comcast Cable Cayce and Vicky Hand Family Walgreens Evans Oil Company, Inc. Tag Rome KTVE Channel 10 and KARD Fox 14 Mary Jo and B. J. Robison George and Jane Luffey Lincoln Builders, Inc. Clark and Mary Kathryn Williams Frances Hammond Estate of Lewis Marvin McKneely Carolyn and Harold Bates J . D. and Annie Greco Alltel Corporation Mid South Extrusion Evelyn and Jeff Johnson Southern Pines f/k/a Calvert Crossing and Pine Hills KNOE TV Novartis Harold and Helen Turner Geneve A. Castles Buck and Libby Anderson Morris & Dickson Company, LLC Jack and Debbie Blitch Jim Doull Progressive Bank Linda Noe Laine Foundation Louisiana Independent Pharmicies Association - LIPA Louisiana Lottery Corporation Monroe Athletic Club Ouachita Independent Bank James and Dot Mock Robert. R. and Bobbye Earle Vantage Health Plan, Inc. American Business Women's Association ULM Bookstore John and Debbie Luffey James Machine Works, Inc. Hixon Autoplex Jim and Debbie Rivers John W. and Shiangling L. Wong J.W. Wong Knowledge Enrichment Foundation Geo Surfaces Catfish Cabin of Monroe The Hearn Family Lamar Advertising Land 3 Architect Leon and Gayle Miletello Louisiana Cancer Foundation Van-Trow Toyota Tommy and Mary Barham InterMountain Management Estate of James S. Taunton AT&T Lawrence I. and Glenda S. White Brian and Maxine Laird Moreau Louisiana Pain Care Marsala Beverage, Inc. Lawson and Sharon Swearingen

As of February 4, 2019

42

THE GEORGE T. WALKER

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

HERITAGE SOCIETY

The George T. Walker Heritage Society honors those generous donors who have included the university as a beneficiary in their wills or have made other planned estate gifts such as charitable gift annuities, life insurance policies, and charitable trusts.

Dr. Walker, the university’s president from 1958-1976, is one of the individuals most responsible for the growth of this outstanding institution of higher learning.

To learn more about the advantages of charitable estate planning, visit gifts.ulm.edu

HERITAGE SOCIETY www.ulm.edu

Thomas O. Bancroft, Jr.* Guy and Loura Barr Florence J. Blackstock* Jack and Debbie Blitch Scherck Bogen* Larry and Cecille Bradley Stephen and Ernestine Brown Carl & Kaye Cloessner Curtis and Laurinda Crenshaw Ray Crowell Lawrence Danna Attie and Thomas Day Kitty DeGree* Jimmy and Dale Dimos Douglas and Kristy Farr James Kurt* and Irmgard Kahn* Fisher Billy and Patti Gammel Charlotte Diane Gilbert* Maurice and Anita Gold Ronald and Judith Graham J.D. and Annie Greco Frances D. Hammond* Ressa and Joe Harris John E. Hunstman* and Sharon Harrison Terry Michael Hays Ernest Duncan Holloway* John James Nancy J. Johnston Britton Katz Carole and Tex* Kilpatrick William "Billy" and Florinell Laird Paul and Carolyn Lasseigne Louise Briley Leake* Teri and Jay Lewis Betty Ley Violet Liner Chip Lyman Marjorie Malone* Mildred Maurer* * – In Memoriam

Claxton and Carolyn Mayo Hugh and Kay McDonald Charles "Charlie Mc" and Kay McDonald Lewis Marvin McKneely* James* and Dorothy* Mock Shawn and Donna Murphy Lawrence and Ann Robinson Tag Rome Rodger Ross Linda and Paul Sabin Brenda Hensley Smith John & Billie Smith John H. Smith, III* Hanna Spyker* Charles Freeman Stamper Lawson and Sharon Swearingen James Taunton* Elee Trichel George T.* and Mary Ellen* Walker Jerry and Katherine Warner Elsie Webb* James E. Yeldell*

IN MEMORIAM In retirement, Walker remained among ULM’s civic boosters and was a familiar face at Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football games and other university events.

Walker authored numerous academic and professional journal articles as well as several books on accounting and business education. Of his five copyrighted books, two were written during his retirement, The Building of a University (1991), which examines the early years of ULM, and the biographical Emy-Lou Biedenharn: Her Life and Legacy (1999).

Emy-Lou Biedenharn was a world-renowned contralto from Monroe and the daughter of Joseph A. Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola.

In 1938, Walker married the former Mary Ellen Neal (1911–2002), his college sweetheart. They had a son, George T. Walker, Jr., of Monroe and a daughter, Ellen Claire Stephenson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Walker died of a lengthy illness at the age of ninety-eight. In addition to his children, Walker was survived by five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

In 1997, the Louisiana Board of Regents awarded Walker its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his ongoing dedication to higher education. He is also honored by the Mary Ellen and George Thomas Walker Scholarship Endowment through the ULM Foundation.

As of February 4, 2019

43

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE

The following individuals and organizations deserve special recognition for their leadership support as University Associates. From January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, these Associates invested $1,000 and above to the following affiliate non-profit organizations: the ULM Foundation, the ULM Athletic Foundation, the ULM Alumni Association, and KEDM Public Radio. Our University Associates provide the majority of private support annually... we honor and thank you!

Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence A. Robinson Dr. & Mrs. Mark L. Mitchell Dr. & Mrs. Michael B. Cockerham Dr. & Mrs. Nick J. Bruno Dr. & Mrs. Robert D. Marx Dr. & Mrs. Sol Graves Dr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Dansby, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Timothy R. Holcomb Dr. & Mrs. William G. McCown Dr. Brit Katz Dr. Derle Long Dr. Harry H. Winters, III Dr. Janet L. Hood-Hanchey and Mr. J. Keith Hanchey Dr. Judy A. Fellows and Mr. Anthony Arpino Dr. Julie & Mr. Tracy Breithaupt Dr. Katherine R. Robbins-Hunt and Mr. Jonathan D. Hunt Dr. Kim L. T. Drew and Dr. Otis R. Drew Dr. Lavelle Hendricks Dr. Lawrence Danna Dr. Leigh Hersey Dr. Roxie L. Stewart and Mr. Robert Stewart Dr. Stephen W. Brown Drs. Ronald and Christine Berry Durotech, Inc E. W. Thomson Drug Company, Inc. Ecoutez Press Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Embanato Enterprises, L.L.C dba Louisiana Benefits Counselin Emy-Lou Biedenharn Foundation Entergy Services, Inc. Enterprise Holdings Foundation ESPN Radio Estate of Carolyn Gilliam Crow Estate of Frances D. Hammond Estate of Gertie M. Allen Green Estate of James S.Taunton Estate of John H. Smith III Estate of L.M. McKneely Estate of Louise Briley Leake Evans Oil Company, Inc. EW Entertainment LLC Farmers Grain Terminal, Inc.

Faulk-Collier Moving and Storage FedEx Services Fiesta Nutrition Center, Inc. First National Bank First United Methodist Church Flair Jewelers Fountainhead Press Franklin State Bank & Trust Co. Frenchmen's Bend Golf & Health Club Friendly Finance Corporation Garvin Enterprises, Inc. Geno's Italian Restaurant Gilley Enterprises, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Glenwood Regional Medical Center Global Synthetics Environmental, LLC Grant Chiropractic LLC Graphic Packaging Inc. Gray Television Grp Greg Manley, Jr. Insurance Agency, LLC Grotto Foods Group LLC Guide Corporation Hand Construction, LLC Harper Family Foundation Hertz Rent A Car Hixson Autoplex Home Builders Association of NELA Homeland Federal Savings Bank HomesPlus Manufactured Housing, Inc. Hudson, Potts & Bernstein IberiaBank Industrial Performance Service Ink's Firestone, Inc. Interstate Dodge J. E. Dupuy Flooring & Acoustical, Inc. James Machine Works, Inc. Jay Russell Campaign Jaydee Corp. Express Employment Professionals JBJ Foundation, Inc. Jean and Saul A. Mintz Foundation Jim Taylor Chevrolet Johnny's Pizza House JPMorgan/Chase Educational Trust Fund

ULM ASSOCIATES

Cassidy's Pharmacy Catfish Cabin of Monroe Cathey Group, LLC Central Oil & Supply Corporation Centric Federal Credit Union CenturyLink Charitable Adult Rides & Services, Inc. Charles R. Bennett, Jr., CPA Chase Christopher Youth Center, Inc. (f/k/a Our House, Inc.) City of Monroe CNA Foundation Coach & Mrs. James M. Collins Coca-Cola Enterprises Bottling Companies Comcast Corporation Community Pharmacy Como Charitable Foundation, Inc. Contractors Educational Trust Fund Cooper Buick GMC, Inc Copeland Electric Company Cross Keys Bank Custom Carpets & Interiors CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, Inc. David Toms Academy 265 DB Real Estate Delta Ridge Implement, Inc. Denmon Engineering Co., Inc. Dixie Shell Homes and Self Storage Dodge Dealers/PHD Doug Perry Wholesale Cars, Inc. Downtown Monroe Lions Club Dr. & Mrs. John Pratte Dr. & Mrs. Charles McDonald Dr. & Mrs. David W. Stewart Dr. & Mrs. Edward Brayton Dr. & Mrs. Eric A. Pani Dr. & Mrs. Gary E. Luffey Dr. & Mrs. Gregory W. Smith Dr. & Mrs. Henry S. Cole Dr. & Mrs. J.B. Duke McHugh Dr. & Mrs. James A. Altick, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Jerry W. Warner Dr. & Mrs. Jonathan J. Davies

www.ulm.edu

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES A .T. P. Performance & Wellness, Inc. ABWA Ouachita Heritage Chapter Acme Brick Company, Inc. Action Mobility Services, LLC ADIDAS American Medical Response American Petroleum Institute AmSouth Bank AmWins Group, Inc Anderson Community Development Foundation Aramark ARCO A Community Resource Argent Advisors Leasing Services, LLC Argent Financial Group, Inc. Arthur J Gallagher & Co. AT&T Louisiana AT&T Wireless Automated Imaging Systems, Inc. B & J Pitre Pharmacy, Inc. B MO Ventures, LLC BancorpSouth Bank Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC Bart Dornier Insurance Agency, Inc. Bayou Benefit Counseling, L.L.C. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Bellard's Family Pharmacy, Inc. Bellard's Home Medical Supply Better Business Bureau Biedenharn Foundation Big Shot Bob Enterprise, LLC Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Blue Cross of Louisiana Border Olympics, Inc. Boydland Consulting, LLC Brookshire Grocery Company Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Busch Media Group Business Connections, Inc. Capital One Bank Cashway Pharmacy of Scott

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ASSOCIATES

As of February 4, 2019

44

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE ASSOCIATES

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ULM ASSOCIATES www.ulm.edu

JPS Aviation, LLC Judge & Mrs. Milton Moore, III Kappa Epsilon KAQY-TV(ABC) KEDM Keiser Law Firm, PLC Kilpatrick Funeral Homes KNOE TV KTVE-Channel 10 & KARD - Fox 14 La Association Of College & University Auditors La Capitol Credit Union LA Construction Group, LLC LA State Licensing Board for Contractors Lamar Advertising Company Land 3 Architect Learfield Communications, Inc Lee Edwards Mazda Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Levee Gallery Lincoln Builders, Inc. Linda Noe Laine Foundation Little & Associates, LLC LKQ Corporation Louisiana Army National Guard Louisiana Associated General Contractors Louisiana Department of Insurance Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association, Inc. LIPA Louisiana Lottery Louisiana Machinery, Inc. Louisiana Pain Care Louisiana Pharmacists Association Louisiana Plastic Industries, Inc. Louisiana Real Estate Commission Louisiana Surplus Line Association Louisiana Tom's Vending Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Inc. Luv N' Care, Ltd. Marcus and Eddilisa Martin Marsala Beverage, Inc. Mary Goss Charities MasterCraft Boat Company McCK Enterprises McKay Consulting Medical Pharmacy, Inc. Merrill Lynch Mid South Extrusion, Inc. Mildred Summers Mauer Testamentary Trust Mixon, Carroll & Frazier,PLLC Monroe Athletic Club Monroe Chamber of Commerce Monroe Regional Airport Monroe/West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau Moore Oil Company, LLC. Morris & Dickson Company, LLC Mr. Mrs. Jott Delcambre Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Allen Mr. & Dr. Charles E. Jackson, III Mr. & Dr. Glen Harding Mr. & Dr. Jim Swanson Mr. & Mr. Rhonny K. Valentine

Mr. & Mrs. Adams Rodgers, IV Mr. & Mrs. Al Miller Mr. & Mrs. Albert J. Ku Mr. & Mrs. Allan Pogue Mr. & Mrs. Andrew K. Huff Mr. & Mrs. Anthony D. Jacola Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Rome, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Anthony S. Tubbs Mr. & Mrs. August T. Rocconi Mr. & Mrs. Barry K. Powers Mr. & Mrs. Basil Doles, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ben B. Orlando Mr. & Mrs. Bill Banowsky Mr. & Mrs. Billy C. Osbon, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Blake P. Pitre Mr. & Mrs. Bob Durden Mr. & Mrs. Brian A. Moreau Mr. & Mrs. Bruce A. Boulware

Mr. & Mrs. Gary G. Graham Mr. & Mrs. Gaston Alvarez Mr. & Mrs. George Campbell Mr. & Mrs. George H. Schaeffer Mr. & Mrs. George M. Campbell Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Dean Mr. & Mrs. Gerald G. Thurman Mr. & Mrs. Glen L. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Gregory R. Poret Mr. & Mrs. Guy Barr Mr. & Mrs. Harold W. Turner Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Perry Mr. & Mrs. Howard L. Lincecum Mr. & Mrs. Hugh McDonald, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. J. Bishop Johnston, III Mr. & Mrs. Jack Blitch Mr. & Mrs. James Moore, III Mr. & Mrs. James O. Barry

Mr. & Mrs. Leo B. Honeycutt, III Mr. & Mrs. Leon Miletello, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Lev M. Dawson Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. St. Amant Mr. & Mrs. Mark A. Greenlaw Mr. & Mrs. Mark G. Mouton Mr. & Mrs. Mark J. Neal Mr. & Mrs. Marty R. McKay Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Dearman Mr. & Mrs. Matt Viator Mr. & Mrs. Matthew J. Hardie Mr. & Mrs. Maurice L. Gold Mr. & Mrs. Micah J. Pulliam Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Ginn Mr. & Mrs. Mitch D. Reppond Mr. & Mrs. Murray Biedenharn Mr. & Mrs. Myrt T. Hales, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Nathan G. Smith

Mr. & Mrs. Byron Bertrand Mr. & Mrs. Carl M. Bantle Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Aron Mr. & Mrs. Carrick R. Inabnett Mr. & Mrs. Cayce Hand Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Mock, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. McDonald Mr. & Mrs. Christopher D. Holyfield Mr. & Mrs. Christopher M. Horrell Mr. & Mrs. Clyde R. White Mr. & Mrs. Damon Marsala Mr. & Mrs. Dan W. Robertson Mr. & Mrs. Daniel L. Wood Mr. & Mrs. Daniel S. Bacon Mr. & Mrs. Danny L. Kyle Mr. & Mrs. David Hampton Mr. & Mrs. David Hearn Mr. & Mrs. David Moore Mr. & Mrs. David R. Soignier Mr. & Mrs. David W. Turrentine Mr. & Mrs. Dennis P. Rogers Mr. & Mrs. Derek S. Kennedy Mr. & Mrs. DeWayne Trichell Mr. & Mrs. Dewey F. Weaver, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Dixon Abell Mr. & Mrs. Don C. Greenland, III Mr. & Mrs. Douglas B. Otten Mr. & Mrs. Douglas C. Caldwell Mr. & Mrs. Douglas I. Pederson Mr. & Mrs. Douglas R. Turner Mr. & Mrs. Douglas T. Farr Mr. & Mrs. Drury H. Bynum, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ed LaSyone Mr. & Mrs. Edwin H. Jordan Mr. & Mrs. Elee Trichel Mr. & Mrs. Elton Kennedy Mr. & Mrs. Elton R. Farrar Mr. & Mrs. Eric Liew Mr. & Mrs. Errol A. Duplantis, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Francis I. Huffman Mr. & Mrs. Frank Maxwell, III Mr. & Mrs. Freddy Nolan Mr. & Mrs. Gareld E. DeWitt, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gary F. Hamilton

Mr. & Mrs. James R. Rogers Mr. & Mrs. James Rightsell Mr. & Mrs. James T. Lockhart Mr. & Mrs. James W. Moore, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. James Williams Mr. & Mrs. Jay A. Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Jay Coon, III Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Adams Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Van Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey L. Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Joe Holyfield Mr. & Mrs. John B. Gardner Mr. & Mrs. John C. Jackson, II Mr. & Mrs. John F. Jones Mr. & Mrs. John L. Luffey, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John M. Smith Mr. & Mrs. John Mark Wilhite Mr. & Mrs. John P. VanVeckhoven Mr. & Mrs. John S. Wells, CPA Mr. & Mrs. John W. Perry, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John Wong Mr. & Mrs. Johnny E. Lawrence Mr. & Mrs. Johnny L. Reeves Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Greco Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Jacobs, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Farr Mr. & Mrs. Justin W. Caudle Mr. & Mrs. Keith A. McGough Mr. & Mrs. Keith G. Richard Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth E. Holland Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth E. Roberts Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth G. Vines Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth W. Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Kent Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Kevin S. Nunnelee Mr. & Mrs. Kirby Arceneaux Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Oestriecher Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Manton Mr. & Mrs. Lamar S. Buffington Mr. & Mrs. Lance V. Stanfill Mr. & Mrs. Larry Bradley Mr. & Mrs. Larry J. Head Mr. & Mrs. Larry Rambin Mr. & Mrs. Lawson L. Swearingen, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Abell III Mr. & Mrs. Pat Collins Mr. & Mrs. Pat Spencer Mr. & Mrs. Patrick T. Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Paul Coburn, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Paul E. Von Diezelski Mr. & Mrs. Pedro Chavarria Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Illing Mr. & Mrs. R. Ray Rhymes, III Mr. & Mrs. Randy L. Ewing Mr. & Mrs. Randy Morris Mr. & Mrs. Ray L. Crowell Mr. & Mrs. Reid B. Heflin Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Soileau Mr. & Mrs. Richard K. Dickenson Mr. & Mrs. Rick McMillon Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Toups Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Canterbury Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Schott, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Earle Mr. & Mrs. Robert T. Eberle Mr. & Mrs. Robin Causey Mr. & Mrs. Ronald A. Mason Mr. & Mrs. Ronald D. Bush Mr. & Mrs. Ronald H. Graham Mr. & Mrs. Roy B. Andrews Mr. & Mrs. Rusty Haile, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Barker Mr. & Mrs. Ryan E. Chappell Mr. & Mrs. Samuel J. Lorenzo Mr. & Mrs. Scott McDonald Mr. & Mrs. Shawn D. Murphy, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Shawn G. Patrick Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Manor Mr. & Mrs. Sidney L. Denny Mr. & Mrs. Sidney S. Anderson, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Wilhite Mr. & Mrs. Steven C. Gullatt Mr. & Mrs. Stewart A. Cathey, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Stewart Causey Mr. & Mrs. Stewart Ewing, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Stewart Shelby Mr. & Mrs. Sunil Kumar

As of February 4, 2019

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MONROE ASSOCIATES Representative & Mrs. Bernard LeBas Richland State Bank Rig Site Rental, LP Ronnie Ward Toyota of Ruston RUSTON FARMER'S MARKET Ryan Auto Group Schwab Charitable Scott Powerline & Utility Equipment Scott Truck ServiceMaster Action Cleaning Shawn Murphy Insurance Agency, Inc. Sol's Pipe & Steel Southeast Construction, Inc. Southern Pines Golf Club Sparks Nissan Kia Spencer Educational Foundation St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary St. Francis North Hospital Stagg Cattle Company State Farm Insurance Companies Steel Fabricators of Monroe Strauss Interests Sun Belt Conference Tag Rome Insurance Agency, Inc. TBA Studio Tex Kilpatrick Family Limited Partnership TEXO The Assembly The Community Foundation The Dial Family Foundation The Honorable & Mrs. Jimmy N. Dimos The Honorable & Mrs. William H. Pryor, Jr. The Honorables Ann and Rudolph McIntyre, Jr. The Links at Muny, LLC The Martin Foundation The News-Star The Radio People The Toggery & Her Toggery The Woman's Clinic Thomas & Farr Agency, Inc. Thomas H. & Mayme P. Scott Foundation TNT Surface Prep & Supply, LLC Tom Scott, Jr. Foundation TXI Texas Industries ULM Bookstore Van-Trow Toyota Vantage Health Plan, Inc. W. Elton Kennedy Foundation Wal-Mart Foundation Walgreens Walgreens Walmart Warhawk Land Company, LLC Washington Wine & Sprits Waste Management, Inc. Waterfront Grill West Carroll Health System West Monroe Civitans Club Willis-Knighton Medical Center Wimbledon Health Partners

ULM ASSOCIATES

Mrs. Jean Mintz Mrs. Laura Cooper Mrs. Laure Spatafora-Derr Mrs. Margaret Hayes Mrs. Martha Weant Mrs. Ruth Ward Mrs. Sharon D. Harrison Mrs. Tammy Rhodes Mrs. Teri O'Neal Ms. Betty Caskey Ley Ms. Ellen Eade Ms. Gina Craft Ms. Jamie Deeds Ms. Jan Richey Ms. Jo Ann Alley Ms. Karen Proffitt Ms. Lillian Brown Ms. Lisa Zugschwerdt Ms. Loucille G. Kinsey and Dr. DeBora Murphy Ms. Markey Pierre Ms. Michele Zugschwerdt Ms. Michelle Egan Ms. Michelle Keeley Ms. Nancy Johnston Ms. Nancy Jordan Ms. Rene J. Hebert Ms. Sara L. Simmonds Ms. Susan Pere Thompson Ms. Toni Coble Ms. Violet Liner Nabholz Charitable Foundation NACDS Foundation Newcomer, Morris and Young, Inc. Noe Asset Management, LLC Noe Corporation, L.L.C. North East Louisiana Community Tennis Association, Inc North Louisiana Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Northeast Louisiana Cancer Foundation Northminster Church Northwest Louisiana Chapter of the ULM Alumni Association Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation OEDC Land Corporation Oleolive LLC Opierx, Inc OPUS Broadcasting Origin Bank Ouachita Independent Bank Ouachita Parish Chapter of the ULM Alumni Association Ouachita Parish Women's Republican Club Outback Steakhouse Overton Brooks VA Medical Center P & S Surgical Hospital Pearson Education Powers Pharmacy No. 1 Inc. Professional Arts Pharmacy Progressive Bank Raising Cane's Regions Bank Rep. & Mrs. Frank A. Hoffmann

www.ulm.edu

Mr. John Davis Mr. John Guice Mr. John Massey Mr. John Torbert Mr. Joseph Lyman Mr. Josh Peterson Mr. Keith Ouchley Mr. Kenny Brasher Mr. Kevin Curry Mr. Kevin Goldman Mr. Kyle Russell Mr. Larry W. McDonald, Jr. Mr. Lee Estes Mr. Mark Alleman Mr. Markus Bosley Mr. Matthew Moore Mr. Michael H. Woods Mr. Michael Nerren Mr. Nathan Brown Mr. Orkan Arat Mr. Otis Drew Mr. Paul Aron Mr. Paul Keliher Mr. Phillip Smith Mr. Ralph Webb Mr. Randal Johnson Mr. Richard Shrubb Mr. Robert Cooper Mr. Robert Edwards Mr. Robert James Mr. Robert Martin Mr. Robert Payne Mr. Rodney Horn Mr. Ross Garrity Mr. Salvador A. Scaccia Mr. Stephen Futrell Mr. Stephen Smith Mr. Steven Dugal Mr. Steven Farmer Mr. Stewart Traxler Mr. Terry Duke Mr. Thomas C. Dansby, Sr. Mr. Thomas Hardee Mr. Tim Morrison Mr. Trae Banks Mr. Victor Pisano Mr. William Adcox Mrs. Jane Luffey Mrs. Judy Diggley Mrs. & Mrs. Ronald Hogan Mrs. & Mrs. Toby T. Green Mrs. Attie W. Day Mrs. Bobbie Mathieu Mrs. Bonnie Bancroft Woods Mrs. Christina Bruno McLaughlin Mrs. Debbie Rivers Mrs. Diane Boles Kirtland Mrs. Donna Fields Mrs. Eugenie Ardoin Mrs. Fran Beach Mrs. Glenda White Mrs. Helen Ledbetter

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Mr. & Mrs. T. J. Shuflin, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Teddy Ray Price Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Claridge Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Nicholson Mr. & Mrs. Thomas V. Rabb, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Barham Mr. & Mrs. Tim Brando Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. Green Mr. & Mrs. Toby W. Trichel Mr. & Mrs. Tod Cagle Mr. & Mrs. Todd Little Mr. & Mrs. Tom Torregrossa Mr. & Mrs. Val Salomon Mr. & Mrs. Van E. Pardue Mr. & Mrs. W. E. Davis Mr. & Mrs. Walter F. Mulhearn Mr. & Mrs. William B. Hanks Mr. & Mrs. William Boles, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. William Cheek Mr. & Mrs. William E. Bobo Mr. & Mrs. William E. Laird Mr. & Mrs. William J. Robison Mr. & Mrs. William K. Renwick Mr. & Mrs. William McKie Mr. & Mrs. William T. Molen Mr. & Mrs. William W. Harrison Mr. & Mrs. William W. Pippin Mr. & Ms. Joseph R. Beard Mr. & Ms. Lyle Miller Mr. & Ms. Todd M. Tonore Mr. Adam Cossey Mr. and Mrs. Harry David Mr. Andy Stetleman Mr. Blair S. Michel Mr. Bobby Craighead Mr. Brady Ragland Mr. Bret Munson Mr. Brian MacGregor Mr. Bruce Smith Mr. C.R. Scurlock Mr. Camile Currier Mr. Casey Auttonberry Mr. Charles Finley Mr. Charles Freeman Stamper Mr. David Dorsch Mr. David Tisdale Mr. Don Couvillion Mr. Dustin Moore Mr. E. Orum Young, Jr. Mr. Emmett Roulaine Mr. Erik Hsu Mr. Frank Bruscato Mr. Gary Young Mr. George La Grutta Mr. Glen Davison Mr. Greg Slaman Mr. Guy Campbell Mr. Harold Anderson Mr. Harold Bates Mr. J. D. Johnston and Dr. Jan T. Bagwell Mr. Jason Dunavant Mr. Jim Doull

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• • • •

S – SUCCESS (21%) of students/scholarships O – OPPORTUNITIES (48%) for Innovative Academics/Faculty & Departmental A – ACHIEVING (18%) a Competitive Edge for Athletics R – RENOVATION (13%) of Existing Facilities

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

$6,753,781.43

COLLEGE OF HEALTH & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

$9,513,928.88

www.ulm.edu

Your investment in ULM reflects your commitment to our community, made more vibrant and strong through quality faculty, staff, and students - our future leaders.

$25,479,891.12

ULM SOAR CAMPAIGN GOAL: $55.4 MILLION 95.5% WITH $52.9 MILLION COMMITTED

47

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

$11,172,222.21 CAMPAIGN IMPACT

S – Increased average scholarship award by over $700 and number of O – Two new endowed Chairs and 29 endowed Professorships established.

Endowed positions fund faculty over $1.1 million each year.

A – Athletic program enhancements entice superior student athletes to join the ULM Warhawk family.

R – Facility enhancements include the Liew Family International Student Center, Malone Stadium Football Fieldhouse, Laird Weems Center, & Groseclose Track & Field Renovation.

r a o s / u d e . ulm

6 3 6 3 .

2 4 3 318.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

students funded by 15%.

www.ulm.edu

48

photos provided by Special Collections & Archives

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ALUMNI CL A S S NOTE S ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

1968 Dalton Le Blanc (M.Ed ’68) celebrated 46 years as a State Farm Agent in Houma, LA. He and his wife Marie recently traveled to Scotland and Ireland and reminisced where Le Blanc ran track in Ireland for the All Military track team.

He has 5 children, 11 grandchildren, with 2 more on the way!

1970

Dot Raney-Anderson (BA ‘70) operates small retail and online businesses.

1971

Lance Anderson (BA, ‘70) SPHR, SHRMSCP, is currently semi-retired having taught HR part-time at a junior college as well as authoring 4 books and 25 short stories. He is an active volunteer at Vintage Flying Museum and area human resource associations.

www.ulm.edu

Ivian “I.C.” Smith (BA ‘71) signed a contract to co-author a second edition of Historical Dictionary of Chinese Intelligence, originally published in 2012, with British author Nigel West. He currently lives on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula with his wife, Carla Lenard Smith (BA ’68). They both are actively involved in volunteer work.

1974

Dr. D. Tyler Brown (BBA ’74) is the founder

and national president of International Women's Alliance Ministries. IWAM is a nonprofit established for the purpose of developing community outreach through a network of women in media, marketing, ministry, music, military, mentoring, and missions.

Janis Mickles Hernandez (BA ’74) has been elected as First Vice-President of the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association. Her main duties involve membership recruitment. She enjoys traveling throughout the state, conducting workshops, and meeting local leaders in preparation of increasing membership.

1978

Patrick “Pat” Clark (MA ‘78) retired from the U.S. Army in ’89 and retired from the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston in ’17 as a teacher and principal. Pat currently lives in Spring, TX, with his wife Ingrid.

1980

William Jackson “Jack” Roszelle (BS ’80) currently serves as the Corporate Quality Director for Danos, LLC. He currently lives in Lafayette, LA, with his wife Candace.

1982

Susan McGraw Chappell (BBA ‘82, MBA ‘87) and Ryan Chappell (BBA ‘80, MBA ‘88) welcomed their first grandchild, Wilder Faye

Chappell, January 2018.

1983

Regan Leafstedt (BS ’83) has been the owner of Golden Rule Construction Co. for the past 26 years. He and his wife Diane and kids Ryan, Katie, and Shaylie look forward to visiting ULM to escape the cold in South Dakota.

1985

John Vineyard (BA ’85) was recently elected by the Judges of the Superior Court, Riverside County, to a two-year term as Presiding Judge. The Riverside County Superior Court is the fourth largest court in California and serves over 2.5 million citizens.

1988

Robert D. “Bob” Thompson Jr. (BA ’88) after retirement began work as a sports manager for his stepdad, Johnny Robinson, former LSU and Kansas City Chiefs great and 2019 Senior Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bob, along with his wife Cindy Carr Thompson (BA ’88), traveled to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta for the official announcement of the new inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1989

Brett Lemoine (BS ‘89) is the new Director of High School Relations for the football program at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth.

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1990

Chester McCurry (BA ’90) has recently been named the Director of Special Events for the Actors Fund Western Region. He formerly worked for Dolly Parton Productions, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Disney International. He is a SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity member.

1992

Tami Rolen-Tharp (BBA ’92) is the Area Vice President for Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. She was awarded the Gallagher Way Award – ‘We run to problems, not away from them’ – in August of 2018 and the Rising Star award in January of 2019.

announce the birth of their first child, John Michael Davis.

2013

Michael Deschamp (MA ’13) is now a composition instructor at the University of North Texas Dallas.

2015

Amy Franklin (BA ’15) and Jim Tucker (BA ’15) were married in 2017. They traveled to Ireland last year, and are now saving up for their first home.

2016

Dr. Rahsheeno Griffith, LMFT (PhD ’16) currently serves as Assistant Professor of Marriage

and Family Therapy at Campbellsville University.

Kristian Williams (BS ’16) is a certified fitness trainer through the International Sports and Science Association (ISSA). She is currently a manager/personal trainer at Anytime Fitness in Houma, LA.

2018

Larry W. Nichols Jr. (BBA ’18) currently lives in Bossier City. He works at CB&I/McDermott.

CB&I/McDermott is an International manufacturer of steel pipes for industrial use such as oilrigs, petroleum facilities, and nuclear plants. Larry is enrolled in the master’s program in health psychology at North Central University.

ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

His awesome wife Loretta Lemoine (BS ‘94) is the Inpatient Pharmacy Manager at John Peter Smith ( JPS) Hospital in Fort Worth.

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2000

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

Jill Hummel Staugaard (BBA ’00) has been with Walmart for over 18 years and is currently a civil designer for Harrison French & Associates.

She is married to Andrew Staugaard and they have one son Christian (2) and baby #2 on the way.

2001

Ashley Morgan Bertrand (AS ’01) has been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for the past 17 years. She is currently employed by the Therapy Center of Jefferson Davis Parish and lives in Iota, LA. Ashley has been married to her husband, Corey Bertrand, for 14 years.

They share a 10-year-old daughter, Riley, and an 8-year-old son, Cole.

2002

Kema Dawson (BA ’02) is the Executive Director of the Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action Program (OMCAP). Kema and her husband have one son, Deuce. She is receiving her Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University in May 2019.

2006

Oak Grove Mayor Adam Holland (BGS '06) was elected by his peers in District C of the Louisiana Municipal Association to serve as the district’s Vice President on the Executive Board for the balance of the 2018-2019 term replacing Lucy Holtzclaw. District C represents the villages, towns and cities in the Northeast Louisiana Delta Region.

2007

2008

Allison Fisher Davis (BS ’08, M.Ed ’11) and husband John Davis (BA ’11) are pleased to

www.ulm.edu

Felecia Dawn Yates Whistine (BA ’07) works for a local accounting firm Johnson, Perry, Roussel, & Cuthbert, LLP. Directly after graduation, she became a licensed CPA in 2014. On January 1st of 2019, She officially became a partner at the firm. She lives in Holly Ridge, LA.

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ULM MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RETIREMENTS

PRESIDENT: W. Adams Rodgers IV (BBA ‘98)

JULY 2018 Lee Mickle

PRESIDENT ELECT: Sara Benecke Brice (BA ‘90)

AUGUST 2018 Ramona Martin

PAST PRESIDENT: Brenda B. Dudley (BBA ‘84, MBA ‘86)

NOVEMBER 2018 Sherry Bates

VICE-PRESIDENT: Julie Harlan O’Brien (BA ‘80)

JANUARY 2019 Kathy Parker

SECRETARY-TREASURER: Wally Mulhearn (BS ‘85)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS; RETIREMENTS; IN MEMORIAM

AT-LARGE VICE PRESIDENTS: Brian Allen (BA ’90) Matt Bridges (BS ’05) Joseph Beard (BS ’09) Renee Hebert (BA ’98, M.Ed. ’00) Keith Beard (BA ’84) Paul Wilkening (BA ’83, MA ’85) J. Eric Newton (MA ’11) Gerald McHenry (BS ’85) Ashley Aulds (BS ’14, MBA ’15) Justin Mailhes (BBA ’13) H. Wade Earnheart (BBA ’72) Lance Futch (BBA ’95) Dr. Jeff Hood (BA ’91, MA ’94) Doug Nielsen (BA ’08) Mary Ann Riddle (BA ’74, BA ’77) Mary Linda McCann (BBA ’91, MBA ‘98) Kay LaFrance-Knight (BA ’68)

Complete bios are available at https://alumni.ulm.edu/page/board

IN MEMORIAM Robert Ballenger James Beaver Catherine Blaney Kenney Bufkin Bob Burnley Leslie Clark Odette Cook Joe Cummins Richard Curtin Paul Danna Jane Dean Lorin DeLancey Michael Dispenza Frances Downhour Gloria Dumas Donnie Easterling Joyce Estes Thomas Ferrell Debra Fitzgerald Joey Fox Samuel Free Nellwyn Hindmon Robert Holt Dan Kifer Cleta Lanningham Rosemary Luffey Annette Mason Patton McHenry Kenneth McIntyre Addie Morehouse Wallace Olinde Guy Pardue Cynthia Perdue Scott Renner Thomas Ritter Larry Rutledge Larry Saulters Rebecca Schroeder Jane Seeber Lorraine Slacks Sharon Slaughter Michael Stone Sue Taylor Linda Thomas Gary Tullis Kadie Whitard Meredith Williams Vicki Wilson Terri Sue Winnon Donald Wyble

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Alumni Association

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