Xavier Gold: Reviving a Deeply Rooted History

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

FALL 2024

Reviving a Deeply Rooted History

OPERA

P L AY The Pir

ates of

BILL

Portsm

outh

Returns to Xavier

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Building an Equitable Society Mark Raymond Jr., ‘12, helps make New Orleans disability accessible

Xavierite Valor Inside eight decades of curating a welcoming environment for militaryaffiliated students

Tiana’s Xavier Adventure The highly lauded Disney Parks attraction has XU ties

To kick off our centennial celebration and commemorate our founding in 1925, we challenge alumni to support Xavier University in reaching a

25% ALUMNI PARTICIPATION GOAL.

25% of our alumni population is 5,250 proud Xavierites who truly know what it means to give back.

Reaching this goal will set a record in alumni giving for Xavier University; we know we can do it!

Today, we invite you to join us on the “Road to 25%”.

Join us on our road to 25% Alumni Participation during the centennial fiscal year.

Visit giving.xula.edu or scan the QR code to make your gift and join us in this journey to reaching 25% participation.

XAVIER GOLD

is produced annually for Alumni and Friends of Xavier University of Louisiana through the Office of Institutional Advancement. For more information, please call (504) 520-7575.

C. Reynold Verret, Ph. D. President Phillip D. Adams Vice President of Institutional Advancement Kimberly Reese, ‘95, ‘98 Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement Edited by: Leslie D. Rose, ‘05 Director of Advancement Communications Special Recognition: Kendra Tircuit, ‘95 Executive Director, Advancement Services Marcia Pecot, Ed.D., ’96 Director, Alumni Relations Jimmie Johnson, ‘13 Alumni Relations & Development Coordinator Terese Bennett Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer Contributing Writers: Martie Bowser, Ed Cassiere, Alisha Tillery Photos: Office of Marketing and Communications, Library Archives and Special Collections, Steve Capers, Darrin Defillo, Gavin Goins, Randall McHenry, Nate Ha, Donney Rose, Leslie D. Rose, Jeremy Tauriac, Elliot Thompson, Justen Williams and courtesy of subjects photographed or departments featured.

ON THE COVER: Opera returns to Xavier.

Photo courtesy of Sakinah A. Davis, DMA. Xavier University of Louisiana 1 Drexel Drive, Box 66 New Orleans, LA 70125 (504) 520-7575 www.XULA.edu

Contents

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BUILDING AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY

10 TIANA’S XAVIER ADVENTURE 18 XAVIERITE VALOR 22

HONORING DR. NORMAN C. FRANCIS

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23

XAVIER REACHES KEY FUNDRAISING MILESTONE

42

COVER STORY: OPERA RETURNS TO XAVIER

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22 42

XAVIER OCHSNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FAST FACTS

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REMEMBERING PROFESSOR EMERITUS JW CARMICHAEL

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NEW CULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAM

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ALUMNI RELATIONS LAUNCHES INTER GENERATIONAL PODCAST

84 SCENES FROM XAVIER’S PAST 89

FIVE TRAILBLAZING XAVIERITES WHO LIVED THROUGH OUR MISSION

52 Departments 84

2 AU COURANT 12 OUR CATHOLIC IDENTITY 24 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 46 ATHLETICS REVIEW 54 COMMENCEMENT 59 ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS 72 HOMECOMING Fall 2024 |

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Awards, Accolades, Recognitions, Grants & Endowments n Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $5 million seed funding gift to support the creation of the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM), a newly established medical school in New Orleans founded by Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health. n Xavier has been chosen to receive a grant through the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Program.

A total of $60 million will be distributed among the six awardee institutions, and at Xavier, the endowment will fund its Precision Medicine, Education, Data Informatics, and Community Translation (PREDICT) Institute. n Xavier celebrates the renewal of the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) $22.3 million award, allowing the University to continue its substantial work in lessening health disparities for the next five years. n Xavier, which is on the front lines of tackling climate change through research and innovation, will receive a $5 million grant through its membership in the Louisiana Hubs for Energy Resilient Operations (HERO) collaboration. . n The Public Health Sciences Department at Xavier’s invaluable work in leading research efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic has been recognized with a grant to further its research and community engagement activities concerning climate change. Their initiative, “Bridging the Gap Between Climate Change and Determinants of Health in South Louisiana,” has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Academies of Science n Xavier University of Louisiana has been chosen among ten recipients to receive a substantial $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation as part of its impactful Humanities for All Times initiative. n Louisiana Healthcare Connections presented $500,000 to Xavier for a larger program centered on eliminating health disparities to create a more inclusive, representative healthcare system. n The McMillan-Stewart Foundation donated $300,000 to create a scholarship fund at Xavier. n Xavier’s library received a $10,000 Building Library Capacity grant from the American Library Association to support library resources on campus. n Xavier University of Louisiana captured the “Outstanding University” award from the Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) organization. The entire Xavier community- students, faculty, and staff- came together to clean up and beautify the campus and clinched one of the seven awards presented during KLB’s Love the Boot Week. During Earth Week, Love the Boot Week is dedicated to Louisiana’s largest litter cleanup effort, which is a partnership between KLB and the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor. KLB’s network consists of community and university affiliates, helping to bring attention to litter, waste, and sustainability issues.

As a KLB University Affiliate, Xavier held a cleanup and a garden installation during Love the Boot Week.

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President’s

MESSAGE Fall 2024 Dear Xavier Alumni and Friends, As we near closer to our centennial, we enter a time to recommit to the founding promise to contribute to a more just and humane society.

As our next century beckons, we press forward, fearing nothing.

Xavier has achieved much this year. We have launched new programs that broaden representation in professions and workspaces and will shape the university for decades to come.

Sadly, we also bid farewell to some of our beloved members of the Xavier community. Their legacies will continue to inspire us.

In this “Xavier Gold” issue, I invite you to explore all the growth we’re experiencing at Xavier. Our alumni are building an equitable society everywhere; our students are learning and becoming agents of change, and we have reintroduced our legendary opera program. Our athletics department is home to scholar-athletes

and champions, we are working to build an intergenerational community among our alumni, and we remain faithful to our Catholic identity in many ways.

Please review the annual Honor Roll of Donors; our work at Xavier would not be possible without our donors. I cannot overstate that your continued generosity allows today’s Xavier students to learn, grow, and excel.

Do join us in prayer, service, and giving as we set the stage for the next 100 years of changing lives for God’s glory.

Sincerely,

Reynold Verret President

Faculty & Administration Highlights Members Elected to Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees Xavier University of Louisiana has re-elected six members to its Board of Trustees for three-year terms: Dr. Richard Gilder, Ms. Suzanne Malveaux, Ms. Claudia Marmolejo, Mr. Meredith Marshall, Mr. Lyon Polk, and Mr. Joseph West.

At the summer meeting, the Board also re-elected Mr. Justin Augustine III, ‘80, as chair, Dr. Derek Robinson, ‘98, Mr. James Mitchell as vice chairs, and Dr. Jennifer Goldsmith Adams as secretary.

Trustees continuing their terms include Ms. Alexandra Fell Allen, Sr. Amelia Breton, S.B.S., Rabbi Edward Cohn, Dr. Michelle Detwiler, Sr. Stephanie Henry, S.B.S., ‘00, Mr. Gladstone Jones, The Honorable Ivan L.R. Lemelle, ‘71, Sr. Jane Nesmith, S.B.S., ‘72, Fr. Thomas O’Hara, Ms. Chantel Shackleford, ‘90, Mr. James Swanson, Ms. Angela Vallot, and Ms. Carita Walker, ‘93.

Xavier’s President, Reynold Verret, serves as an ex-officio member of the Board.

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Faculty & Administration Highlights (continued) President Dr. Reynold Verret was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Portland during its 2024 undergraduate commencement ceremony in recognition of his contributions to education and social justice.

President Dr. Reynold Verret

Dr. Marguerite S. Giguette has been permanently named the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost after a brief tenure as the interim appointment in the role.

Ronald M. Carrere Jr. has been appointed Associate Vice President of Government and Community Relations. In this newly created role, Mr. Carrere will coordinate government affairs, community outreach, strategic partnerships, and the Hope Revitalization Corporation, with delegated authority from the president.

Ronald M. Carrere Jr.

Dr. Florastina Payton-Stewart, ‘99, the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Chemistry Professor, has been honored with the coveted Stanley C. Israel Award for the Southwest region by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Monica Pierre, a distinguished three-time Emmy winner and Mass Communication Assistant Professor, has been named an Alex Trebek Legacy Fellow.

Monica Pierre

Dr. Marguerite S. Giguette

Dr. Florastina Payton-Stewart, ‘99

Brittany Singleton, Pharm.D., ‘13, Clinical Associate Professor in Xavier’s College of Pharmacy’s Division of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to the island nation of Grenada for the 20232024 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Brittany Singleton, Pharm.D., ‘13

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Student Highlights Xavierite Lundon Shields received the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, which supported her study abroad at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan in the summer of 2023.

Two Xavier students – Jamya Davis and Kadence Means – were accepted into the Public Policy & International Affairs Program Junior Summer Institute as fellows from a pool of 1300 competitive applicants to attend the six-week rigorous summer program.

Lundon Shields

As a spring 2024 initiate in Xavier’s Exponential Honors Program, Ja’lyn Jones was selected to experience one of the program’s many lifechanging benefits. This summer, he studied abroad in the United Kingdom at the University of Bristol as a 2024 Summer Fulbright participant.

Jamya Davis

Kadence Means

Chloe Sims (Inset, above) was recognized with the American Chemical Society Leadership Award at the group’s January 2024 meeting in Atlanta.

Ja’lyn Jones

Last summer, four Xavierites – chemistry pre-medicine majors Christian Davis, Alicia Hardrick, Kaleb Clark, and biology major Callie Blocker were selected for the Summer Health Professions Education Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a program for students to explore their interests in health professions. XG

Keep up with all this news and more by visiting xula.edu/news.

Fall 2024 |

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Building An

Mark Raymond Jr., ‘12, is Increasing Accessibility Offerings in New Orleans, Including Helping the City Prepare for the 2025 Super BowlMardi Gras Weekend

BY LESLIE D. ROSE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

Photo by Justen Williams

IN

A SPLIT SECOND, everything was different for Mark Raymond Jr., ‘12. Once unaffected by limited accessibility standards, the New Orleans native suddenly needed things he’d never considered – ramps, elevators, and larger spaces to navigate in a wheelchair, among other things. These sorts of widely non-existent accessibility offerings caused Raymond to struggle to navigate his hometown following a 2016 diving accident that damaged the vertebrae by the base of his neck, causing him to lose the ability to walk.

His immediate feelings after the accident were hopelessness and anger, but as he began to accept his outcomes, he realized that accessibility wasn’t personal—it wasn’t exclusive to his needs—it was essential to all who eventually may need those supports.

“It took me to get to a point where, one, I was mentally OK enough to fight the fight and not lose it on people because I’m still mad at the world that I’m disabled. So, I had to get my mental health checked first,” Raymond said.

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“And then after that, it became a problemsolution angle for me.”

Two years after his accident, Raymond founded the Split Second Foundation, a New Orleans-based nonprofit community care startup dedicated to promoting the holistic wellness of individuals with disabilities. He also runs Universal Development Consulting, which focuses on implementing accessibility standards to conceptualize projects and developments.

“For so long, accessibility was kind of like an afterthought,” Raymond said. “Right now, we’re adding “A” to DEI – diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, because disability has been an afterthought, but when you think about disability, it’s actually the largest minority population on the globe.”

In 2021, the U.S. reported 42.5 million people with disabilities of any kind. Globally, 1.3 billion people reportedly experience significant disability, according to the World Health Organization.

“One in four people globally have some physical, cognitive, or sensory disability, whether you were born with it, or it was acquired throughout the course of one’s life, and yet [the country is] still largely only trying to provide the bare minimum to that population,” Raymond said. “We’re coming up on the 34-year anniversary of the ADA, and largely, it hasn’t been substantively updated to reflect [what] we need in our ever-changing society. We can more holistically address these things and move people towards the middle.”

Raymond said accessibility is possible everywhere, even in a historic infrastructure like New Orleans, especially as the city hosts significant tourism, welcoming 17.53 million visitors in 2022. The Crescent City is now gearing up for a monumental Super Bowl and Mardi Gras weekend for its third occurrence ever.

However, Raymond is helping make it as accessible as possible this time.

“Right now, the Super Bowl is coming to town – tons of infrastructure improvements are being made – I’m making sure that those that are leading that effort are keeping accessibility at the forefront of all of what’s being done,” Raymond said.

His task is more specific to promoting accessibility from the tourist perspective.

“I’m working with New Orleans & Company to create a series of videos educating travelers with disabilities on how to get around the city and some tips on attractions and accommodations,” he said.

Raymond, of course, understands why people may not think about creating access for all. Still, now he feels it’s his duty to inform people of its significance, especially as it reaches far beyond disabilities.

“At 27 years old, it didn’t affect me until I had an accident,” he said. “Now, suddenly, I need all of this – I need the curb cuts and elevators. I need buildings with accessible doors that make my life more independent. I need renovated spaces that have wider hallways and fewer barriers.

And it doesn’t just affect people in wheelchairs; it affects people with mobility challenges. That might be a mom pushing kids [in a stroller]. That’s a mobility challenge. It’s not a disability. I’ve always tried to frame it as a universal problem. I don’t know anybody who escapes life without encountering adversity or disability.”

Raymond said he believes a genuinely accessible world is realistic.

“I don’t know anybody who escapes life without encountering adversity or disability.”

Photo by Justen Williams Fall 2024 |

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“According to the CDC in Louisiana, one in three people in Louisiana have some physical, cognitive, or sensory disability...

Just because you aren’t disabled today doesn’t mean you won’t be tomorrow.”

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“It takes investment just like anything else,” he said. “I’ve had the lovely pleasure of interviewing folks that really led the charge for the ADA, and it was amazing hearing them all say they looked at the Civil Rights Movement as the blueprint for the Disability Rights Movement.”

As the grandson of A.P. Tureaud, civil rights is in Raymond’s blood. Tureaud, as an NAACP Legal Defense attorney, is credited with handling nearly all the desegregation and other civil rights cases in Louisiana from the early ‘40s through the ‘60s, including education cases to allow Black students to attend the state’s flagship university.

“When I think about disability rights, it is civil rights, and it is just as much a legacy to the Civil Rights Movement because my grandfather did so much work in it. His work formed my understanding of how to get things done – the

legal path is always a path. Often, in our current environment, ADA improvements are only made after litigation. And then you’ve got those who are advocating for the policy change, which is helpful. I think understanding all of what it took to get that push through and looking at the legacy, I’m definitely taking cues and looking for inspiration from that.”

A part of Raymond’s version of the movement involves role-playing.

“Over the last seven years, I think one of the most influential things that we did was our ‘Roll with Me’ campaign, putting elected officials and business leaders and developers and civic planners into a manual wheelchair and having them navigate the environment to see for themselves what this experience is like. And everybody had this visceral reaction like, ‘Oh my God, this is hard as hell.’”

“...it was amazing hearing them all say they looked at the Civil Rights Movement as the blueprint for the Disability Rights Movement.”

Photo by Justen Williams Fellow Xavierite and Congressman Troy Carter, ‘86, participated in one of the ‘Roll with Me’ events.

“That translated from advocacy into funding for RTA to figure out how to make the entire streetcar accessible,” Raymond said. “We got $5.5 million [based on] Congressman Carter’s advocacy training.”

The biggest thing Raymond wants people, especially his fellow Louisianans, to understand is that accessibility is a universal need.

“According to the CDC in Louisiana, one in three people in Louisiana have some physical, cognitive, or sensory disability. And that’s because of all of the preexisting conditions that we live in, the food we eat, how we like to party, how we like to drink, smoking, all of those lead to strokes and heart attacks, heart disease,” Raymond said. “Just because you aren’t disabled today doesn’t mean you won’t be tomorrow.”

Raymond was admittedly a party-going, carefree kind of guy before his accident, and while he still enjoys life, he said he’s now truly experiencing his purpose. “[This work has] given me purpose, belonging,” he said. “It’s helped me in so many ways. It gave me my life back. It gave me a right. I think a lot of times, especially post-accident, people just end up searching for a routine sense of normalcy, a sense of belonging, and a purpose.

And that’s what all this work has given me. It’s also given me a massive family and people who are empathetic and emotional and have similar goals. That’s super important.”

You can learn more about Raymond’s work at SplitSecondFoundation.org. XG

Accessibility in New Orleans with Mark Raymond, Jr. Fall 2024 |

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Disney Photo cour tesy of

Three Xavierites Helped to Create the Magical Experience

BY LESLIE D. ROSE

T

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

he perfect recipe for a fairy tale includes lots of

pixie dust, creativity, and an impeccable imagination for making the impossible real and true stories magical. For the Disney Parks attraction Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a Gold Rush of pixie dust encompasses the creation of the highly lauded experience, and three Xavierites—Stella Chase Reese, Myla Poree, ‘03, and Varion Laurent, ‘01—helped to wave the magic wand.

Given the title of Honorary Imagineer, Reese shared insights and helped Disney Imagineers with their research into New Orleans’ history and culture.

“I’ve had the privilege of traveling with the Imagineers and given a hard hat to wear with [them] to celebrate Princess Tiana,” Reese said. “As I traveled [with them, I noticed], they even looked at blades of grass to make sure everything was naturally New Orleans, as they put it. They did so many things, including [getting] artists from our area, musicians from our area, getting ideas from people from our area.”

In 2009, Disney introduced its first Black princess, a native New Orleanian named Tiana, whose big dream was to someday own a restaurant. Throughout her journeys, she falls in love (with a frog who Reese cherishes the continued inclusion of authentic New Orleans and is actually a prince), befriends a trumpet-playing alligator, the uplifting of her mother’s legacy. During an opening event for and carries her family’s tradition of hard work and the attraction at Disney World, she thanked Disney for the passion. Crafted in the spirit of legendary Chef honor.

Leah Chase, the cartoon princess pays homage “[My mother] was a person who believed in unity,” to the authenticity of the Crescent City and the Reese said. “She was a person who believed that you Chase family motto – “Pray, work hard, and do for had to appreciate yourself, love who you were, and then others.” Chase, who also has Xavier ties, received open your doors to love other people as well, so we thank —Chase Family Motto the Francis Anthony Drexel Medal, Xavier’s highest Disney for selecting the Chase family and for including us award given to a civilian. so that my mother’s values of entrepreneurship, faith, love of Creating the themed attraction for Disney Parks, a second all people, and appreciation of who you are and your values and your chapter for Tiana, meant digging a little deeper. Disney Imagineers knew culture, can live on for many years.” the perfect person to venture down that bayou with was Stella Chase Family, culture, history, and legacy are critical components of Tiana’s Reese, Chase’s daughter, and president of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant story, and the dedication to keeping things New Orleans was vital to the Incorporated. Reese, an Associate Member of the Sisters of the Blessed Imagineers. As such, all the artists involved in bringing the project to life Sacrament, was chair of the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel Fundraising are from the city, including Varion Laurent, a visual artist and a graduate Committee at Xavier. of Xavier’s Mass Communication department.

“Pray, work hard, and do for others.”

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On one of their exploration trips, Disney visited Xavier’s Art department.

During the meeting, Laurent received a phone call asking him to come over for something, but he had no idea what it was. Upon his arrival and after casually being handed a non-disclosure agreement to sign, Laurent realized he had been invited to share insights with Disney for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

“Disney was doing a deep dive into the culture of the city – I hold my city and my culture in high regard, so to be able to make sure that a company of such global status valued the input from all of those that were there was completely amazing to me,” Laurent said.

As Disney reps made their way around the room to thank participants for their openness, they mentioned to Laurent how they were working with area artists to create work for the attraction, to which Laurent advised them he was also an area artist with work on tap to show. “[The rep said] I’d like to see if you’d be interested in working with us,” Laurent recalled. “Now inside, I’m doing back flips. Inside, I was losing it.

And on the outside, I was cool as a cucumber. I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely, I’d be totally interested in entertaining that. Absolutely. Let’s have the discussion.’ From there, after several conversations, Zoom calls, a ton of paperwork, and more NDAs, I was commissioned to create an official fine art piece for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It just completely was a dream come true.”

Prints of Laurent’s piece “Bayou en Fete,” which depicts a moonlit celebration featuring characters from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, are available at the attraction’s gift shop.

Now, what’s a story about a cooking princess without special spices?

For this portion of the experience, New Orleans native Myla Reese Poree, a Division of Business graduate, was tapped to manage product development, including ideation, design, contracts, launch, and distribution for a spice line sold at the attraction’s gift shop.

The line includes Gumbo Base, Fried Chicken Seasoning, Meat Seasoning, and Seafood Seasoning, all under the name Dooky Chase’s. “[The decision to launch this with Disney] was easy for us,” Poree said.

“It’s going to be at both parks and online at Disney. And then when you come to New Orleans next time, it’ll also be at Dooky Chase’s.”

Poree’s work on the product aligns with her expertise. It allows her to uphold the community culture of her hometown and carry on the legacy

Myla Reese Poree, ‘03

Stella Chase Reese, Photo courtesy of Axios

of Chase, her grandmother, and the significance of the social impact of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant.

“The restaurant was started to have a place where African Americans could celebrate parties, birthdays, and proms, but also, how innovative our grandparents and great-grandparents were,” Poree said. “When they had the restaurant, no banks would work with Black [people], so what did they do? They allowed the individuals to come and cash checks there. There were so many different things that they knew the community needed. So, [we] made sure that they were able to house that at Disney.

It wasn’t just about the food; it was about the community and how can we help the community when no one else is. It’s about continuing the legacy of our grandparents. And so, this is our way.”

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is an authentic Louisiana experience, complete with scenes from the bayou, foot-tapping music, and the scent of sweet beignets. It opened at Disney World this past summer and will open at Disney Land this November. The attraction includes the thrilling ride culminating in a 50-foot drop and a gift shop experience that provides items like Dooky Chase’s seasonings and other family-friendly gifts and accessories to commemorate the experience. XG

Varion Laurent, ‘01. Photo by Leslie D. Rose

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CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Xavier University of Louisiana Art Gallery Spotlights Work of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament STAFF REPORT

F

OR NEARLY A CENTURY, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) have been at the core of Xavier’s achievements and student successes. The religious order founded by Saint Katharine Drexel is a part of the fabric of Xavier University of Louisiana. In honor of the Sisters’ work, a timely tribute to S.B.S. was displayed at the University’s Art Gallery in February in an exhibit, “Lighting the Path.”

“Lighting the Path” featured rarely seen photographs, historical papers, artifacts, memorabilia, and works of art from the Xavier University Archives and Special Collections. Among the featured items was the Thomas Mundy Peterson Medal, which was crafted to honor him as the first African American to vote in an election under the then-newly enacted provisions of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

“For generations, the S.B.S. has been instrumental in the education, leadership, and faith guidance of thousands of Black and Native American students,” said XULA Archivist Vincent Barraza, whose research efforts were instrumental in curating the exhibit. “It is thrilling to display rarely seen historical ephemera from the XULA Archives & Special Collection in such a thoughtprovoking and reflective exhibit, and we look forward to commemorating the extensive and essential work they undertook, even in the face of animosity.”

Along with seldom-seen art pieces, historical papers offered a rare glimpse at works prepared for Mother Katharine Drexel by Xavierites during her convalescence at the motherhouse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

“The uniqueness of this [exhibit] is how it manages to interweave all of these different elements–photographs, art, and artifacts, to weave a story of the strength of these women who quietly went about their work for Christ that was often on the cutting edge of the cultural, academic and social norms,” said Anne Collins Smith, Curator and Director of the Xavier University Art Gallery.

“Lighting the Path” was a collaborative effort of the Xavier University of Louisiana Art Department, Archives and Special Collection, and Office of Institutional Advancement.

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A Legacy of Dedication and Support to Xavier Remembering Sister Dr. Mary Ann Stachow, SBS, ‘67

BY LESLIE D. ROSE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

X

AVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA mourns the passing of Sister Dr. Mary Ann Stachow, SBS, ‘67, its last faculty member from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Over 42 years, and even sometime before her role as a professor of theology at Xavier, Sister Stachow was dedicated to the University’s founding mission of creating a more just and humane society, a mission she lived through service, mentorship, and care for the earth.

“Scholar and teacher, Sister Mary Ann Stachow led studyabroad trips to Rome and Israel.

We give thanks for her [many] years of faculty service at Xavier and her generosity of spirit and intellect. Please join me in prayer for the repose of her soul and the consolation of her family and of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who shared Sr. Mary Ann with us.”

— President Dr. Reynold Verret Her first time on campus was well before she accepted a teaching position with the University, she told Xavier in an interview last year.

“I was among a group of younger sisters who arrived in New Orleans two weeks before Hurricane Betsy,” Stachow said. “We didn’t worry because nobody seemed worried.

And then the storm came that night. It was the night of the 8th, the beginning of the 9th of September 1965. When we woke up the following day, there were trees down on

campus, roofs off some of the World War II temporary buildings, and the chapel in the middle of the administration building had been filled with several inches of water. So, we had to pin up our skirts and mop some water out of the chapel so the priest could say mass.”

Stachow, who received a Spirit of Xavier Award during Homecoming 2023, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Xavier in 1967. She became a faculty member in 1981.

“I got to be here as a student with some of the classic members of the lay faculty and the sister faculty, so I heard many stories about the university’s earlier days and everything,” she said. “That sort of makes me, at this point, having started as faculty 42 years ago, a living walking history book. I was here before Dr. (Norman C.) Francis took over, and I returned at a time when he was president.”

Although she noted a difference in the campus after many sisters were gone, Sister Stachow greatly respected everyone and their beliefs.

“When I was a student here, all the faculty, whether Catholic or not, would usually begin with a moment of prayer before each class. The enrollment was smaller, so there wasn’t as tight a schedule, and the sister presence was much stronger,” she said. “When the students looked around, they saw more visible sisters, but one of the aspects of being Catholic today in a much more diverse world means respecting where the others are coming from.”

In her classes, Sister Stachow would introduce a text on Catholic social teaching values as a means of inclusivity for students of other religions and creeds.

“This handout is one page and goes through the human person’s dignity, rights and responsibilities, and the role of government options for the poor and vulnerable. We go over that, and I say, ‘So this came from a Catholic source, and Catholics have been

encouraged to do these things, especially since the late 1800s, but if you look at ‘em closely, you probably have heard your pastor or someone at the mosque preach on some of these same values.’ I try to show them the link between Catholicism and other religions, especially other Christian religions, in that sense of listening to the voice of the prophets who say to the rich, you are oppressing the poor, and God sees it, and the sense of the prophets who also spoke about social justice.”

Sister Stachow was an avid recycler, active mentor, and thoughtful person overall. Father Victor Laroche, University Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President for Catholic Identity, adored her attention to supporting others and doing what needed to be done.

“Her care for the people, for the children and everybody, I mean, the students, everybody – it was not unusual on weekends or even sometimes on weekdays for Sister Mary Ann to give a ride to students if one needed to go to the store,” Laroche said. “If there was a need, she would really fill the void. And she was always discreet, so you would never know unless you saw her doing it.

When I think about her, I think about the mission statement of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the individual segment. There is a call to challenge the deeply rooted injustice in the world today. So, Sister Mary Ann, during her time at Xavier, not just when she was in the classroom or on campus, but her whole life, is a testament to the mission of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She lived the mission.”

Fall 2024 |

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CATHOLIC IDENTITY

President Verret Receives St. Joseph of Arimathea Medal of Service

BY LESLIE D. ROSE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

D

R. REYNOLD VERRET, President of Xavier University of Louisiana, received the St. Joseph of Arimathea Medal of Service from FADICA, the Catholic Philanthropy Network, during its 2024 Annual Meeting and Symposium: The Future of Catholic Education is Now, partly held on Xavier’s campus in February.

“...Named for the leadership service shown by St. Joseph of Arimathea, [the medal] recognizes a leader who assumes considerable personal responsibility for the Church’s mission.

The St. Joseph of Arimathea Medal of Service, named for the leadership service shown by St.

Joseph of Arimathea, recognizes a leader who assumes considerable personal responsibility for the Church’s mission. Dr. Verret was selected for his incredible leadership of the University community.

“We are privileged to honor Dr. Verret, whose legacy of leadership has forged ways for all students to succeed,” said Alexia Kelley, President & CEO of FADICA. “His building up the Kingdom of God has been nothing if not humble, bold, and steadfast.”

FADICA also gives a Saint Katharine Drexel award each year at the convening. This year is the first time the award has been bestowed upon its recipient at Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Mother Katharine and her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. FADICA leaders noted how pleased they were to see her legacy shine on in the manner for which Xavier upholds it.

“We are immensely grateful to Xavier University of [Louisiana] for graciously hosting

the FADICA-Catholic Philanthropy Network at their extraordinary and beautiful campus,” Kelley wrote in a LinkedIn post. “Xavier University was founded by St. Katharine Drexel­— the patron saint of philanthropy and racial justice — 100 years ago next year.

Her motto is depicted throughout the campus: “Press Forward, Fear Nothing.” Thank you for your visionary leadership, dedication, and generous hospitality, President Verret! Many blessings on this eve of Xavier’s Centennial year.”

More than 100 participants gathered over three days for the annual convening, including 75 Catholic philanthropists, dozens of Church leaders from across the country, and members of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Other awards during the convening were the St. Katharine Drexel Award in Catholic Philanthropy to Terrell Richardson and the Mary Magdalene Medal of Service to Gayle Benson.

Pictured from left to right: FADICA President & CEO Alexia Kelley, Dr. Reynold Verret, and FADICA Board President Dr. Michael Wolohan. Courtesy of FADICA.

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Xavierites Pay Homage to Sister Grace Mary Flickinger, SBS STAFF REPORT

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ISTER GRACE MARY FLICKINGER, SBS, was a pillar of Xavier University of Louisiana. She served with unwavering dedication as a biology faculty member from 1968 to 2016 and as the faculty athletics representative. She left this earthly life on June 10, 2024.

A New Jersey native, Sister Grace Mary Flickinger was a beacon of our Catholic identity at Xavier. She was a testament to service, entering religious life on August 25, 1952, and professing her final vows on August 3, 1960. Her motto, “That I might gain Christ Jesus,” was not just a phrase but a guiding principle that she lived by, enriching our community with her daily actions and unwavering commitment.

Her level of mentoring, guidance, and support for Xavier students and alumni knew no bounds. She even attended the medical school graduations of her former advisees. Tributes in her honor were common throughout her lifetime, so naturally, upon her passing, alumni tributes poured throughout social media, many simply thanking her for her direction as they matriculated through their rigorous pre-medicine program coursework and some personal stories about how she consistently went above and beyond to uplift them.

In honor of Sister Grace Mary’s legacy, Xavier alumni and friends are welcome to give through her named memorial scholarship by visiting Giving.XULA.edu.

“When I walked into her office for the first time in August 1994 (she took me on when my pre-med advisor left), she didn’t even look up. But when she did, she halted the conversation, smiled, and darn near shouted, ‘Oh! You’re my diastema sister!’ I did not have the slightest clue what she was talking about and knew it wasn’t a word in either of the blue vocabulary card boxes. Looking dazed and bewildered, this hilarious genius pointed to her own front tooth gap and said, ‘See?’ I chuckled but thought, Lord, I’ll have to deal with her forever.

Then, in August 1995, I drew the schedule. Sister Grace Mary for Embryology. On the first day of class, she prayed that we were all successful and went on to become physicians or whatever we wanted and desired, but more than anything she prayed to ‘God and all his little green apples’ that she caught any of us cheating…

Talk about setting the bar high! She expected the best and made us the best because she was the best. Our rock star—whenever we got to see her, catch up, and love on her fiercely.

We all are gladdened for our God to welcome her to her eternal home, but a little saddened now and forever that our Homecomings will miss her sweet and feisty persona and spirit. Sister Grace Mary, don’t be bossing God around up there, ya’ hear? And DO whisper down if He has a diastema – it’ll be our family secret (since we are made in HIS image).”

– Taffie Jones, ‘97

“Sister Grace Mary, SBS is the [reason] we have so many Black Pre-Med students from Xavier University of Louisiana entering into medical schools. Please pray for the Sisters of Blessed Sacrament, Xavier University of Louisiana family, and the family of Sister Grace Mary. Eternal rest granted unto her soul, and may the perpetual light shine upon her. Rest in peace, Xavierite.” – Kevin A. Joseph, ‘86 “Sister Grace Mary was a true believer, a compassionate counselor, a constant encourager, a playful jokester, and an honest straight shooter. She embodied all these qualities and more, becoming a legendary figure for me and many others. As a young college student, her guidance shaped my path, and her wisdom left a lasting mark on my life. Her legacy of faith, kindness, and leadership will continue to inspire me and countless others. Rest in peace, Sister Grace Mary. Your light will forever shine in our hearts.”

– Dr. Dawn Brown, ‘00

“Well, Xavierites, another gold and white soul from Emerald City, has received her wings. Sister Grace Mary Flickinger was a bundle of joy, love, and light. She will be missed.” – Anthony Sharp, ’03, ‘06

“Educator. Faithful servant. Protector of the grass. Thank you, Sister Grace Mary, for the support you gave to generations of Xavierites. Thank you for understanding and being a good sport when we debuted the Golden Girls PomPom squad, which has now evolved into the Golden Starlettes. You could have canceled us, but you let us express ourselves the way we wanted to, even if you hid your eyes sometimes.

Thank you for encouraging me to pursue performing arts, ‘If that’s really in your heart to do.’ I should say thank you again because I was blessed to say this to your face the last time I saw you. Take your welldeserved rest, Sister. We love you, Sister Grace Mary.”

– Kellee Knighten Hough ‘99 Fall 2024 |

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OUR

CATHOLIC IDENTITY

The Xavier Community Mourns the Passing of Sister Donna Gould, SBS STAFF REPORT

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OR OVER TWO DECADES, Sister Donna Gould, SBS, was a dedicated servant to the Xavier community, specifically within the Department of English, where she served as an assistant professor before retiring in December of 2022. She passed away on September 7, 2023.

Sister Donna’s time in Santa Fe greatly influenced her life, and its impact was often reflected in her teaching.

A native of Los Angeles, she attended Xavier University of Louisiana for her undergraduate degree in English. The S.B.S. then sent her to teach at the St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She later attended the University of Notre Dame for her master’s degree and the University of LouisianaLafayette, where she received her doctorate in American literature, folklore, and cultural studies. Her dissertation focused on women’s roles and conditions, themes that would be present throughout the courses she would go on to teach upon returning to Xavier.

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Biljana Obradovic, Ph.D., a professor of English at Xavier who worked alongside Sister Donna, shared an anecdote of how the longtime Xavier figure’s generosity impacted all those around her: after hearing Dr. Obradovic mention in passing items that she needed – a baby gate for her son and window mesh to allow for open windows without being eaten by mosquitoes – Sister Donna found a way to help her fellow faculty member and kindly gave her the supplies she needed.

“Sister Donna was always so generous; even though she didn’t have a lot, she wanted always to help others,” Obradovic said. “I will never forget her kindness and generosity and will miss her.”

Sister Donna’s time in Santa Fe greatly influenced her life, and its impact was often reflected in her teaching. Inspired by the diverse cultures she observed, her English and folklore classes always included writings and literature from people of color. She would even bring Xavier students to Santa Fe for a seminar

so they could learn and be immersed in a culture with which they were not familiar.

“Her courses were always student-oriented,” said Thomas Bonner, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of English at Xavier, who also taught Sister Donna as an undergraduate. “Donna was a wonderful woman, dedicated to the mission of the Sisters of Blessed Sacrament and Xavier University of Louisiana. She will be remembered and missed by many.”

Many aspects of her life reflected her passion and love of literature. She was a program chair for a South-Central Christianity and Literature symposium in Taos, New Mexico. She edited and contributed to “Landscape & Epiphany,” a volume of essays produced at a symposium in Santa Fe. She also contributed to the research that enabled Leo Luke Marcello to publish “Blackrobe’s Love Letters,” which was based on correspondence by Xavier University of Louisiana’s foundress, St. Katharine Drexel.

Xavier Review Press, the University’s nonprofit publishing press, distributed both publications.

For our Faith and in Reverence to Xavier

Join Xavier University of Louisiana for Its Centennial Celebration In Rome

You are cordially invited to join Xavier University of Louisiana on a trip to Rome, Italy, from November 17 to 27, 2025

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N HONOR OF XAVIER’S CENTENNIAL and the 25th anniversary of Saint Katharine Drexel’s canonization, Xavier alumni and friends are cordially invited to join Xavier University of Louisiana on a trip to Rome, Italy, from November 17 to 27, 2025.

In this celebration of faith, food, and fellowship, attendees will visit wineries, open-air markets, small towns, and villas. Those in attendance will also experience the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square, where our dear foundress, during an audience with Pope Leo XIII, requested to staff the missions she was financing as a layperson. Responding to her request, Pope Leo XIII suggested she become the missionary she sought.

The Xavier community owes the legacy of St. Katharine Drexel and her steadfast service to this moment. Justly this special place was also the site of her canonization on October 1, 2000, which our President Emeritus, Dr. Norman C. Francis, faithfully attended during his service as Xavier’s President.

Remaining connected to our Catholic identity as we pay homage to our foundress is a beautiful way to acknowledge our 100-year commitment to creating a more just and humane society through the dedicated service Saint Katharine Drexel made her legacy. Through this partnership with Blessed Trinity and St. Peter Claver Catholic churches, we hope you will join us in this spiritual journey as we explore the sacred and hallowed ground for our faith and in reverence to Xavier. XG

Dr. Norman C. Francis Speaks at the Canonization of St. Katharine Drexel while Pope John Paul II Prays.

Learn more and register at https://www.206tours.com/ cms/stpeterclaver/ or scan the QR code.

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Inside eight decades of curating a welcoming environment for military-affiliated students

BY MARTIE BOWSER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

X

avier University of Louisiana has always been unwavering in its commitment to serving those who served, including active-duty members, veterans, and their families. This commitment is reflected in various programs, policies, and resources designed to enhance military-affiliated students’ educational experiences and success.

The University’s digital archives hold letters from 1941 where Sister Madeleine Sophie Ryan, who served as dean then, would correspond with 271 former students serving in the Army during World War II. This correspondence was the foundation of XU’s initiative to create a supportive and welcoming environment for military-affiliated students.

Photograph of Sister Madeleine Sophie Ryan, SBS who served in the Education Dept., and as Dean of Women at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Less than three years later, on June 22, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill (formally known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944). When signed, President Roosevelt stated, “Servicemen and women the opportunity of resuming their education or technical training … not only without tuition charge … but with the right to receive a monthly living allowance while pursuing their studies.” The requirements indicated that individuals must serve 90 consecutive days in the U.S. Armed Forces and have not received a dishonorable discharge.

According to Archives.Gov, “approximately eight million veterans received educational benefits within seven years after the bill was passed.”

The bill was intended to assist all veterans regardless of race; however, due to systematic oppression and racism, Black vets were typically excluded.

Although HBCUs were not provided the same government assistance as predominantly white institutions, universities such as Xavier welcomed veterans.

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X

avier has a history of storied military veterans, including U.S. Air Force General Bernard P. Randolph, ‘54, who served as Commander of Air Force Systems Command. Rear Admiral Stephen W. Rochon, ‘84, the second African American to achieve the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard, was the first African American White House Chief Usher. He and Rear Admiral Will E. Watson, ‘96, the sixth African American to reach the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard, are among only seven African Americans to serve as Flag Officers in the branch.

Over time, Xavier has created and become involved in several initiatives to support military-affiliated students. In addition to its investment in the Post-911 GI Bill, XU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows eligible students to receive up to 100% tuition coverage at both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2021, Xavier was designated a Military Friendly School.

These following Xavierites are just a few examples of leaders who have carried University pillars while serving their country. These stories highlight Xavier’s commitment to supporting military-affiliated students and ensuring their academic and professional successes across industries.

Xavier University Military Band Performing on the Steps of the Xavier University Administration Building at the Library Dedication Ceremony 10.16.37.

Members of the Xavier University of Louisiana Military Band at a Football Game.

“No one really wanted the veterans.”

– Dr. Clarence Becknell Sr., ‘75, ‘88, ‘23 Dr. Clarence Becknell Sr. served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972.

After returning home from the Vietnam War, his quest for educational support led him to Xavier University, where former president Dr. Norman Francis initiated the Career Opportunities Program. Funds offered in participation with COP, coupled with his GI Bill, allowed Becknell to attend college, beating the “trend” of Black veterans returning home to little to no options.

“That was the only thing you could do: go in the military, spend two years, come out, then get a job in the post office. Be a postman, be a teacher,” he said, agreeing that Xavier was an exception to that rule. “No one really wanted the veterans. [Dr. Francis] opened the doors for veterans to attend the program.”

The program allowed veterans to receive their Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, creating an influx of Black educators

lacking in America’s school system. Becknell began working in the New Orleans Public School System in 1972 and retired in 2005.

He continued his military service for 36 more years, becoming part of the Louisiana Air National Guard and the Louisiana Army Guard, retiring in 2008 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After retiring, Becknell returned to Xavier in 2023 to further his education, earning his doctoral degree. His dissertation, “A Sacrifice for Their Country and A Commitment to Their Community: A Phenomenological Study of Veterans Transitioning from Soldier to Student,” gained praise for its focus on improving access for veterans transitioning to higher education.

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“I wish every HBCU student knew about these opportunities.”

–Captain Kelly Elmore, M.D., ‘98 Dr. Kelly Elmore’s journey with the United States Navy began as she prepared to walk across the graduation stage. She completed her first year of undergraduate studies with a 4.0 GPA and received the University’s prestigious Rousseve Scholarship, which assisted in covering her tuition for medical school. She continued her education at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine with the help of the Health Services Professional Scholarship sponsored by the military.

“Xavier helped me build my professional and educational portfolio, and I did an extremely great job on my MCAT, as well as outside services and internships. If I had not gone to Xavier, I would not have met people who told me about the HSP scholarship,” Elmore said.

As a Board-Certified OB/GYN, Chief of Staff for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and owner of KOE Medical Consulting Firm and VivaLife Health Hub, Elmore is

passionate about ensuring more HBCU students understand the benefits of militaryassociated programs and scholarships.

“Number one, these opportunities are things a lot of people don’t know about, and number two, people may be fearful of them because they think, ‘Oh, my God, I have to go into the military. I have to fight. I’m going to die.’ No. There are so many opportunities. The military is a STEAM organization—science, technology, engineering, arts, and math—and that’s what Xavier offers,” she said. “I wish that every HBCU student knew about these opportunities.”

Elmore retired from the United States Navy on July 1, 2024, as Captain but still considers it her duty to share the endless possibilities available through the military.

“We, as members of the United States military forces, need to return and welcome students to the military forces. We need to be mentors, sponsors, and advocates for you.”

“Having a group of people who will reinforce that you belong is vital.”

– Captain Rashad Wilkerson, D.O., ‘96 After graduating from Xavier, Captain Rashad Wilkerson, D.O., utilized the Health Services Professional Scholarship to pursue his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

While several members of his family were veterans, his main reason for choosing the military was the financial support and endless educational opportunities. Although he said he understands their apprehensions, Wilkerson encourages students to take the “leap of faith” that is entering the military.

“There are so many opportunities and so many things you’re exposed to when you’re a physician in the military compared to when you’re not in the military,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson mentioned that access to leadership roles is also a perk of military affiliation, such as “running half of the hospital to running a whole hospital” or “working for Congress” as a physician. These “eye opening” opportunities are just a small part of the narrative Wilkerson feels students, especially those at HBCUs, should be exposed to.

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His pride as a Xavier alumnus lies in the “foundation of self-worth and understanding” the University instilled in him. “It opened my eyes to not allowing negative influences to change your positive course,” he said.

Wilkerson’s career as a gastroenterologist has placed him in many rooms where he is often the minority. However, he recalled a moment when he was brought to tears at a conference because every physician in attendance was Black.

“When you are in specific spaces, you may become an anomaly until you reach a place where you are no longer an anomaly,” he said.

“Then you join the group of people who always tell you ‘you belong’ regardless of who you are. Having a group of people that will always reinforce ‘yes, you belong here,’ regardless of your background. Xavier has given that to so many people. That propels you forward and lifts you up in a way that can’t be explained.”

Wilkerson serves as the Director of Medical Services at Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center.

Xavier’s commitment to veteran education extends beyond just offering programs. The University is actively working to improve access and support for veterans in higher education. It offers a range of educational programs that can build upon skills gained during military service and prepare them for leadership positions within and outside of their service.

“You can dream big, as big as you want to.”

– Commander Denise Boggs-Wilkerson, D.O., ‘01 Commander Denise Boggs-Wilkerson, D.O., ‘01, utilized the Health Services Professional Scholarship to continue her education at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The scholarship provided coverage of her medical school tuition and offered a cost-ofliving stipend, which was very helpful when she became pregnant during her first year.

The assistance enabled Boggs-Wilkerson to complete her education and gain her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006.

“Medical schools do not necessarily offer scholarships. It’s very difficult,” BoggsWilkerson said, referring to the minimal funding sources that often deter students from enrolling. “But knowing that schools like Xavier have scholarship opportunities like this, where you don’t have to worry about the cost, means you can dream big. Dream as big as you want to go to whatever school you want. It is a wonderful opportunity.”

While in medical school, Boggs-Wilkerson began her military career as a Commissioned

Officer in the Navy. Her undergraduate degree qualified her for employment in management roles, putting her on the fast track to advancement in her military and medical careers. She emphasized the need to debunk the myth that active military enlistment can derail one’s educational process.

“We need doctors in the military as well.

The goal is to get you through, not to slow you down or take you away,” she said.

Boggs-Wilkerson has surpassed her “service for education” exchange time and remains an active Navy officer. She is a family medicine physician and serves as the Deputy Director for Forced Medical Readiness at the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

“There’s a reason I’m still here. I never expected to be a military doctor, but I love the community that I serve. I love the population I serve and the opportunities I have to be a leader and use the skills I learned at an HBCU. We are well prepared for such environments because we are taught to stand up and speak

up to be experts in everything we do and accept anything but excellence from ourselves.

Those kinds of leadership traits are what the military needs and are highly valued.”

“You are taught that one day, you will lead people.”

– Lieutenant Colonel Kenesha Pace, ‘09 Lieutenant Colonel Kenesha Pace’s participation in JROTC in high school put her on an easy path to success. She earned an ROTC Cadet scholarship to assist her through her undergraduate studies from 2001 to 2005.

“There are a variety of options for entering the military, whether you’re trying to become an officer or just get educational benefits,” Pace said.

Pace’s goal of becoming a medical service corps officer was one of the driving forces behind her pursuit of her College of Pharmacy degree.

One of the most significant lessons she said she learned while forging her military and educational path was the leadership skills instilled in her by both facets.

“We get more exposure to the leadership aspect early,” she said. “Yes, you’re taught to follow commands and follow orders. But we also taught that you will one day lead people.

So, you need to understand what leadership is.

While Pace said she understands the military “is not for everyone,” she isn’t looking to end her 14 years of active service in the United States Army anytime soon.

“You learn a lot and say, ‘OK, I can see where I’m making a difference here. I see how my skills are being used.’ And I’m serving at the same time. I contribute to the health care of the beneficiaries of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who support active-duty service members when they’re gone,” she said.

With the financial support afforded through her active duty, Pace is constantly taking advantage of continued education opportunities, including becoming a boardcertified pharmacist, which provides her with an additional pay incentive. She is a pharmacist at the Defense Health Agency, managing the automation systems supporting U.S. military pharmacies. XG

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Honoring

Dr. Norman C. Francis, ‘52

BY LESLIE D. ROSE

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

A

bronze statue honoring President Emeritus Dr. Norman C. Francis, ‘52, was unveiled at Xavier on February 24.

Created by artist Russell Whiting, the statue is temporarily affixed in the Convocation Center. In the future, it will be placed in the quad facing out from the Administration Building, greeting students, alumni, and friends as Dr. Francis does each time he’s on campus.

During the ceremony, surrounded

by Xavierites, family, and friends, Dr. Francis received kind words about his leadership, personhood, and dedication to everything he does. The audience then joined for a collective tribute with responses derived from our favorite Dr. Francis-isms, which you can read at right.

Photo by Nate Ha/Verite News

Collective Tribute

Leader: Today, in the presence of these avid supporters and loyal sons and daughters of Xavier, we gather to pay tribute and thanks for the many contributions of Dr. Norman C. Francis.

People: It takes courage to take risks Leader: As a Xavierite, Dr. Francis excelled as an honors student and leader until his graduation in 1952. He went on to make history as Loyola University’s first Black graduate in 1955. Then he came back home to serve Xavier.

People: It takes courage to take risks Leader: In service as the Dean of Men, Dr. Francis became a social justice icon, giving refuge to the Freedom Riders on this campus in 1961 when no one else in the city could or would offer them shelter.

People: It takes courage to take risks Leader: His dedication to justice and equity afforded him the opportunity to become Xavier’s first Black and lay president, a position he maintained for 47 years.

People: It takes courage to take risks Leader: As president, Dr. Francis tripled University enrollment, expanded the campus, and weathered the extensive damage to Xavier in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He even ambitiously chose a reopening date before cleanup began, and by God, the University reopened as planned.

People: It takes courage to take risks Leader: Dr. Norman C. Francis is a highly lauded legend. He has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among countless prestigious accolades and recognitions. But first and foremost, we call him a son of Xavier. So, today, in recognition of his many decades of outstanding leadership, civic impact, and loyalty to his beloved Xavier University of Louisiana, we honor him for all he’s given and continues to give.

People: Every day, a miracle

If you want to assist with the statue project or support the Dr. Norman and Blanche Francis Endowed Scholarship, please visit Giving.XULA.edu.

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Xavier Raises More Than $100 Million, Reaching Key Fundraising Milestone in $500 Million Centennial Campaign

Xavier University of Louisiana announced that it has raised over $100 million, marking a significant milestone for its $500 million Centennial Campaign. This signific ant milestone demonstrates the value of Xavier, not only as the nation’s only Black and Catholic institution of higher education but as one that invests in educating, empowering, and producing the nation’s next generation of leaders.

“This important fundraising milestone is a testament to Xavier’s value as an institution that produces some of our nation’s most thoughtful leaders – leaders with the ability and intellect to take on our greatest challenges,” said Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana. “Our generous supporters know that an investment in Xavier is not only an investment in our current students, but it’s an investment in social justice and the communities and the nation they serve.”

For nearly a century, Xavier has been a driving force for students who believe in the power of higher education rooted in the values of service, equity, and social justice. The Association of American Medical Colleges recently named Xavier one of the top universities sending African Americans through medical school. Xavier remains one of the country’s leading producers of Black pharmacists and students continuing on

to pursue doctoral studies in STEM disciplines.

Xavier University of Louisiana was recognized as one of the nation’s top HBCUs by the U.S. News Media Group.

The Centennial Campaign is built upon the university’s founding mission of creating a more just and humane society through education via four key initiatives: Increasing Affordability & Access Through Financial Assistance: Xavier will ensure its transformative education is accessible to more students, regardless of income or socioeconomic status.

Matching Our Campus to Our Potential: Xavier is committed to building infrastructure that enhances the student on-campus experience and reflects Xavier’s academic excellence.

Investing in the Well-Being & Success of the Entire Student Body: Xavier is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where all students can thrive and reach their full potential.

Recruiting and Retaining Exceptional Faculty & Expanding Academic Programs: Xavier will invest in a world-class faculty and an innovative and research-rich program to ensure graduates are ready to address the most pressing challenges of their communities.

STAFF REPORT

milestone, we are well on our way to reaching our total $500 million goal and setting up Xavier for its next century of excellence and triumphs.”

Centennial Campaign funds have helped establish 48 new endowed scholarships, two new endowed professorships/chairs, 54 new annually funded scholarships, and 38 current use/endowed programs. Phase II of the Centennial Campaign is well underway with the objectives of growing Xavier’s endowment to $300 million, doubling the number of Black American graduates entering medical school, renovating and rejuvenating the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Convent, and exceeding the $200 million mark in contributions by the end of 2025.

With the continued support of generous donors, Xavier will expand access to education, enhance academic offerings, and strengthen its dedication to fostering diverse and inclusive academic excellence.

Scan the QR code to learn more about the Campaign.

“Xavier continues to solidify itself as an educational leader and option for young people looking to become trailblazers of tomorrow,” said Campaign Chair Gladstone Jones. “I am beyond confident that by surpassing this first campaign

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2023 The following Honor Roll of Donors includes gifts received by the University from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

Xavier is thankful for the many gifts it receives from alumni, friends, corporations, foundations, and other supporters. Through their generous donations, these benefactors confirm their belief in our educational mission and help to ensure that both current and future students receive a solid academic foundation.

Placement into the respective Honor Roll of Donor categories considers both the sum total of all personal contributions plus receipts from any donor-advised fund and matching gifts during that time frame.

Xavier strives for accuracy and thoroughness. If you believe an entry is listed in error, or have questions about the Donor Honor Roll, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (504) 520-7575.

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Honor Roll of Donors Alumni $250,000 to $499,999

The Estate of Dr. Marie Valentine McDemmond $100,000 to $249,999

The Estate of Mrs. Ruby Folse Age Dr. Gilda A. Barnum-Barabino and Mr. Joseph Barabino Mr. Alden J. and Mrs. Rhesa O. McDonald Anonymous Donors (Collective) $50,000 to $99,999

Dr. Tondra Newman Taylor $10,000 to $49,999

The Estate of Mrs. Lorraine G. Desbordes Dr. Katrice Annette Albert Mr. Justin T. Augustine, III Daria E. Babineaux, M.D. Mr. Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr. Tara D. Benjamin, M.D. Carolyn Brown Block-Arnelle, Ph.D. Mr. Randall N. Boseman* Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Brown III Lorena S. Chicoye, M.D. Mr. Christopher and Mrs. Kathryn L. Crawford Dr. Torijaun and Mrs. Michelle Dallas Mrs. Dionne DeBose-Hampton* Dr. Farrell David Fort* Mr. and Mrs. Timothy B. Francis, Esq. The Estate of Mr. Lionel Hampton Mr. William H. Harris, Jr., Esq.* Ms. Teal A. Holden * Dr. and Mrs. John H. Jackson, IV Dr. Patrice P. Jean, J.D., Ph.D. and Mr. Darren Collins Mrs. Ruth Campbell Jean Senior Federal Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle and Mrs. Patricia Lemelle* Mr. Geoffrey T. Marshall and Mrs. Rhonda J. Marshall Dr. David R. and Mrs. Synthia Miller Dr. James A. Paschal* Drs. Derek J. and Shawn S. Robinson Dr. Tanya Robinson* Dr. Ida L. Rose Ms. Paula T. Saizan Taryn H. Taylor, M.D. Dr. Frederick M. and Mrs. Olivia A. Toca* Cynthia Bowman Vernon, Pharm D.

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

thank you $5,000 to $9,999 Capt. Eugenia Foster Adams, Ret.* Mayor Timothy J. Adams Mrs. Leslie M. Bourgeois Truss Mr. Bernard L. and Mrs. Diane V. Bynum Dr. Eunice V. Hodges and Mr. Horace C. Bynum, Jr. Mrs. Melonie A. Coleman-Richard* Mr. Learnard G. Dickerson Mr. and Mrs. John L. Finley, III* Mrs. Mildred Young Gardner* Dr. Lloyd A. Gavin and Mrs. Eunice C. Gavin* Dr. Otis Gowdy, Jr. Mr Cedric S. Grant DeShawndranique D. Gray, M.D. Ms. Piia T. Hanson Mrs. Gaylene V. Watts Harris* Dr. LeWanza M. Harris Ms. Veronica L. Harrison* Mrs. Jenna R. Hatton-Cobb Sr. Stephanie Henry, S.B.S. Mrs. Alexis M. Herman Mrs. Janice A. Rouzan Howard* LaToya S. Clark Hughes, M.D. Dr. Dana M. Iglesias Regina Whitfield Kekessi, M.D., MPH Dr. Adrena V. Lee Mrs. Carolyn Millet Lee Dr. Carla Gayle Massey Brian L. McGee, M.D. Mr. Chester W. and Mrs. Barbara A. Mitchell Shayla B. Nesbitt, M.D. Sr. Jane M. Nesmith, S.B.S. Captain Vincent L. (Brown) Nzinga Mrs. Tiffany Milam Owens* Ms. Dianne R. Pajaud Mr. Ulysses A. and Mrs. Rise Pichon Dr. Steven T. Player and Dr. Celeste O. Player Mrs. Lynne K. Raphael* Dr. Oneka Y. Richardson* Mrs. Lila June Courtney Riley* The Estate of Mr. Leo P. Sam, Jr. Dr. Keira N. Scanks Ms. Chantel Shackleford Dr. Odessa K. Spraggins* Mr. Herbert Thomas, Jr. and Mrs. Nellie Thomas Dr. Trevonne M. Thompson and Dr. Nicole C. Thompson* Paula M. Verrette, M.D. Mrs. Carita S. Walker, Esq. Dr. Denise A. Webb, M.D. Dr. Constance M. Williams and Mr. Luther S. Williams Lashonda L. Williams, M.D. Yolanda A. Williams, D.D.S.

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

$2,500 to $4,999 Captain Sanders W. Anderson and Mr. Lewis Anderson* Archie Andrews, Ph.D. Mrs. Cheri and Mr. Verge Ausberry Dr. Reneathia P. Baker, M.D. Mr. Rashi J. Bates and Dr. Karmen Robertson Bates Ms. Donn C. Beaubien* Stacy C. Benton, PsyD. Dr. Montianna S. Bingham Mr. Irvin C. Blackburn and Mrs. Wanda Haney Blackburn Dr. Sheila D. Bouldin Ms. De Etra Branch* Mr. Kenneth J. Broussard Dr. Carolyn M. Brown Lina Bonita Caldwell, M.D. Ms. Barbara J. Carmon* Dr. Brenda Mary Ann Chappell Miss Misti C. Clark Drs. Mark A. and Kimberly S. Clay Dr. LaTedra M. Collins Mrs Savitra M. Collins Drs. Errol Crook and Tammy Lawrence Crook Ms. Helen G. Cuillier Mr. Robert D. Defrantz, III Ms. Denise R. Dunn Dr. Kathryn L. Elmore Mr. Christopher and Dr. Treniece Eubanks Natasha Fievre, M.D.* Mrs. Marguerite Rey Florent Mr. Henry J. Glover, Sr., MBA and Mrs. Janice R. Glover* Dr. Pheophilus H. Glover* Mr. Cary M. Grant Drs. Antwar M. and Angelica Harrell Carol D. Harris, M.D. Ms. Janice Heard-Guidry Mr. Larry G. Higgins Mrs. Serena J. Hunter The Honorable Judge Brian A. Jackson* Dr. Aniika R. Jackson-Smith Dr. LaToya D. Jackson Street Adrienne M. Johnson, Pharm D.* Mrs. Michaelle V. Jones* Ms. Taffie Nicole Jones* Kimberly J. Keller, M.D.* Dr. Nicole Lee Kerley-McGuire Ms. Kristen R. Labat* Mr. Louis E. Livers, Jr. Mr. Marlon Lloyd Dr. Quinisha K. Logan-Nash* Dr. Ashla L. Martin Mrs. Shawana J. McGee-Fayolle Randy G. McKee, Esq. Dr. Warren P. McKenna, Jr. Mrs. Tamara J. McLemore Mrs. Patrice E. McNeal Dr. Brooke M. Mobley

Dr. James W. Moore, Captain, USPHS, Retired* Mrs. Erica Lynn Morgan-Taylor* Dr. Sophia L. Morris Dr. Steven A. and Mrs. Shannon S. Morris Dr. Nicole E. Mourillon Mrs. Lillian Polk Nash Mr. Donald R. Naylor, Jr., Esq. Ruth E. Reid Neal, M.D. Mrs. Claire H. Ojeh and Mr. Olisa Ojeh* Sancerie J. O’Rourke-Allen, D.D.S.* Alejandro R. Perkins, Esq. and Mrs. Dina G. Perkins* Dr. Marina E. Rasnow-Hill Dr. Elizabeth Moore Rhodes Dr. Mary L. Carter Robinson Dr. Keisha T. and Mr. Michael D. Robinson Dr. Quintin R. Robinson Dr. Kelley H. Rouse Mrs. Lois Milton Roux Mrs. Anna Rita Smith Scott Attorney Juval O. Scott The George and Ola Sewell Fund of Infaith Community Foundation Ms. Charles Etta Silas Mr. Errol J. and Mrs. Emma Simmons* Dr. Brandi A. Sinkfield Dr. Elton J. Smith, M.D. Mr. Mark and Mrs. Rachel S. Spears Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell J. Stevens Mrs. Evangeline H. Tierney* Mr. Perry (Ret. Army) Tillman III and Mrs. Diane S. Tillman Drs. David A. and Markitta J. Travillion* Mrs. Sylvia Haydel Tureaud* Miss Vanessa M. Vavasseur Dr. Carla B. Washington Drs. Joseph and Jenelle F. Watts Mr. Warren W. Welters, III Angele T. White, Pharm.D., J.D.* Ms. Lisa L. Wilkerson Mr. James D. Woods, MFT Cheynita Woodson-Jones, M.D.* Mrs. Erika D. Young $1,000 to $2,499 Ms. Clotia C. Abbey-Mensah Dr. Carlton Z. and Mrs. Inez Gaudin Adams John S. Adams, Sr., M.D. Mr. Dwayne A. Aikens, Jr. Dr. Oladapo A. Alade Dr. Ashli P. and Mr. Michael Alexander

Belinda B. Alexander, M.D. Dr. Ronda E. Alexander Mr. Joe L. Allen, Jr.* Dr. Garrett D. Anderson Mr. Joseph D. Antee Emma L. Aristide, Pharm D. Mr. Paul J. Atkins Dr. and Mrs. Theodore E. Atkinson, III* Ms. Carmen Maria Austin Janeen R. Azare, Ph.D.* Mrs. Mabel Francis Bailey Mr. George W. and Mrs. Carla D. Gibson Baker Dr. Tracy A. and Mr. Mark Banks Dr. Antoinette M. Bannister Mr. Norman E. Barnum, IV and Mrs. Dionne Gremillion Barnum Dr. Angel B. Bettis Mr. Alvin Blackmon III* Eric D. Blakney, M.D. Ms. Bernadette D. Blount LCDR Denise A. BoggsWilkerson Mr. Edward Holland and Mrs. Melanie Boston-Holland Dr. Michael C. Boucree, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Danny J. Boykins Mr. Joseph A. Brooks, Jr.* Mrs. Beverly Anna Avery Broussard* Malcolm Broussard, RPh. Ms. Mercedese Broussard* Mr. Samuel L. Brown Attorney Nicole Brunson Dr. Sylvester J. and Mrs. Margaret A. Bryan Dr. Bobby P. Burkes, Sr. Mr.and Mrs. Harold Cade Dr. Rosemarie Jack Caillier Charlette M. Cain, DVM* Mr. Emerson Carey, Jr., Esq.* Ms. Joyce A. Carter Mr. Kenneth L. and Mrs. LaQuita Carter Nikki Harrison Carter, M.D.* Dr. Monet A. Casey, M.D. Colonel Dexter E. Caston and Mrs. Demetria George Caston* Mr. Meyer J. and Mrs. Mary E. Chambers Mr. Kenny K. Chase Dr. Dawn M. Chinn, Pharm. D. Drs. George E. and Christie L. Clayton* Attorney MiAngel C. Cody Dr. Arthur C. and Mrs. Sarah G. Coleman Dr. Denise A. Coleman, Pharm D. Mrs. Christina A. Coleman-Erwin Kimberlee A. ColemanHenderson, M.D. Dr. Ashté K. Collins*

Mr. Donald C. Collins Dr. Jenifer M. Conde and Mr. John P. Conde Attorney Karl J. Connor, J.D., L.L.M. and Mrs. Monika Connor Mrs. Catherine E. Cottles Ms. Michelle A. Covalt* Attorney Kimela W. Cox Mr. Johnny and Mrs. Shirley Crear Mr. Douglas Cunningham* Ms. Doris Davis Ms. Shawn C. Davis Dr. Kibibi N. Davison Mrs. Roxanne M. Deams Mrs. Kathleen Keyes DeGrange* Mr. Alvin S. Deloach Ms. Tiffany T. Devereaux* Jasmine E. Oliver, M.D. Dr. Jhan Doughty Berry* Ms. Merchell A. Douglas, Pharm D. Beverly Brown Dupre, Ph.D. Mr. Errol Duronslet Carmen G. Echols, M.D. Rev. Dr. Nathaniel L. Edmond and Mrs. Christine D. Edmond Sonni P. Elliott-Libutsi, M.D. Mr. Marvin E. Ellis Mr. Claude I. Elmore* Mr. James and Mrs. Cheryl Elmore* Dr. Nicholle B. Espadron, M.D. Mr. Amos J. Evans and Mrs. Barbara Keyes Evans* Mrs. Latina S. Fauconier Dr. Joi M. Findley-Smith Ms. Keisha D. Flen Miss Kash’Mir Foley Aja J. Fowler, M.D. Dr. Ryan A. Francois Mr. Carroll L. and Mrs. Gloria Frank* Drs. Coleridge T. and Cheryl Franklin* Mr. Wilfred George Gaspard Dr. Charles J. Gibson, M.D. and Dr. Holly Gibson Kidada N. Gilbert-Lewis, M.D.* Dr. Titilola Fadahunsi Glass Dr. Gisele A. Goff Mrs. Nicole Marchand Golden Marcellus Grace, Ph.D. and Mrs. Laura D. Grace Dr. Kevin Granger, D.D.S., P.C. Ms. Beverly Winona Grant Teas E. Gray, M.D. Mrs. Jacquelyn Jones Green Ms. Janie L. Green Professor D. Wendy Greene, Esq. Dr. Keva K. Gwin Dr. Rosalind Pijeaux Hale* Dr. Jeanine E. Hall Mrs. Mattie Johnson Hall

Fall 2024 |

25

2023 Honor Roll of Donors Dr. Danielle Haney Adrienne A. Hanson, M.D. Shellie M. Harden, D.D.S., MPH Mrs. Cynthia Hardy Dr. Davina J. Harkey-Nero Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Harland, II Tomia Palmer Harmon, M.D. Ms. Lisa R. Harris Ms. Mia H. Harris Mr. William T. and Mrs. Elizabeth Bostick* Dr. Leneshia Haynes Mr. Troy J. Heard Roger D. Hector, M.D. Mr. Ian P. and Mrs. Marielle Heisser Dr. Anna I. and Mr. Trent S. Heisser Mr. Ruston G. Henry, Sr. Dr. Cherie C. and Mr. Carl C. Hill Mrs. Ruby N. Hill* Mr. Morris L. Honore Dr. Mary Dean Hunter* Cynthia Darensbourg Hurd Ms. Camiel J. Irving Ernest W. Jackson, D.M.D.* Mrs. Melazie Vavasseur Jacobs* Mrs. Kuiana M. James Mr. Percy Johnson and Mrs. Carol Haller Johnson Dr. Clanford L. Johnson Dr. Latasha M. Bright Johnson and Mr. Jerome C. Johnson Drs. Lamont Randall-Desean Jones and Teniesha N. Wright-Jones Dr. Maiysha D. Jones Ms. Marsha M. Jones* Dr. Nadja N. Jones Mrs. Joy A. Joseph Ms. Kara M. Keller Drs. Joseph A. and Deidre Labat Ms. Justina M. Lafitte Mrs. Rochelle N. Lampton Dr. Melissa I. Lancaster Courtney A. Landry, M.D.* Ms. Jennifer M. Lear Lester A. Lee, Sr., Ph.D. Treva A. Lee, Ph.D.* Dr. Warren G. Lee, III Dr. Brian N. Lewis and Dr. Tamara H. Lewis Dr. Januari S. Lewis Drs. Willie L. Lewis and Mary L. Gauthier-Lewis Ms. Sherrie B. Littlejohn* Mrs. Rochelle B. Littleton W. Irene Love, Pharm D. Mrs. Tracy Ransom Mackie Dr. Christie W. and Mr. Gregory Magee* Judge Njeri B. Maldonado Dr. Edwin R. and Mrs. LaQuita N. Malone Ms. Veronica A. Malone

26

| XAVIER GOLD

Dr. Jarrett Manning, D.D.S., MPH* Dr. Christopher E. Marrero* Dr. C. LaToya Mason-Bolden Nicole A. Matthews, D.O. Mrs. Robyn T. Mays Captain (Ret.) Leon McClain, Jr Mrs. Susan R. McCleskey* Attorney Karl Eugene McDonald Dr. Cedrek L. McFadden, M.D. Dr. Jill E. McGovern Mrs. Andrea and Mr. Randall McHenry Ms. Brendolyn M. McKenna* Mrs. Carolyn Jennings McLain* Ms. Greer E. Mendy Dr. Asia K. Richardson Michel Mr. Allen C. and Mrs. Imani D. Miller Mr. Adolph J. Moline, Jr. Mr. Brian D. Monette Mrs. Tomika D. Moody Dr. Calandra R. Tate Moore Mrs. Raya Llorens Moore Dr. Tanisha R. Moore Mr. Jarvis J. Morgan Mr. Brandon M. Morning Ms. LaToya B. Moseley* Attorney Dwight and Mrs. Elodie Murray Mr. Johnny S. and Mrs. Linda G. Narcisse Mrs. Stephanie R. Navarre Mr. Stevey T. Neal Mr. Kevin A. Nelson Kenneth E. Nixon, M.D.* Vuyisile T. Nkomo, M.D., MPH Drs. Gershom and Tracy L. Norfleet Ms. Monique Angelia Norfolk, MPH Dr. Shenita A. Outland* Selika R. Owens, M.D.* Mrs. Cheryl Thomas-Paige, CPA Ms. Javonne D. Patterson Mr. Lewis Pryor and Mrs. Tiffinie N. Payne-Pryor Dr. Michelle A. Perkins Dr. Marjorie E. Person Dr. Hongloan T. Pham Mr. and Mrs. Gregory G. Pierce Mrs. Myla Reese Poree* Mrs. Lisa Cochran Porter Mr. Lester A. and Mrs. Vanessa S. Pourciau Miss Ayanna D. Prather Dr. Adrian A. Price Mr. Eugene A. Priestley* Dr. Lawrence J. Prograis, Jr. Dorothy L. Pugh, R.Ph. Dr. Henry Rachal, III and Dr. Funmilayo A. Rachal Mrs. Annie F. Tureaud Lewis Ramsey Mr. Donald A. Reed Dr. Jo Shani Reed

Ms. Kimberly M. Reese* Ms. Synim N. Rivers Mr. McLouis and Mrs. Harriette G. Robinet* Dr. Melanie RobinsonWoodard Ms. Janira Rodriguez Mrs. Leslie D. Rose Jade Brice Roshell, M.D. Dr. Kimberly M. Lyles Rowsom Dr. Donald M. Rozzell Ms. Joyce M. Sandifer* Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Shanks, Jr. Miss Lashonda B. Sherman Ms. Belvadere Reneé Simon Ms. Candyce M. Simpson-Pecot Chanda R. Simpson, M.D. Ms. Marla Singleton Mr. Jeffrey P. Sloan and Mrs. Demetria F. Sloan* Ms. Ada Nicole Smith* Dr. Klyne L. Smith and Dr. Raquel L. Rivera Mr. Lionel Beaver Smith Attorney Monica Lynn Smith* Dr. Melissa D. Smith-Noel Ms. Louise J. Sonnier Dr. Anisa S. Ssengoba-Ubogu and Dr. Erobghene E. Ubegil Mrs. Marcia Armant St. Martin Mr. Eugene L. and Mrs. Beverly Newman Staes Mrs. Michele Simon Stanley Mrs. Geneva A. Stark-Price Dr. Margaret C. Stewart* Mrs. Audrey F. Sudbury and The Late Mr. Leslie G. Sudbury Dr. Samella Sutton Ingrid Taylor, M.D. Ms. Teresa Spikes Terry* Ms. Shelia A. Thompson Mrs. Laura Vinnett Triggs Dr. Jacquelyn S. Turner Dr. Maesha M. Twyner-Steele Mr. Patrick A. and Mrs. Penny T. Victorian Mr. Christopher W. Vincent* Ms. Monique T. Wakefield* Mrs. Cassandra M. Walwendah Anne Bouise Ward, M.D. JoAnn E. Warrick-Gable, M.D.* Dr. Monica O. Watts Ms. Nicole D. Webb Mrs. Alicia J. Weber Ms. Quo Vadis M. Webster* Mr. Shawn and Mrs. Renee M. Welch Dr. Niesha J. Westmoreland Dr. Dolly C. Penn White Dr. Michael G. White Mr. Philip J. and Mrs. Carolyn Wallace White* Ms. Jimmie C. Wickham* Mr. and Ms. Alan C. Williams Mr. Alexander Oscar Williams*

Dr. Charity A. Williams and Mr. David T. Williams Dr. Damon L. Williams, Jr Mr. Elijah J. Williams Dr. Gregg Joseph Williams, DPM, MBA Ms. Joy M. Williams Dr. Karen Williams and Mr. Cornelius Lewis Ms. Mollie Marie Williams Mr. John and Dr. Krystene Woodard Dr. Felicie G. Wyatt

Vonda J. Colquitt PonJola S. Coney, M.D. Miss Terry A. Cook* Jacinta E. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. Ms. Stephanie M. Cooper Dr. Christina Council-King Mrs. Charlotte Faciane Craven Ms. Nellie S. Crawford Mr. James Leonard Currence* Dr. Glen Winfield Dace, II Dr. Markesha Winn Daniel Dr. Deborah A. Daniels, P.C. Dr. Kimberly M. Davis TenecQua M. Davis, Pharm. D. Dr. Rachel Davis-Haley $500 to $999 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Dean, Mr. Henry C. Alexander III LCDR, USN, (Ret.)* Dr. Gary L. Anderson Mrs. Verlie R. DeCay Mrs. DeJeune S. Antoine Mrs. Gail Martin Dennis Ms. Arlene A. Aranha* Ms. Adrienne L. Dobbins Mrs. Anita Roussel Ashmore Ms. Crystal N. Dobbins Mrs. Larna J. Atkinson* Angel Harper Barrymore, M.D. Jeniqua R. Duncan, M.D. Ms. Charmagne M. Eady Mrs. Katherine L. Beale Mrs. Iris T. Eagleton Dr. Angela M. Bell Dr. Martha Brown Earls* Mrs. Jane Jupiter Bell Mrs. Stephanie A. Easton Dr. Kathleen Dorsey Bellow Dr. Sabrina M. Echols, M.D. Dr. Melanie Thibodeaux Bibb and Mr. Christopher O. Bibb* Dr. and Mrs. Brandon M. Edgerson Mrs. Felicia M. Black-Townsel* Dr. Ryane A. Edmonds, M.D. Ms. Arlene C. Booker Shameza L. Boyd-Dennis, M.D. Ms. LaTonya R. Edwards Mr. Kelvin P. Esters* Mr. Darryl R. and Mrs. Cheryl Mr. Terry J. and Mrs. Janice M. W. Boykins* Felton, Sr. Dr. Marcus L. Brinson, Pharm LaReesa M. D. Ferdinand-Dukes, M.D. Mr.and Mrs. Harry D. Brock Dr. Michelle A. and Ms. Felicia M. Broussard Mr. Perris Fields* Dr. Aliya N. Brown Mr. Sterling J. Fleury Mr. Charles J. Brown, Jr. and Mrs. Tammy Honoré Brown Mr. Verbie C. and Mrs. Dorothy E. Florence Mr. and Mrs. Melvin P. Dr. Erin D. Fonbah Brown, Jr Dr. Alice M. Fray, M.D. Dr. Shawn S. Brown Mr. Mikhail Z. Frazier Dr. Yasmin K. Brown* Mr. Louis C. Gaignard, Jr. and Dr. Katura C. Bullock Mrs. Carol Gaudin Gaignard* Sharm El’ Buras, M.D. Dr. Tametra L. Garnier Mrs. Rosiland A. Burton Mrs. Yolanda D. Gautier* Mrs. Trudy Ben Cage Dr. Kevin D. Givens, D.D.S. Dr. Jarrett D. Cain, DPM, Drs. Rossie J. Gomez and M.Sc., FACFAS Karen J. Gray-Gomez Dr. Alexis L. Ponder Calloway Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald Dr. Carissa E. Campos Attorney Benjamin E. Cannon Mrs. Marilyn Grant Dr. April D. Green Dr. Stephanie Carmicle-Davis Dr. Torrance T. Green and Mr. Dereck B. Davis Dr. Stacy A. Greene Mr. William L. and Mrs. Mrs. Julie Smith Griffin* Barbara C. Chambers Mr. James D. Guidry Mrs. Audra Evans Chavis Mr. Robert R. Guidry Mr. Edward E. and Mrs. Lolita Mr. Osama A. Hamdan V. Cherrie Dr. and Mrs. Larry Hampton Dr. Quentin J. Chevalier Mrs. Deidra R. Harper Dr. Evella M. Chretien Dr. Tamara V. Walker Harper Dr. Carla D. Collins* Ms. Charlotte Louise Harrell Mr. Marcus T. and Mrs. Mrs. Imogene Vassar Harrell Katherine Glover-Collins Ms. Cheryl J. Harris Ouida M. Collins, M.D. Mrs. Etiennette King Harris Dr. Charlie W. Colquitt and Dr. Dr. Kenneth D. Hartwill

Ms. Chauntina R. Hill Mr. Keith T. and Mrs. Judy J. Hill Dr. Sarita N. Hithe, D.D.S. Mr. Gary R. Hollimon Dr. Helen M. Hollomon-Delaney Ms. Chakita R. Holmes* Mrs. Wanda Minor Howard* Ms. Techecia T. Idowu Tasha R. Inniss, Ph.D. Ms. Keli D. Jackson* Dr. Jarvis B. Jacobs* Dr. Mark A. Jamison Dr. Claude D. Jarrett and Mrs. Azzari C. Jarrett Dr. and Mrs. Patrick D. Jefferson* Dr. Elliot M. and Mrs. Janelle B. Jessie* Ms. Deanna N. Johnson Mr. Harry E. Johnson, Sr., Esq. Julie L. Johnson, M.D. Mrs. Lynell Jones Johnson* Ms. Valla Marie Johnson Mr. Ted and Mrs. Evelyn Jones Ms. Tina M. Jones, C.P.A. Dr. Cindi E. Jones-Woods* Dr. Andre W. Jordan Mrs. Lillian A. Ebanks Joseph, MBA Mrs. Shirley Melton Judge* Ms. Chandra J. Kerley Mrs. Helen Kerley Dr. Donna L. Kiel Mr. Herman G. King Drs. Anil and Poonam Kukreja Mrs. Janice Labeaud-Wash Mr. Jerrol M. Larrieu* Mrs. Eleanor M. Leak Dr. Leslie C. Leathers Dr. Kim M. LeDuff De’ Shondra N. Leonard, D.D.S. Drs. Brandon J. and Velissa A. Lewis Dr. Myra Marion Lewis Mrs. Tamara N. Lewis Ms. Tanya L. Lombard Mr. Bobby Major, III Dr. Brandy Gallen Malbrough* Dion N. Martin, M.D. Mr. Vernon Martin E. and Mrs. Sandra Livsey-Martin Mrs. Adrian G. Mason Mrs. Courtney P. Mathews Mrs. Felecia Mouton McCree* Dr. Angela D. McGee-Boothe Lieutenant Colonel Dwight and Mrs. Sheila C. McGhee Dr. Shawn McKinney Dr. Dia S. McPherson-Hurt Mr. Eugene H. Mills, Jr. Mr. Jeremy G. Mills Mrs. Patricia T. Dufauchard Mincer Mrs. Gloria Williams Monconduit Dr. Margo and Mr. Jamaal

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

thank you Montgomery-Richardson Ms. Joyce Marie Morgan Attorney D’Andrea J. Morning McCants Ms. Angela M. Morris Dr. Tommy C. Morris Ms. Kenya M. Moszzkley Allen E. Moton, Pharm D. Dr. and Mrs. Dawud Muhaimin* Dr. Jennifer L. Mullen Mrs. Nicole Tureaud Newell Mrs. Elise Tureaud Nicholls Drs. Victor C. and Nadrea A. Njoku Dr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Noble Dr. Toi A. Olden Ms. Tyra N. Ordone* Dr. Kay R. Pace Mr. and Mrs. Quillie N. Parker, C.P.A. Mrs. Nina H. Payne Dr. Marcia J. Pecot Dr. Marcia A. Peete and Mr. Tecumseh Peete Mrs. Catina Green Peoples Mr. and Mrs. John H. Perez Dr. Satira T. Perry Dr. LeCresha A. Peters Mr. Gary J. Tanner and Mrs. Audrey M. Pinera-Tanner* Dr. Sarah J. Price-Adekoya Mr. DeVon A. Pruitt Dr. Errol J. and Mrs. Linda M. Quintal Dr. Aisha O. Redmond Mrs. Sondra C. Reine* Dr. Ramona L. Rhodes Ms. Marsha Richard-Hart, MSPH Ms. Debra M. Richardson Dr. Lakeisha W. Richardson* Mrs. Charlene Woods Robins Rear Admiral (Ret.) Stephen W. Rochon and Mrs. Shirley A. Rochon Ms. Farrah M. Roybiskie Mr. and Mrs. Kevin M. Saberre, Sr.* Dr. Reginald O. Salter, D.D.S. Mrs. Deanna D. Sanders Dr. Akilah S. Scott Mrs. Linda St. Martin Scott Mr. Elmore J. and Mrs. Alva N. Seraile* Dr. Gregory L. Shannon Dr. Claricia (Simmons) Shepherd Mrs. Angel Novel Simmons Mr. Willie D. Simmons Ms. Makeda J. Smith Dr. Shayna A. Roaf Smith and Mr. Tequiero Smith Dr. Xavier L. Smith, M.D. Mrs. Denise G. St. Cyr Dr. Mark Anthony St Cyr Mrs. Mary M. Stallworth

Mr. Wayne A. Steele, Sr.* Mrs. Yvonne Davis Stepter Mrs. Cynthia Sylvain-Lear Dr. Courtney R. Tafesse* Dr. Jessica D. Tanksley Mr. Alcide J. Tervalon and Mrs. Jo Ann Mohr Tervalon Ms Shelia M. Thompson Dr. Roderick O. and Mrs. Courtney Thornton Miss Taylor D. Thornton Mrs. Kendra Woodard Tircuit* Mr. Yamlak Tsega* Dr. Patrice J. Tyson Ms. Joan Ulmer* Dr. Elizabeth O. Unachukwu* The Late Mrs. Jean A. Benjamin-Vappie and Mr. Russell M. Vappie Ericka Vaughn, M.D. LaToya Renee Walker, M.D. Mr. Morris and Mrs. Lee A. Washington Dr. Nina T. Washington, M.D. Dr. Terri Washington Ms. Lawana J. Welch Mr. Shanté Y. Wells Dr. Marceé J. White, M.D. Dr. Yolanda C. Wilkins Ms. Eileen T. Williams Mrs. Inez D. Williams Mr. Justin D. Williams Miss Latoya L. Williams Attorney Sharonda R. Williams Rev. Starsky D. and Dr. LaToya Smith Wilson* Dr. LaToya Nicole Woods* Dr. Najaz Woods-Bishop Attorney Sharon and Ms. Huiling Zealey-Chen $250 to $499 Dr. Mecca A. Abdullah Mr. Nelson Alexander Deidra D. Allen, M.D. Mr. Shay T. Allen Mrs. Shirley Ann WilliamsAnderson-Napier Ms. Lora L. Antoine Ms. Quintina A. Ashley Dr. Tonja R. Austin Dr. Jacquelyn A. Bailey Dr. Jaqwiana S. Baker, M.D. Dr. Monica E. and Mr. Joseph Baldridge Mrs. Gwendolyn E. BallJulien* Attorney Danese K. Banks Mr. H. Jamon Barrow Ms. Marleesa S. Bastian Ms. Stacey M. Bastian Deborah A. Beal, D.D.S. Ms. Camillia B. Bell* Commander Nicole M. Bell Ms. Raquel Z. Bell* Mrs. Clara Joyce Bishop Mackie J. V. Blanton, Ph.D.

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

Dr. Natalie J. Boulware Mrs. Migheon M. Bey Dr. Carmel R. Boykin-Wright and Mr. John A. Wright, Jr. Ms. Elease M. Bradford* Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.* Dr. Ronda L. Broady, D.O. Dr. Bria M. Broussard, Pharm D. Mr. Leroy M. Broussard, Jr. Mrs. Adiaha N. Brown Dr. Dawn K. Brown* Ms. Melanie N. Brown Dr. Shunji Q. Brown-Woods Mrs. Tiffany M. Brumfield Asha S. Bryant, M.D.* Ms. Geralyn L. Buford Dr. Kimberly M. Bush, M.D.* Mrs. Mary Cecile Kiper Camp Dr. Vivian D. Campbell Mr. Steven M. Capers Ms. Cintrella K. Carter Kimberly Nichole Carter, M.D. Mr. Raphael Cassimere and Mrs. Inez Hale-Cassimere Mrs. Willie Phillips Chaffers Mrs. Hattie Allen Chambers Mrs. Alva D. Chase Mrs. Cynthia Cheri-Woolridge Mr. and Mrs. John L. Citizen Mrs. Joan Kiper Clark Dr. Carnecia Y. Cole The Honorable Donna F. Coleman-Stribling, Esq. Mr. William P. Collins Dr. Derek J. Colston Dr. Aryian L. Cooke Dr. Lauren N. Cooper* Ms. Donna K. Crawford Mr. Damien L. Cuffie Alauna Davis Curry, M.D.* Mr. Edward R. and Mrs. Anita Y. Dalferes Dr. Christian O. Davillier, MPH* Dedra Gourdine Davis, RPH, MHA Ms. Janet Margaret Davis* Mr. and Mrs. Morris A. Davis Mrs. Tammara J. Davis Mrs. Toinita S. Conner Dr. Tyrus J. Demouchet Mrs. Raymonda Perry Dennis Mrs. Angel C. DeSquare, MSN, RN Dr. Jazmine B. Dillard and Dr. Melvin L. Dillard, III Mrs. Lisa Dixon Ms. Lacey Douglas Mrs. Leslie Courtney Thorpe Douglas Victor A. Dubuclet, III, J.D. Ms. Barbara Cooper Duhe* Mr. Leo D. Dunn, Jr Drs. Teddrick L. and Felecia N. Dunson The Honorable Royce Duplessis Dr. Michelle R. Easton

Dr. Ijeoma L. Ejigiri Mrs. Adrienne N. Embry-Ammons Ms. Phyllis J. Ferrouillet Mr. Glyn and Mrs. Gilda Marie Fisher Ms. Janice M. Florent* Dr. Suzanne P. Foster, MBA Mrs. Juanita Marie Freeman Dr. Thomas C. Freeman Dr. Candice N. Frye Claire V. Fuller, M.D. Mr. Arnold and Mrs. Lynne Garibaldi Mr. George J. Gilliam Theresa Ford Gilstrap, Esq. Mrs. Louaunne Williams Gilyot* Ms. Ainka C. Gonzalez* Mr. John H. and Mrs. Bobbie J. Gordon, III Mr. Ryan Goudeau Ms. Veldore F. Young Graham Mrs. Jennifer Adger Grant Ms. Lorrie D. Green Dr. Mrs. Tasha Merritt Green Mr. Bernard W. Griffith Ms. Yvonnein D. Guice Mr. John C. Hale and Mrs. Ra’Nell A. Davis Hale Okyeame Haley, Esq. and Mrs. Melissa S. Haley Ms. Risa D. Hall Ms. Gladys Hampton* Dr. Cindy G. Harden Miss Andrea N. Harper* Dr. Katrina M. and Mr. Onaje S. Harper Mr. and Mrs. Bobby L. Harrington Toya Rena Harris, Pharm D. Ms. Jazmine A. Harris-Branch* Dr. Portia M. Harris-White and Mr. Marcus White* Ms. Willia Margaretta Hatter Mr. James V. and Mrs. Leslie S. Haydel Dr. Worth Kamili Hayes* Dr. Kendra D. Hayslett, M.D. Honorable Ellen M. Hazeur Ms. Yameika A. Head Danielle A. Holmes, M.D. Mrs. Glenda G. Hebert Mrs. Kemba A. Hendrix Mrs. Faye G. Hill Mr. Kurt A. Hill, Sr. Ms. Bridgett D. Hitchings Dr. Elorice Horam Hodge Mr. Leroy Holmes, Jr Mr. Charles A. Honoré Dr. Ebony R. Hoskins Dr. SeBrina B. Houston Ms. Tara N. Hughes Ms. RaChell L. Hunt Ms. Hyacinth Hope Hutchinson* Attorney Angell J. Jackson Ms. Karen Jackson

Ms. Lateresa Renae Madison The Late Gloria Jackson Bacon, M.D. Mr. Jerald F. James, Jr. Mr. Brian S. Johnson Mr. Gerard M. Johnson Ms. Karmen L. Johnson Mrs. Judith Curry Jones Dr. Orien D. Joseph Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Jupiter Judge Steven M. Jupiter Dr. Zenita Wade Keys Dr. Earraina R. King Dr. Niquelle P. Lackings Ms. Gwendolyn A. LaCroix* Dr. and Mrs. Glenn L. Laird Dr. Alicia M. Landry, M.D. Charlene C. Larche-Mason, Esq. Mrs. Philomena D. Lawson Ms. Cynthia Guillaume Lee Ms. Kyla A. Leon Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Lewis Dr. Markus D. Little Mr. and Mrs. George J. Love, Sr. Nicole Sheree Luddington, M.D. Dr. Terri R. Lunsford Dr. Iris R. Mabry-Hernandez Maxime Madhere, M.D. Mrs. Cassandra R. Mallary Mrs. Desiree M. Mance L. Karenna Senors Manning, M.D.* Marlah H. Mardis, M.D. Ms. Renee D. Markham Mrs. Charmaine M. Marrero* Mrs. Mavia A. Marsalis Mr. Errol J. and Mrs. Carolyn G. Martin Drs. John and Kimberly Massey Dr. Kristin Y. Matthews Mr. Hewitt and Mrs. Barbara Fields May Dr. Karwin L. McCain and Mrs. Shonte Foster McCain Mrs. Angelique Beauford McClendon Mr. and Ms. Ted W. McField Dr. Marlisa J. McKenzie and Mr. Dock A. McKenzie Dr. Nikki L. Meadows Miss Kelly D. Merrick Mr. Treyvon Merritt* Dr. Contessa D. Metcalfe Ms. Charel A. Middleton Kimberly E. Miller-Hammond, M.D. Dr. Amya Herrington Mitchell and Mr. Trevor Mitchell* Ms. Linda T. Molezion Ms. DawnMarie Montgomery* Atty. Stevens E. and Mrs. Emma Moore Dr. Robin M. Moore Evelyn E. Morning, M.D. Ms. Kimberly A. Moss

Mrs. Alice U. Murchison* Adela’ M. Narcisse, M.D. Mr. Carl and Mrs. Tonya L. Neely Dr. Tian Merren Owens* Mr. Melvin O. and Mrs. Stephanie Jacques Parent, Jr. Dr. Tennille McGee Parris Dr. Lt. Col. Rachael L. Parrish Dr. Chrisna M. Perry Dr. Christie McGhee Person Mr. Larry J. Pete Dr. Yolonda R. Pickett Mrs. Ursula M. Pollock* Mr. Scott Ponder Miss Robin E. Pratts Mrs. Dawn Sherron Purnell Mrs. Glenda Morgan Rankin Dr. Kristi M. Rapp Dr. Stacy T. Reynolds Dr. Carryn N. Rice* Dr. Jennifer Billingsley Richardson Mr. Mark D. Richardson Mr. Patrick W. Roberson Ms. Mia R. Robins Mrs. Chalita Brossett Robinson Mr. Michael J. Ruffin Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Rush* Mr. Michael R. Rutherford Mrs. Carmen R. Jackson Sallay Mr. Michael D. Sanders, Jr Dr. Sherrika D. Sanders Dr. Samarlos Boykin Scott* Dr. Courtney B. Scrubbs, Esq.* Mrs. Dorothy M. Seay Mrs. Lori Seibert Matthews Ms. DaRhonda M. Sheard Dr. Julia K. Simmons Dr. Joseph L. Singleton, Jr., M.D. Drs. Raegan Higgins Siwatu and Kamau O. Siwatu* Dr. Siobhan E. Smith-Jones Mrs. Petrinella H. Sowell Mrs. Teresa M. St. Luce Mrs. Charlene Lillian Stamps Dr. Alexis J. Stokes Jeneé J. Gibson Stubbs, M.D. Ms. Jameika M. Stuckey Keisha L. Sullen, Pharm D. Mrs. Michelle Warren Swanson Dr. Gertrude Perkins Taylor Miss Kenya C. Taylor* Mrs. Monica P. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Tenette Ms. Richele T. Theodore Mr. Jeffery L. and Mrs. Zolee J. Thomas Jennifer A. Thomas-Taylor, M.D., MPH Shelly L. Thompson, M.D. Miss Victoria Thompson Ms. Charla M. Travis* Rheba J. Upshaw, Pharm D. Mr. Gerard M. Victor* Ms. Shannon M. Vincent

Fall 2024 |

27

2023 Honor Roll of Donors Mr. Shaun H. Vincent Dr. LaQuia Walker Vinson* Miss Amanda Ware Ms. Gabrielle U. Webster Mr. Charles Eugene Wesley Mrs. Cosette West-Kaufman* Dr. Brittany N. Williams Mr. Byron D. and Mrs. Faye Williams Ms. Kamekea R. Willis Mr. and Mrs. Roy Winand, Jr Ms. Brandy R. Winchester Mr. Byron J. Wing Mr. Parker M. Word, II Dr. Vernon L. York, Jr. Dr. Mrs. Lisa L. Young and Mr. Kevin Young $100 to $249 Ms. Carmichael L. August Mrs. Desireia Valteau Abegunrin Dr. Elaine Marie Parker-Adams Mark T. Adams, Esq. Dr. Tremaine J. Afetorgbor Mr. Jon P. and Mrs. R. Maria Owen Aguilar Mrs. Nanette Harris Ajayi Ms. Cerise T. Akins Mrs. Carole Bibolet Alarcon Mrs. Kimberly Waters Alexander Troy A. Alexander-El, M.D. Ms. Darlene T. Allen Dr. Miya E. Allen Mrs. Talita G. Allison Dr. Clive L. Alonzo Dr. LaKica R. Amos Mr. Jared S. Anderson Dr. Sarah Ann AndersonBurnett Mr. Phillip P. Andrews Dr. Sharhonda M. Ansley Alana P. Anthony, M.D. Dr. and Mrs. Patrick Antoine Ms. Victoria N. Anyanwu Mrs. Adrianne D. Appleberry Dr. Rashad V. Arcement Ms. Carla M. Armstrong Dr. Tyeshia V. Babineaux and Mr. Joshua J. Babineaux Mrs. Linda Bailey Dr. Janel Bailey Wheeler* Mr. Maurice Baird Mrs. LaKeesha D. Ball Ms. Shandra E. Banks Ms. Kimberly M. Bardell Mr. Keith T. Barker, M.S. Ms. Nadine S. Barksdale Mr. Kevin L. Barnes* Ms. Valerie A. Barnes Sebrena J. Pollard Bartlett, R.Ph., J.D. Mrs. Gaynielle T. BastianTroutman Dr. Gilberte Bastien Mr. Brandon B. Batiste

28

| XAVIER GOLD

Ms. Tenitra R. Batiste Mrs. Terez R. Battiste Dr. Nichole M. BauknightBoles and Mr. Eundra L. Boles Ms. Christy P. Beal Ms. Kinda A. BecklesWilkinson Dr. Anika L. Bell Dr. Eliza M. Belle Mrs. Katrice Bell Jefferson Ms. Shanda L. Bennett Dr. Phillitha D. Penny Benton, Pharm D. Ms. Monique Berry Attorney Youshea A. Berry, Esq. Mrs. Brenda X. Bethune-Colbert Mrs. Barbara Guillory Bieniemy Dr. Nia A. Bigby Tiffany S. Bingham, Esq. Ms. Ayana A. Bishop, C.P.A. Ms. Debbie Bissett* Linda D. Blakley, M.Ed, Ph.D. Mr. Keith and Mrs. Septa H. Blossom Mrs. Brittany J. Blue Mrs. Tammie Boggan-Brady Dr. Michelle Bell Boissiere Mrs. Paula M. Bolds Ms. Arlene Stewart Bornes Mr. Justin T. Bostic Ms. Tamara Brickham Bourda Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Laverne Bourgeois Dr. Kenneth G. Boutte, Sr. Dr. Miller W. Boyd, III Ms. Elizabeth A. Boykin Ms. Kimberly R. Boykin Miss Jasmyne Bracy Mrs. Edna V. Branch Dr. Elizabeth A. Breda Ms. Terri L. Bridges Ms. Tiffany R. BrinkleyBarrow Matilda H. Shields-Bronson, Pharm. D. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory D. Brooks Dr. Lt. Col. Jim A. Brooks, II Dr. Keith S. Brooks, Ph.D. Mrs. Trevia L. Young Brooks Dr. Chad E. Broussard The Late Mr. Garfield Broussard Ms. Ashley G. Brown Ms. Demetria S. Brown Mr. James D. Brown Mr. Ranald Michael Brown Terrence H. Brown, Pharm. D. Mr. William Bernard Broyard Ms. Malinda Winder Bryant Dr. Yolanda Bryant Mrs. Jeanette R. Buffert Dr. Kristin Walker Burt Mrs. Joyce Whitfield Burton

Emmary S. Butler, M.D. Mr. Jamin P. Butler Ms. Lavanza K. Butler Mr. Frederick and Mrs. Rosalind G. Butler Mrs. Natasha D. ButlerMonteau Francine D. Bynum, M.D.* Mrs. Santrell M. Caison Ms. Judy K. Caldwell Dr. Octavia Cockrell Calhoun Ms. Shari Calicker Mr. Lester A. Caliste, Jr. Ms. Karla M. Cameron Mrs. Monica Miles Camp Ms. LaKeeta H. Campbell Dr. Angela R. Canady Mr. Curtis T. Carkum Ms. Ariane M. Carrier Mrs. Sylvenie C. Carriere-Jones Mrs. Mary Carter Mrs. Michelle W. Carter Dr. Terrence J. Carter Dr. Laquisha L. Cartwright* Mrs. Marie Chachere-Christian Dr. Chantelle N. Charles Drs. Justin N. and Denisa D. Charles Mrs. Regina Storms Chenault Mrs. Jovita A. Chevalier-Taty Attorney and Mrs. Milton Lee Childs Mr. Kevin F. Choice Dr. Tammuella C. Chrisentery-Singleton Mrs. Melanie R. Christopher Mrs. Kendrea L. Clark Dr. Natalie A. Clark, Pharm. D.* Mr. Richard E. Clark Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Clark Mrs. Bobbie J. Clark-Alexander Mrs. Jewell Cobb-Pitts Ms. Treniere A. Cohens Attorney Daisy D. Coleman and Mr. Rufus Coleman Mr. Milton Coleman Mr. Vernal Coleman, Jr. Mr. Roderick A. Collette Mr. and Mrs. Caribee L. Collier Mrs. Aloha M. Collins Mrs. Inga Q. Collins Dr. Joseph A. Collins and Dr. Meredith Coleman Collins Ms. Shelia A. Collins Mrs. Tira C. Collins Mr. William Collins, Jr. Dr. Ariane O. Conrad Dr. Cori M. Cooper Mrs. LaTanya M. Copeland Mrs. Arnel T. Cosey Dr. Erika P. Cox Ms. Karen S. Crawford Dr. Jaime A. Crawley* Rev. David G. Cray, S.S.E.* Mrs. Lynn Sarpy Crean Mr. Percy P. Creuzot IV Ms. Raijanel S. Crockem Mrs. Kim Rabb Crump

Angie L. Curtis, M.D. Ms. Stephanie C. Curtis Ms. LaShonna M. Curtis-Hill Mr. Frank Louis Daggs, Sr. William E. Dailey, Jr., Esq. Mrs. Dione May Dancy Judge June Berry Darensburg Dr. Kimberley M. Darey Dr. Myrna V. Dartson Mr. Benjamin L. Davis Mr. Kendrick Davis Mr. Roger F. Davis Ms. Romona T. Davis Ms. Valerie A. Davis Michelle Davis-Dash, M.D. Mr. Carl F. Dawson Mrs. Denise P. Debose Ms. Joi T. DeFrantz Ms. Dana Delpit Mrs. Sherry B. Desvignes Mr. Derek G. and Mrs. Robin Eugenia Russaw Mr. John F. and Mrs. Daisy Guitart Dimaggio Mr. James C. Dirden Dr. Brooke E. Christian Dishmon Dr. Tonya R. Dobbs* Mr. Golden R. Donato and Mrs. Sharon Lefrere Donato Mrs. Dionna L. Douglas Ms. Shannon E. Douglas Vanessa L. Dowdy-Sigur, DDS, PC Rashida M. Downing, M.D.* Dr. Ireiel M. Duke, Pharm. D. Minister Volney O. Duncan, Jr. Mrs. Shalaan M. Dungey Ms. Katrina L. Dunson Mrs. Karen M. Durand Mrs. Jacquelyn Hurley Duvernay Ms. Sheryl M. Eaglin Dr. Dawn C. Edwards Mrs. Deadra Joseph Edwards Mr. David Elliott, III Mr. George W. Ellis, Jr. Mr. Lawrence Epps Ms. Shyrelle N. Eubanks Dr. K. T. Ewing Ms. Amanda M. Brown Fabin Dr. Taiya S. Fabre Dr. Temeika L. Fairley Ms. Christian A. FauriaRobinson Mrs. Patricia Feagin Larry Ferdinand, Jr., M.D. Mrs. Janelle B. Ferguson Miss Asia Fernandes Ms. Myrtle W. Ferrande Ms. Ingrid R. Fields Ms. Adrienne D. Finley Dr. Triwanna LaShaun FisherWikoff Mr. Cquincy A. Fletcher Mr. Frank J. Flowers Dr. Pamela Payne Foster and Mr. Bill Foster

Mr. and Mrs. Roland Foster, Jr. Mr. Terrence R. Franklin and Mrs. Donelle Humphrey Franklin Mrs. Myra P. Frost Dr. Rachelle T. Fryer-Simmons John Thomas Fuller, R.Ph. Mr. Fredric L. Fullerton, II, Esq. Miss Alexis M. Gabriel Lavonne J. Gaffin, DVM Mr. Melvin Gaines Ms. Phyliss S. Gaines Mr. Kevin A. Gallien Ms. Debra P. Ganthier Mrs. Karen B. Gardiner Dr. Margot Y. Garrick Mr. Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Ms. Shannon Richards Gatlin Mrs. Wendy M. Gatlin Mrs. Barbara Ann Gibbons Mr. John Gibson, Jr. Ms. Nina L. N. Giddens Dr. Christopher J. Gillard Mrs. Courtney D. Givens Mrs. Toni B. Vernon-Glasper Ms. Sharrone M. Godfrey* Dr. Stacey A. Godley* Dr. Susan P. Goggans* Ms. Joyce E. Goins-Fernandez Mrs. Connie C. Goodly-LaCour Ms. Eboni S. Goodman Dr. Paul Raymond Goodwin Mrs. Robin Goodwyn Dr. Brittany Gorden Mr. James H. Gordon Ms. Lona M. Gordon Alexis C. Graham, Ph.D. Mrs. Lolita Tillery Grant Mr. Alan M. Green* Ms. Geannette Y. Green Dr. Glenn J. Green, Pharm. D. Mrs. Jasmine C. Green Dr. Reginique L. Green Ms. Paula Thomas Grier Dr. Pamela Michelle Grier-Hall Miss Alexandria M. Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Ron D. Grimmette Mrs. Octavia B. Gross Dr. and Mrs. Alfred J. Guillaume, Jr. Mrs. Gwendolyn Battle Guillmette Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Vivian B. Guillory* Mrs. Mary J. Hadnott-Mims Mr. Blair K. Haley Mr. Brian G. Hall and Ms. Erica E. Townsend-Bell Ms. Kathleen M. Hall Ms. Christina T. Hamilton Dr. Jasmine M. Hamilton Dr. Ambra M. Hannah Mr. Larnzell “Jay” Harper, Jr. Mr. Allen and Mrs. Adrienne A. Harris Ms. Jacklyn H. Harris Ms. Lorianna F. Harris

Mrs. Tondra K. Thomas-Harris Tyra C. Harris, M.D. Dr. Opal M. Harrison Mrs. Rhonda Harris-Scott Linda N. Harvey, M.D.* Mr. William K. Harvey Mr. Kwame K. Haven Mrs. Etta L. Hawkins Dr. Soyini A. Hawkins Ms. Valencia M. Hawkins Aliya S. Heyliger-Hayes, M.D.* Mrs. Teresa Y. Hayes Miss Angela M. Haynes Dr. Deanna M. Haynes Ms. Sandra R. Heard Ms. Arriana R. Heins Dr. Ayana Rowley Henderson Ms. Regina D. Hendrix Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick J. Henley, Jr. Mrs. Elvira Day Henry* Dr. Crystal L. Henson, Pharm D. Dr. Bernard Hill Dr. Brittaney J. Hill Dr. Mandy J. Hill Drs. Renard and Vonetta L. Hill Dr. Xavier Hill Ms. Krystal M. Hill-Carter Mr. Kenneth and Ms. Lisa Hines Ms. Darlene Hobbs Dr. Janelle N. Holden Mrs. Mesha D. Holland Miss Oma S. Holloway Mrs. Sharon M. Holloway Ms. LaTonya S. Holmes Mr. William D. Holmes, Jr. Ms. Cynthia A. Holston Mrs. Bennetta C. Horne, M.S. Mrs. Kellee Knighten Hough Miss Brianna M. Houston Mr. Lawrence C. Houston Ms. Jewel O. Howard Mr. Harvell and Mrs. Rosa Selina Howard Ms. Carissa S. Hubbard Dr. Charmaine D. Huggins Mr. David G. Hughes Ms. Keala Jovan Hughes Dr. Tiffany R. Humes Dr. Jamila D. Hunter Mrs. Terrah N. Hunter, M.Ed Ms. Janna C. Hutchinson Mr. Darryll and Mrs. Daphne Ingram Mrs. Cynthia M. Isaac-Romar Mrs. Shanae L. Ivey Mr. Dannton C. Jackson Erica Brown Jackson, M.D. Dr. Jeanine A. Jackson Dr. Lawrence J. Jackson Rozalie V. Jackson, M.D. Dr. Sha-Ron Jackson-Johnson Ms. Torri A. Jacobus Ms. Devinne R. James Ms. Robin A. James, Pharm D. Dr. Cornelius D. Jamison Dr. Monique P. Jenkins

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

thank you Dr. Joyce and Mr. Aaron Johnson Ms. Claudette T. Boyance Johnson Mr. Javon M. Johnson Mr. Jimmie S. Johnson, Jr. Mr. Joel A. Johnson Mrs. Kimberly A. Johnson Rev. Malene Minor Johnson Mrs. Mercedes S. Johnson Mr. Randall L. Johnson Mr. Sedric P. Johnson Mrs. Kimberly I. JohnsonHenry* Dr. Andrea N. Jones Mrs. Carolyn A. Carmon-Jones Mrs. Kesler K. Camese Jones Mr. Michael A. Jones Mrs. Monique M. Jones Miss Remeka S. Jones Dr. Stacy D. JonesPedescleaux Mrs. Le’Anza M. Davis Jordan Dr. Tomi D. Joseph Ms. Twilynn M. Toy Jourdain Ms. Sharon D. Juzang Ms. Danielle L. Kennebrew The Late Mrs. Marcella M. Keyes Mr. Charles Linares and Mrs. Mary T. King-Linares Ms. Linda F. Kinsey Mrs. Leta M. Knighten* Dr. Sika B. Koudou* Mr. Leroy and Mrs. Shirley F. Labbe* Mrs. Dawn L. LaFargueArmelin Dr. Michele T. Lagarde-May* Dr. and Mrs. Maurice W. Landers, Jr. Mr. Calvin A. Lane, Jr. Mrs. Kimberly A. Lang-Kelly Ms. Kimberly A. Lapeyrolerie Katrice K. Larece, M.D. Ms. Angela M. Larkin Mrs. Jeanette Latimore Mrs. Edna Landry Leary Ms. Lori M. LeDuff Mr. Craig B. Lee Mrs. Davetta N. Cooke Lee, Esq. Ms. Carolyn E. Lewis Mrs. Cheryl Buckhalter Lewis Ms. Dorothy L. Lewis Dr. Inga C. Lewis Mr. Livingstone T. Lewis, Jr. Dr. Leonard Lightfoot and Mrs. Tinesha Lightfoot Dr. Jarah J. Lindo, PsyD. Mrs. Sonjia L. Little Dr. Kimberly B. Lockett Mr. Stanley Paul Logan* Dr. Dzifaa Lotsu Mrs. Char Dae S. Love-Jones Mr. Kenneth W. and Mrs. Andrea C. Loyd

Mr. and Mrs. Khristopher W. Loyd Ms. Alma Brooks Lyle Ms. Nikole A. Lyles Dr. Tonya A. Lyles Mrs. Tammy A. Lyles-Arnold, M.D. Ms. Eleanor Nicole Mack, Esq. (Ret.) Gen. Tracy D. Madison Ms. Shanna A. Magee Ms. Danielle N. Malone Ms. Alisa P. Maniger Miss Maya Mann Davida E. Manor-Ward, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Marc Manuel Dr. and Mr. Eddra Y. Marchand-Von Lotten Ms. Lisa M. Margerum Ms. Trista J. Marshall Ms. Cynthia Hughes Martin Dr. Dale J. Martin, Jr. Ms. Sheena E. Martin* Mrs. Kacey P. Martin-Johnson Ms. Antoinette Massey Ms. Nia B. Matherson Mr. Terence L. Mathious Dr. Taylor N. McBride Ms. Ursula M. Brown McCandless Mrs. Cynthia J. Pender-McCarthy Ms. Candice Q. McCarty Ms. Wendy T. McClinton* Dr. Jossie A. McCloud* Ms. Kaamilya J. McCullough Dr. Hope H. McDanielDesarmes Mrs. Dana M. McDowelle Mrs. Achontyrausi Y. McFarland Mrs. Lynda P. McGee Mr. Michael A. McKenna Dr. Kandys R. McKinley-Foster Mr. Wellington McKissick, Sr. Dr. Ashley N. McPhie Mrs. Patricia S. Meiklejohn Dr. Gwenesta B. Melton and Dr. Kenneth Melton Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Merrett Tanya M. Meziere, M.D. Mrs. Melanie G. Mickel Mrs. Jennifer Charbonnet Miles Mrs. Malika W. Millican-Tatum Mrs. Lillian E. Millon, Ed.S. Ms. Latia M. Mills Ms. Adrianne P. Mitchell Dr. Deidre T. Mitchell Ms. Myrissa Mitchell Ms. Jessica N. Mitchum Dr. Anthony J. Montegut, USAF Mrs. Tanya P. Montgomery Ms. Jaime L. Moody Ms. Gloria G. Moore Miss Morgan M. Moore Lakisha D. Moore-Smith, Ph.D. Dr. Quinesha L. Morgan, Ph.D.* Mrs. Raquel James Mornay

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

Ms. Joan L. Morris Miss Shacory R. Morris Ms. Sher’Ron M. Morris Ms. Ta’Mia C. Morrissette Mrs. Shelia Mosley Dr. Renard L. Murray Dr. Jessica E. Nash Ms. Patrice S. Nash Dr. Lucretia D. Nave Tarin M. Bynum-Neal, M.D. Dr. Daina and Mr. Richard Nelson Mrs. Kelli L. Nelson-Armstrong Ms. Gayle J. Newcomb Mrs. Zona E. Newman Dr. Nwamaka A. Ngoddy, O.D.* Dr. Loan L. Nguyen Ms. Denyce M. Nichols Dr. April R. Noble Ms. Tresa M. Northington* Dr. Shamekia A. NwaforSavoy, O.D. Mrs. Nneka N. Odinga Dr. John I. Okogbaa Ms. Chiemeka Okoronkwo Dr. Alisa D. Orduna Mr. Calvin J. Ortique, Jr. Fr. Jeffery M. Ott, O.P. Dr. Lisa Southall Oubre Ms. La Dauna A. Overby LeCesne Ms. Vanessa A. Overton Dr. Tashonda M. Palmer Dr. Kalin C. Palmer-King Ms. Ashaunti V. Parker Mr. DaReek Parker Mrs. Sharon H. Parker Dr. Melanie L. Parks Ms. Riqui J. Patrick Dewitt Dr. Joyce McWilliams Patterson Mr. Wendell A. Payne III Mr. Wilbur J. and Mrs. Hope Perez Ms. Milea A. Perry Ms. Natalia Perry Dr. Sylvia M. Perry Eric A. Peters, Pharm. D. Mrs. Sylvia J. Petit Dr. Jeffery C. Pierre Cassandra M. Pillette, M.D. Mr. Justin E. Platt Mrs. Angela K. Poe Mr. Leslie J. Pollard, Jr. Mr. Zackary Pounders Mr. Justin B. Pourciau Mr. Benjamin W. and Mrs. Irma Prescott Dr. Kendra N. Prevost Ms. Arndreya D. Price Mrs. Tameka D. Ramsey Mrs. Kristi A. Randolph-Simon Ms. Heather J. Ray Rev. Dr. Warren J. Ray, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Clarence J. Red, III Mr. Grady D. Reed, III Mr. Julian M. Reed Dr. Tayiana J. Reed

Colonel Terrance J. Reese USMC Mrs. Hortense Haydel Reine Mrs. Marissa Anne Reliford Dr. Mark W. Reynolds, Jr., M.D. Ms. Roberta L. Rhoades Dr. Paula R. Rhodes Ms. Gina M. Ricard Mr. Herbert and Mrs. Linda Barthé Roberts Ms. Jalonda M. Robertson Ms. Juliet T. Robertson* Alyssa G. Robillard, Ph.D. Ms. Erin M. Robins Dr. Akayla D. Robinson Dr. Candace S. and Mr. Walter J. Robinson, Jr. Mrs. Donna S. Robinson, R.Ph. Dr. Jason N. Robinson Mrs. Margaret Ransom Robinson Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon III, Ph.D. and the Late Mrs. Patricia S. Rochon Mrs. Rochelle L. RocqueJackson Mr. Howard L. Rodgers IV Mrs. Dianne Lewis Roebuck Mrs. Kaye L. Rolland* Mr. Howard Rollins, Jr. Ms. Venus T. Roper Dr. Laura V. Rouzan Ms. Brandy D. Roy Dr. Kalina M. Sanders, M.D. Mrs. Rosie Walker Sanders Mr. Louis Savoy Dr. Chandler D. Schexnayder, Pharm. D. Mrs. Sandra C. Scott Dr. Tarrow D. Seals Dr. Erin J. Searles Mrs. Muriel E. Pitchford Segré* Ms. Dawn E. Segura, Esq.* Attorney Rhonda Session-Shanklin Toya D. Shanklin, MBA Dr. Ebonee Faith Shaw Mr. Harold A. Sias, II Mrs. Aissatou A. Sidime-Blanton* Dr. Bridget D. WilliamsSimmons and Mr. Chris E. Simmons Mr. Stephen Charles Simmons Mr. Christopher M. Sims Mrs. Yolanda Martin Singleton Mr. Alphonse Smith Dr. Charita L. Wallace Smith Mrs. Doris Smith Mrs. Edmonia Rita Smith Ms. Engrid S. Smith, MA Mr. Jairus Smith Mr. Justin T. Smith Ms. Na’Diah L. Smith Dr. Natalie R. Smith Mr. Winston C. Smith Dr. Gia B. Soublet*

Mr. Derrick T. Spears Dr. Kristopher G. and Mrs. Bonita Spears Mrs. Saleeta R. SpencerThomas Mr. and Mrs. Keith St Cyr Mr. and Mrs. Eric P. Stallworth Dr. Devona M. StalnakerShofner Ms. Khaleah M. Stapleton Mrs. Robin J. Stevenson Mr. Julian L. and Mrs. Kisha Deshawn Stewart Ms. Linda J. Stewart Mrs. Deadra Woods Stokes Ms. Michelle D. Strong* Mr. Timothy Max Stuart Mrs. Monique Suell Ms. Melanie A. Sullivan Ms. Zanthia J. Sutton Mrs. Damita T. WilliamsSwanson Ms. Denise T. Tanner Dr. Dolores D. Tarver Ms. Angee M. Taylor Ms. Doris Anita Taylor Ms. Kiersten P. Taylor Mr. Lawrence A. Taylor Ms. Paulette Taylor Ms. Samantha A. Taylor Ms. Michele L. Terrie Mr. Brian D. Terry Mrs. Sandra L. Terry-Turner Mrs. Adrianne Brown Texeira Mrs. Deidre Johnson Thomas Dr. Shala L. Thomas, Ph.D. Ms. Tangular N. Thomas Dr. Ara M. Thomas-Brown Mrs. Danyetta D. ThomasUlmer Ms. Cherril Thompson Dr. Donna Thompson Mrs. Patrice S. Thompson Mrs. Claudette W. Tolbert, M.Ed Mr. and Mrs. Keith J. Toney Mr. Thomas J. Trahan, R.Ph. Mr. Calvin S. and Mrs. Judy B. Tregre Ms. Kay M. Trotter Mr. Erroll C. Trouillier Mr. Erbin L. Troutman Mrs. Shirley Peete Tucker Mrs. Angela C. Flowers-Turner Dr. Charles T. Turner, Jr Rellamichelle Washington Tyree, RPh, MBA and Mr. Darrell Tyree Dr. Yolanda M. Tyson Dr. Reanna A. Ursin Mrs. Kamala Valadares-Rimmey Mrs. Tyra L. Valteau-Sorapuru Mr. Kimmie L. Vaulx Mr. Rashawn W. Venerable Rev. Troy K. Venning Ms. Christina M. Victor Dr. April N. Tasso Viger

Mr. Gerald A. Villavasso, Jr.* Mrs. Richella B. Vincent Lee Attorney Angelia Wade Stubbs Mr. Anthony G. Wagner II Ms. Paulette W. Wagner* Mr. Derek R. Walker Mr. Lavar L. Walker Dr. Paul Walker, Jr., Ph.D. Mr. Willie J. Walker, Jr. Ms. Dana R. Walter Ms. Ceressa T. Ward Mr. Stephen M. Ward and Mrs. Christina M. Sommer Ward* Ms. Evadell Ware Ms. Sharon D. Ware Ms. Rondalynn D. Warrior Mrs. Denise Blackwell Washington Dr. Gregory Washington Mrs. Lynette Dillon Washington Mrs. Mia Gonzales Washington Ms. Sabrina Washington Mrs. Troye L. Madison Washington Ms. Autumn D. Watkins Ms. Karen DeGrange Watkins* Mrs. Pansy R. Watson Miss Lachelcia K. Watts Akilah F. Weber-LaShore, M.D. Mr. Branden A. and Mrs. Candace N. Weber Dr. Donald D. Weddington* Ms. Kamilah D. Weems Mrs. Zakiyah D. Wesley Mrs. Josepha Marie Weston Mrs. Deneen A. White Dr. Mia J. Robinson White Ms. Monica Y. Moore White Ms. Shantrell R. Graham White Ms. F. Veronica Wilhite Mr. Alfred E. Williams, Jr. Amanda C. Williams, D.D.S. Mrs. Anne Zeta Williams Mr. Byron R. Williams, Jr. Ms. Julia E. Williams Dr. Kenneth L. and Dr. Maritza G. Williams Dr. Kimiyo Y. Williams Dr. LaKeisha L. Williams Father Dr. Manuel B. Williams, C.R. Mrs. Mary Thomas Williams Ms. Portia D. Williams Ms. Raquel T. Williams Mrs. Renee F. Williams Ms. Amber C. Williamson Ms. Janiece H. Williamson Dr. Jacques P. Williams-Pascal and Mr. Leroy B. Pascal Mrs. Clarissa Willis Dr. Marcella G. Willis-Gray Ms. Arletha Michelle Wilson The Late Mrs. Brenda J. Wilson Ms. Carlene D. Wilson Dr. Erika P. Wilson Dr. Woodrow J. Wilson, Jr. Dr. Stanley J. Wiltz

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2023 Honor Roll of Donors Mrs. Jawan Wiltz-Shivers Mr. Keon D. Wimberly Dr. Sundée A. Winder Dr. Trishawna E. Winston* Mrs. Monica J. Witherspoon Dr. Aurelia C. Holland Wood Mrs. Shane M. Woods Dr. Zakiya Woods Ms. Cheryl L. Worthen Dr. Alison F. Anderson-Wright Ms. Anastasia E. Wright Mr. Harold W. Wright and Mrs. Margaret Wright* Dr. Matara L. Wright Ms. Melody D. Wylie-Johnson Ms. Brigetta D. Yancy Mrs. Karen E. Yarbrough Ms. Denisha Y. Yerger Mrs. Antoinette M. Young Dr. Kavon L. Young, M.D. Dr. Michael A. Young, M.D. $1 to $99 Ms. Kristal N. Adams Dr. Jamel H. Alexander Miss Jasmine C. Alexander Ms. Regina A. Alexander Giammancheri Dr. Clarke M. Allen Mr. Timothy Ambrose, Jr. Ms. Alexa A. Anderson Miss Khila R. Anderson Mrs. Rikki Y. Lester Anderson Dr. Stephanie C. Arnaud Mrs. Michelle A. Scioneaux Ms. Andrea M. Augustus Ms. Quinesia L. Ayers Mr. Joseph D. Babineaux Ms. Alisha M. Bailey Mr. Bertell P. Bailey Karla R. Banks Mr. Marc A. Barnes Miss Taylour M. Barnum Ms. Brandi C. Barre Dr. Jordan D. Bates, Pharm D. Miss Mikayla J. Bates Mr. Todd Battiste Ms. Kamaria D. Beamon Dr. Nia E. Beasley Ms. Jamesha N. Turner Beckham Mr. Donald and Mrs. Naimah Becton Ms. Charnesa K. Bell Mr. Christopher I. Bell Sr. Gilda Marie Bell Mrs. Yolanda Louis Ms. Teniesha M. Biagas Mrs. Bonnie L. Blakes Ms. Sierra N. Blanchard Ms. Angeli E. Blaze Ms. Leslie R. Boone Mrs. Stephaine Smith Boone Mr. Albert C. Bouise, III Ms. Javon E. Bracy* Ms. Heather A. Brightharp Mrs. Danielle L. Brinkley

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Mrs. Raven R. Brooks Mrs. Brittany B. Broussard* Mr. Bentley J. and Mrs. Olivia M. Broussard* Dr. Adrienne M. Brown Mrs. Faith S. Dagadu Brown Dr. Joyce R. Brown, Pharm D. Ms. Latoya A. Brown Mr. Pervis D. Brown, Jr. Mr. Richard H. Brown, Jr. Mrs. Jennifer A. Bullock Mrs. Edra C. Bush Ms. Winter S. Bush Dr. Evita G. Bynum Ms. Coneka M. Caleb Ms. Tai C. Cambre Ms. Danielle B. Campbell Dr. Shelita M. Cannon-Hoey, Ed. D. Miss Kennedy C. CareyPrescott Ms. Korinne B. Carr Miss Corliss M. Carter Dr. Yvonne Lynette Carter Miss Sharaé S. Celestine Mr. Lucien S. and Mrs. Deidre M.Charlot Mr. Travis S. and Mrs. Chastity M. Chase Ms. Valerie Chatman Mrs. Linda G. Chevis Dr. Chika I. Chukwu Ms. Cordelia R. Cochran Ms. Valena Mirabin Coco Ms. Lisa M. Coleman Mr. Frank Collaso Ms. Oto E. Collins Ms. Consuela M. Colston Ms. Lorin P. Comer Mr. Blair and Mrs. Lashon S. Conerly Ms. Meshawn A. Cook Dr. Jessica L. Cooper Mr. Wilray J. Cormier, Jr. Ms. Kawana T. Coulon Mrs. Croscina O. Crockett Mrs. Alice R. Currie-Williams Mrs. Cara Morgan Morgan-Daniels Mr. Malcolm B. Davie Mrs. Mary E. Kahn Davis Ms. Natalie J. Davis Nicholas A. Davis, R.Ph. and Dr. Brenda Kavanaugh-Davis Mrs. Adrienne L. Davis-Lott Mr. Keith A. and Mrs. Judy S. Dawson Ms. Michelle D. Dennis Mrs. Roberta A. Dickerson-Esmond Rhonda R. Dickey, M.D. Dr. Michael A. and Mrs. Michelle Dietrich Ms. Aarika M. Diggs Dr. Jasmine M. Dillard Drs. Nkrumah H. and Shantina Dixon Ms. Carol J. Dotson

Ms. Ashley P. Doucette Mr. Dwayne R. Doughty Mrs. Kynisha Ducre Ms. La Rhonda A. Eason Mr. Chadvett D. Ebanks Mr. Anthony J. Edgar, Esq. Mr. Christopher L. Edwards Dr. Vincent Ekenga* Raenetta L. Ellison, Esq. Mr. DeMarkius M. Erwin Jada M. Etienne, M.D.* Mrs. Joy C. Eubanks Dr. Jasmin P. Eugene Ms. Aloysia M. Everett Ms. Destiny P. Farmer Ms. Amanda E. Farrell Attorney Cassie L. Ford Dr. Lionel J. Forstall Miss Brianne N. Frugé Dr. Alecia McCall Gabriel Mr. and Mrs. Stanley B. Gaddis Mr. Ronald D. Gaines* Ms. Chantel Kanika Gant* Dr. Aja R. Boyd Gardner Ms. Brandi G. Gilds Mrs. Shirley Marsalis Gimblin Dr. Sonya R. Givens Mrs. Jeri A. Glodowski Ms. Joelle L. Goggans Ms. Cecilia A. Golson Ms. Kimberly N. Granderson Mrs. Germaine S. Green Mr. Joshua C. Green Ms. LaShunda C. Green Dr. Rosalind Green-Holmes Miss Kynedi Grier Ms. Lisa A. Griffin Dr. Nastosha A. Griffin Elder Sheila Griffin Mrs. Varsha L. Gusman Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Guynn Sr. Patsy C. Guyton, S.F.C.C. Ms. LaKeasha R. Hamburg Mrs. Courtney Hamlin Dr. Tony A. Hampton and Mrs. Karon L. Hampton Ms. Anya R. Hancock Dr. Bridget D. Harris, Ed. D. Dr. Melanie B. Haydel Mrs. Michelle D. Henderson-McCray Miss Alexandra J. Henry Mr. Joseph E. and Mrs. Beverly R. Henry Miss L’Oreal Henry Renee B. Hickson, M.D. Miss Kimberly J. Higgs Miss Jodi D. Hill Mrs. Ophelia Thomas Hill Mrs. Sandy R. Hithe-Brumfield Ms. Shannon N. E. Hodge Ms. Darlene Hooks Mrs. Linda C. Hopkins Ms. Allison B. Hudson* Attorney Brandon L. Hudson Mrs. Sheila Ellington Humphrey Ms. Priscilla E. Hydell

Ms. Etana-Niara Imani Ms. Kareemat Ipaye Mr. Reginald V. Williams and Mrs. Sheila L. Irions-Williams Ms. Martina G. Isaac Mr. and Mrs. Mark K. Jackson Dr. Gwendolyn S. Jackson Ms. Joi L. Jackson Mr. Kevin M. Jackson Mrs. Marie Ella Phillips Jackson Ms. Patrice A. Jackson Ms. Taquisha S. Jallah Miss Elizabeth A. James Mrs. Janice L. JamesThreadcraft Mrs. Typhanie T. Jasper-Butler Dr. Christopher A. and Mrs. Jeanene L. Johnson Mrs. Elaine M. Keller Johnson Mrs. Evelyn La Croix Johnson Mrs. Lovida J. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Barry F. Jones Ms. Jacquelyn B. Jones Mrs. Raynelle C. Jones Mr. Robert C. Jones II Dr. Rhonda J. Jordan Dr. Tamajah M. Jordan Mrs. Dione M. JosephBreckenridge Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. Joshua, Sr. Professor Eileen J. Julien Mrs. Nannette C. Keller Dr. Rosalyn V. Kent Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Carolyn King Ms. Erin L. King Mrs. Lauren N. King Miss Asia N. Knowles Ms. Loren C. Labbe Ms. Jonnell A. Landsman Dr. Crystal J. Lane Ms. Danella N. Lang Mrs. Kim L. Bishop Mrs. Jean S. Lang-Moore Ms. Kailah C. Lathan Mrs. Carolyn M. Lawson Drs. Henry and Nichole LeBoyd, III Dr. Sandra W. Leconte Mr. Bobby L. Leduff II Ms. Akerria L. Lee Ms. Toni Y. Lester Mr. and Ms. Ernest Lindsey Mrs. Phyllis Charbonnet Lodrig-Burns Mr. Wayne A. Lopez Ms. La’Nese J. Lovings Ms. Harolyn G. Lowe Mrs. Ashley M. Woods Lucineo Mrs. Nicol M. Lumar Cox Drs. Ndidi E. and April M. Madu Mrs. Zarinah Y. Mahmoud-Deen Ms. Allison D. Malone Mrs. Bertha Keys Malone

Mrs. Safiyah K. Malvin Mrs. Laura M. Manson Ms. Lyndsay H. Marks Ms. Gayle Martin Mrs. Valerie A. McCamy-Blake Mr. Duane P. McCollum Mr. Stephen GregoryAugustine McMullen Ms. Lare T. Meachum Ms. Rhana N. Menefee Mrs. Gailene M. MercadelAnderson Ms. Veronica C. Miles Ms. Michelle E. Miller Mrs. Cleo Mitchell Mr. Lee H. Mitchell and Mrs. La’Keidra Hardeman Mitchell* Ms. Nicole P. Moliere Ms. Brittani N. Monroe* Mrs. Shawn M. JosephMontegut Ms. Amithyse H. Moore Ms. Bianca N. Moore, Esq. Dr. Kristie Y. Moore Ms. Lonique T. Moore Mrs. Monita C. Moore Ms. Vanessa Y. Moore Mrs. Pamela Moore-Rogers Mrs. Geralyn Labbe-Morrell Mrs. Jameaker O. Morris Dr. Kenya P. Muhammad and Mr. Gerald V. Muhammad Mrs. Serena N. Muhammad Ms. Jennifer N. Murray Mr. Godwin O. Ndukwe Ms. Rachel C. Neal Ms. Talea M. Nelson Mrs. Tanya M. Netter-Wilson Ms. Serena F. Newberry Mrs. Tiffany Nobles-Bass Mr. Victor M. Nonato Ms. Layna K. Orise Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Roseanna F. Pappion Dr. Celeste R. Parker Miss Liyah V. Patrick Ms. Marva Pattillo Mrs. Shannon M. Payseur Mrs. Jovonna L. Harris Perkins Mr. Larry D. Perkins, R.Ph. Dr. Challon R. Perry Mr. Gregory L. Person Mrs. Brigitte M. Peters Collins Ms. Samantha M. Pichon Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Piper Ms. Latoya N. Polk Sister Marianne T. Poole, S.B.S. Dr. Valencia L. Potter* Mr. Gregory H. Powell Miss Stephanie A. Powell Ms. Erica E. Preatto Ms. Brianna Pulliam* Mr. Brocklin Qualls Mrs. Carolyn R. Rachel-Price, R Ph, CMTM Dr. Lindi Randall-Hayes Ms. Mia D. Raspberry

Dr. Melinda M. Reed-Linton Ms. RaKeesha R. Reeves-Pelt Dr. Kyoo Jackson Ricard Mrs. Alexius J. Richard The Late Mr. Edward J. Richard Ms. Rachel L. Robertson Mrs. Candice Robinson and Mr. Edgardo Ferreira Mrs. Carolyn E. Robinson* Mrs. Catura D. Robinson Miss Kyra Robinson Ms. Melody M. Robinson, MPH Dr. Tommie M. Robinson, III Ms. Holly D. Roby Mrs. Debonee D. Ross-Rolland Ms. Meckela J. Ruggs Ms. Justina E. Russell Ms. Jocelyn M. Sanders Mr. Roy Sanders Miss Taylor Sanders Miss Alana A. Sarrazin, R.Ph. Miss Chelsea M. Scott Shemal Bloom Scott, M.D. Ms. Haley N. Severin Ms. Yvonne M. Shanks Mr. Anthony D. Sharp, Jr. Ms. Kimberly D. Shelton Mr. Richard L. Shivers, Jr. Dr. Gigi J. Simmons Ms. Angela M. Simon* Ms. Tawny C. Small-Burnam Ms. Candice M. Smith* Ms. Candyce A. Smith Ms. Erika R. Smith Ms. Gina M. Smith Mrs. Juanita Summers Smith Mr. Kevin J. Smith, Jr. Ms. LaToyia D. Taylor Mr. Victor L. Smith Ms. Mary S. Smith-McGowan Mr. Wilbert O. Solomon, Jr. Ms. Monique A. Spears Ms. Jyteca N. Spencer Mrs. Kathy M. Spurlock Miss Henrietta D. Ssettimba Mr. Silas A. Steele Ms. Allison J. Stephens Ms. Elise Sterling Mr. Merlin A. Sterling Mrs. Pauline S. Storms-Perkins Ms. Letitia M. Sweat Mrs. Diane M. Sweezer-Davis Ms. Nikki Y. Swett-Smith Dr. Ashley M. Taylor Mrs. Cherie S. Taylor Dr. Erica L. Taylor* Ms. Jazmine G. Taylor Mrs. Victoria E. Taylor Mr. Joseph E. S. Tennial Mrs. Keiara T. Thierry Ms. Cheryl M. Thomas Mrs. Hermanese Thomas Thomas-Ravasio Ms. Karen Thompson Ms. Tiffany V. Thompson Dr. Desiree L. Tigner Mr. and Mrs. Ned Tolliver

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

thank you Paul E. Toth, R.Ph. Dr. Shuana K. Tucker Mrs. Ericka W. Turner Ms. Jacqueline Turner Dr. Georgina N. Ushi Mrs. Bronson Jill Walker Dr. Tamarah Shelton Walker Ms. Pamella Jean Walters Ms. Tabitha A. Washington Mrs. Adimu K. Watson Mr. Leon K. Watson Dr. Gwenevere White Ms. Shauna K. White Ms. Cherell L. Williams Miss Corinne A. Williams Dr. Horace B. Williams, Jr. Mrs. Scemond Cooper Wilson Mrs. Sharyn Winborn Ms. Heidi C. Woodard Ms. Felecia V. Woolens Ms. Yves-Yvette Young Gifts of Artwork or Property Mr. Adolph F. Bynum, Sr. Corporation $1,000,000 or Greater Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A., Inc. $500,000 to $999,999 LCMC Health $250,000 to $499,999 Healthy Blue Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC $100,000 to $249,999 Entergy Corporation Humana Healthy Horizons of Louisiana National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine $50,000 to $99,999 Benevity Community Impact Fund Victory Capital Management, Inc. $10,000 to $49,999 Amazon Bank of America Charitable Fund Biogen Corporation Capital One Services, LLC Coca-Cola North America

Flower Holdings, LLC Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Idlewild Experiential Lockheed Martin Corporation Moderna Therapeutics PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Shell Oil Company Matching Gifts Program Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated Textron Inc. The Blackbaud Giving Fund The Childrens Dental Group LLC The Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund The Louisville Institute UJA Federation of New York Walgreens Company

McDonald’s Restaurant # 4968 NextEra Energy Potomac Valley Alumnae Chapter Fund, Inc Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.

$5,000 to $9,999 American Chemical Society Capital One, N.A. Duane Morris LLP ED&F Man Liquid Products Gallo Mechanical Services, LLC Golden Bank Johnson Charitable Mc H & N Management Co., Inc. Microsoft Corporation Rivsie Management and Finance Inc. Systems Application & Technologies, Inc. The Hirsch Family The Pediatric Care Center

$250 to $499 1925 Society LLC Ecolab, Inc. Gordon Injury Lawyers, P.C. McKee Law Firm Queen On Wheels Truck Raytheon TransUnion USAA Word Investments

$2,500 to $4,999 Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors, LLC Bethanna Enterprises LLC Boston Foundation/Polaroid Fund CLC Frontstream Health Care Services Corporation High Level Speech & Hearing Center Hotard Coaches, Inc. Louisiana Lottery Corporation Medtronic, Inc. United Health Group Giving Campaign $1,000 to $2,499 Araminta Medical Group, PA Bacardi ChevronTexaco Corporation Comerica Bank Cornerstone Capital, LLC CSX Transportation Fluor Federal Petroleum Operations, LLC Google, Inc. HondaGo Volunteer Program

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

$500 to $999 Abbott Laboratories AT&T Corp.

Constellation Fidelity Giving Marketplace Glam Mercy Designs, LLC More Than a Doctor, LLC Nordstrom Perrier Real Estate LLC The J.M. Smucker Co. The Law Office of Mitchell D. Shanks Jr.

$100 to $249 3 Points Development Corp, LLC ADP (Automatic Data Processing) Alvin R. Crusto, Jr. Real Estate Apple, Inc. AYM Medical Services Inc. Boeing Company BonterraTech Boston Scientific Corporation Byrd House Catering Congeni Law Firm LLC EF Robinson Realty Company Inc Endo International IBM James Boudreaux, LLC N.O. Native Printing LLC People1st LLC Rhonda J Session, Attorney & Counselor at Law, PC River Way, LLC SchexLevel Education LLC Sea Cliff Beautification Committee Telagen LLC Toyota North America Travelers Community Connections Wright Place Properties, LLC

$1 to $99 Agilent Technoligies, Inc. Headquarters BAE Systems, Inc. C. H. Robinson Edison International Erie Insurance Marathon Oil Company Marathon Petroleum Corporation PAC Marsh & McLennan Companies US and Canada Murphy Oil USA, Inc. Plano Child Development Center Random Harvest Group LLC Stubbe & Associates, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Union Pacific Charity Custodial Account Gifts of Artwork or Property Bacardi Foundation $1,000,000 or Greater Gilead Foundation $500,000 to $999,999 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Allen Family Foundation, Inc. The Evelyn Davis Foundation $250,000 to $499,999 Goldring Family Foundation Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, Inc. McMillan-Stewart Foundation The Philadelphia Foundation $100,000 to $249,999 Booth-Bricker Fund Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund JPMorgan Chase Foundation Shell Oil Company Foundation The Riversville Foundation $50,000 to $99,999 Truman Capote Literary Trust US Charitable Gift Trust $10,000 to $49,999 American Endowment Foundation Caesars Foundation Charities Aid Foundation of America CVS Health Foundation

Edgar “Dooky” Jr. and Leah Chase Family Foundation Fund II Foundation Na Pua Foundation The Chisholm Foundation The Coca-Cola Foundation The Greater New Orleans Foundation The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Inc. Torijaun & Michelle Dallas Foundation, Inc. $5,000 to $9,999 ASHP Foundation Charities Aid Foundation America E & M Foundation Inc Foundation for Louisiana Halliburton Foundation, Inc. HSIAO Family Foundation Inc. Laurence Flood Foundation PepsiCo Foundation, Inc. The Catholic Foundation The Thomas W. Bean Foundation $2,500 to $4,999 Abbvie Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Matching Gifts Program CDC Foundation GNO-ABO Charitable and Education Foundation Louisiana Independent College Foundation McKesson Foundation New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Pearl Yeh Charitable Foundation Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. The Catholic Foundation The Community Foundation For Greater Atlanta The Defrantz Family Foundation The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing $1,000 to $2,499 Balgley Family Charitable Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Matching Gift Program Eskenazi Health Foundation, Inc. ExxonMobil Foundation GlaxoSmithKline Foundation

Greater Washington Community Foundation Methodist Health System Foundation, Inc. Pfizer Foundation State Farm Companies Foundation The Abbvie Foundation The Joshua & Luke Welch Charitable Fund $500 to $999 AmazonSmile Foundation Prietto Cueto Fund of Sacramento Region Community Foundation Santa Barbara Foundation The Tom Joyner Foundation $250 to $499 Verizon $100 to $249 Cigna Matching Gifts Program Marathon Oil Company Foundation New York Life Foundation The Goggans Family Fund The HCA Foundation $1 to $99 Give Lively Foundation Inc. JPMorgan Chase Foundation KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc. Pledgeling Foundation US West Foundation Individual $1,000,000 or Greater Ms. Alexandra F. Allen The Estate of Mr. Alvin S. Lee, Sr. $10,000 to $49,999 Dr. Richard Gilder $100,000 to $249,999 Dr. John V. Forrest Mr. Gladstone N. Jones, III, P.C. Mr. James Mitchell, Jr. Fr. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C. Mr. Martin W. Rodgers $50,000 to $99,999 Elizabeth Clark Dooling, M.D. Mr. E. Brandon Garrett, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Turner Dr. David and Mrs. Jacqueline Weill

Fall 2024 |

31

2023 Honor Roll of Donors $10,000 to $49,999 Dr. Jennifer and Mr. Benjamin Adams Mr. Philip D. Allen Belinda B. Baptiste Mr. Jason Bowles Dr. Dale Mason Cochran Dr. Gene A. D’Amour Dr. Michelle Dipp Mr. John R. Drexel IV Mr. Richard and Mrs. Sarah Freeman Ms. Vivian J. Galloway Ms. Deborah A. Hawkins Mr. Victor L. Haydel Mrs. Beverly and Mr. Maurice Henderson Mrs. Courtney and Mr. Michael Katzenstein Mr. Bruce S. and Mrs. Kim Levin Ms. Suzanne Malveaux Mr. Terence M. and Mrs. Motoko M. Murphy Ms. Janice C. Roberts Mrs. Jenny and Mr. Michael M. Rue, Esq. HD The Estate of Mr. Daniel J. Stocker Ms. Angela E. Vallot and Dr. James Basker Dr. Reynold Verret The Late Mr. Richard A. Voke William J. and Ann Hart Wernz $5,000 to $9,999 Mr. John A. Clark and Ms. Elizabeth H. P. Barringer Dr. and Mrs. George L. Bernstein Mr. Anthony Scott Bingham Sr. Amelia Breton, S.B.S. Ambassador Dwight L. Bush, Sr. and Mrs. Antoinette Bush Ms. Janel Angerberg Callon Mr. Stephen J. and Mrs. Ellen M. Casey Dr. Ollie G. Christian Dr. Juan and Mrs. Anna Gershanik Drs. Elliott D. and Elizabeth Y. Hammer Mr. Mark N. Howard Dr. Debra M. Lewis, Ph.D. Dr. Joe A. Melcher Mr. Colvin G. Norwood, Jr. Dr. Patrick and Mrs. Belinda O’Connor Mr. Greg A. Otterson and Mrs. Mary Ann Murphy Mrs. Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo Drs. Thomas G. and Theresa P. Pretlow* Mr. Peter R. Quirk Mr. Stephen F. H. Revard Rev. Gregory A. Rom

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Mr. Thomas Osborne Stair Dr. Dana M. Thompson Mr. Alexander T. Walsh and Mrs. Sally C. Walsh Mr. Joseph K. West Stephanie A. Whyte-Williams, M.D. Mr. Derryk Wilson $2,500 to $4,999 Phillip D. and Patricia A. Adams Mr. Kenneth J. Bongort Sr. Ms. Margaret M. Buckley Mr. James S. Cook Jr. Mr. Earl R. Falls Mr. Larry Fitzgerald Jr. Shawanna Fowler Dr. Marguerite and Dr. Ray Giguette* Mrs. Eva B. Grant Mr. James W. Hung Dr. Kathleen B. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. John P. Krolikowski* Mr. Noah Levin Dr. Anne E. McCall Mr. Jeffrey Pash Mr. David G. Perlis Mr. Ashton Phelps, Jr. Mr. Luke Schaeffer Mr. Eddie J. Sinkfield Ms. Lizzy Smith Mr. Peter and Mrs. Laurie Thomsen Dr. Pamela N. Waldron-Moore* Mr. Alford Williams Dr. Monique M. Williams Mr. Curtis Trent Wright $1,000 to $2,499 Dr. Renee V. Akbar Mr. Kenneth Bartels and Ms. Jane Condon Dr. Amy Bellone-Hite Ms. Jessica Bennett Mr. Bradford William Berger Ms. Monica Armstrong Billinger Mr. Darren Blackwell Ms. Kim M. Boyle Mr. Frederick Braggs Ms. Joan K. Bringaze Dr. J Kamala Buckner Dr. Bruce K. Burnett Mr. Jocelyn Carter Ms. Francheska M. Castex Mr. Abraham J. Chen Dr. Lyrial Chism Dr. and Mrs. William L. Cody Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn Reverend Edward V. Davis, M.M. Mr. Michael J. Dawson Ms. Carol Tureaud Dean Mr. John A. Dooley

Captain and Mrs. William A. Fagan Ms. Pam Fitzgerald Drs. Talisman Ford and Michael Roshon Mr. Henry and Mrs. Judith M. Frantz Ms. Carrie L. George Dr. Danielle Gilliam* Ms. Geneva Green Mr. Faruq El Haqq* Mr. Rhoman J. Hardy Drs. Belmont F. and Nina J. Haydel Mr. James D. and Mrs. Eileen S. Holzhauer Mr. George E. Johnson HD Ms. Joyce L. Jones Mrs. Nicole Jones Ms. Patricia Joseph Dr. Karen Kennicott Ms. Marie Louise Landry* Ms. Therese M. Lemelle Dr. Michael R. and Mrs. Patricia A. Lucey* Ms. Jeanne B. Lynch Ms. Ti Adelaide Martin Mr. Richard D. Matusiak Mr. Shawn A. Meekins Mr. Henry Meyers Ms. Raquel Murray Ms. Marjorie O’Connor Dr. Claude Grandford Perkins Mr. Kemp C. Peterson Mrs. Judith Phelan Ms. Olivia Polius Ms. Gwendolyn D. Rouzan Ms. Sujata Roy Ms. Selma P. Ryave Mrs. Chimene G. Saloy Mr Daniel C. Sauls Ms. Kathy L. Schulz Mrs. Lynn Skelding Ms. Nancy D. Smith Dr. Stacey Smith-Andrade Dr. Nancy P. Stork Mr. John and Mrs. Rachael Tolliver Mr. Eugene Varnado Ms. Lucy Vasserman The Honorable Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. Mrs. Christine A. Weeks Mr. Wayne Weiten Mrs. Patricia Whisenhunt Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Patricia Whitman Mrs. Melva D. Williams* Ms. Melva M. Williams $500 to $999 Mrs. Tricha Arabie Ms. Lezli Baskerville, Esquire Ms. Patrice A. Bell Ms. Helaine H. Benjamin Mrs. Terese Bennett

Mr. Marion B. and Mrs. Judy Bracy Ms. Donna Brazile HD Ms. Sharon Cannon Mr. James Carter Ms. Camilla Clarke Mr. Vince Contreras Dr. Andrea L. Cooper Dr. Cecily DeFreece Mr. Humphrey Doermann HD Dr. Nathaniel R. Evans II Mrs. Barbara Fitzhugh Mr. Carlos Gavilondo Mrs. Margaret Faulwell Gordon Ms. Emrie F. Green, TTEE Dr. Jeffrey A. Hale Mr. Qadry Ahmad Harris Dr. Brian Hatot Dr. Jason T. Hayes Ms. Gabriella S. Holland Mrs. Monchieré Holmes-Jones Mr. Joseph Hookfin Mr. Joseph J. Houska and Ms. Christine Paige Dr. Helen R. Houston Mrs. Mavis Jean-Gilles Dr. Yu L. Jiang Ms. Nedra Kelly Mr. Michael D. Kessler Mr. Christopher Lastrapes Mr. Derrick R. LeBeauf Dr. Marcia Jenkins Littles Ms. Ann P. and Mr. Lee Littlewood Mr. Harold Spencer and Ms. Ruth D. MacNaughton Dr. Madisa Macon Mr. Eric C. Marshall Mr. James R. and Mrs. Olivia McInerney* Mr. Darrel Metoyer Elsie C. Morris, M.D. Mr. Trevor Mundel Mr. Robert E. and Mrs. Margo J. Murphy, Jr. Dr. Andrea Murray Dr. Amber Newell Ms. Leeandra M. Nolting Mr. Douglas L. and Mrs. Melba Hill-Paschal Mr. Edward J. Phillips, Jr. Mr. Chris Plum Mrs. Wanda Pritchett Ms. Jennifer A. Quezergue Dr. Richard D. Quint, M.D. Reverend Philip D. Reifenberg Brigadier General Joan M. Rutherford Mr. Robert and Mrs. Marie B. Scott Ms. Jetasha Shine Ms. Kelley J. Simmons* Mr. Richard A. Goins, Esq. and Ms. Nannette Smith* Ms. Robbi Tara Stiell Mr. Bruce D. Strathearn

Will Stubbs Ms. Tammy Jeffries Stuckey Mr. Joel F. Studebaker Ms. Donna M. Tasket Mrs. Patricia H. Vaultz* Ms. Leah M. Wallace Ms. Regina Wattley Mr. Larry Wilcher Mr. and Dr. Alan K. Williams Dr. Christopher Williams* Mr. Jeryl S. Williams and Mrs. Toye Williams The Late Professor Clifford S. Wright, CPA $250 to $499 Mr. Richard Ammons Dr. Beverly G. Andry Ms. Debra L. Bacon* Ms. Sharon K. Beasley Mr. Ronald Bechet Dr. Joan W. Bennett Dr. Jason Berntsen Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Jacqueline Bolshoun Mr. Howard Boyd Mr. Sydney M. Brazile Johnson Ms. Robbyn Brown Ms. Torena Brown Mr. Sean Bruno Mr. Michael M. Byrd Mr. Daniel T. Casey Mr. Edgar Chase, IV Ms. Shellond Deneen Chester Mr. Shawn Cobb Mrs. Ruby C. Collins Mr. and Mrs. Tim & Anna Cook Mr. Emmary and Mrs. Cassandra Cotton Ms. Genevieve Coyle Dr. Valerio De Angelis Mr. Frank Battaglia and Mrs. Patricia DeHart Mr. Keith V. Dillon* Dr. Patrice Dupart LTC. (Ret) Holman Edmond, Jr. and Mrs. Lee D. Edmond Rev. Donna Faith Eldredge Ms. Mallory England Mr. Brett Evans Mr. Charles Freeman Dr. Annie M. Garraway Drs. Galina Goloverda and Vladimir Kolesnichenko Mr. Dedrick L. Gordon Mr. David G. Gray Rev. Dr. Herbert Griffin Ann Hasselmo Colonel and Mrs. John C. Holley Mrs. Mary Dyer Hubbard Mr. William L. and Mrs. Deborah M. Jeffrion* Mr. Meredith W. Johnson Mrs. Worell B. Johnson* Mr. Gino Jones Ms. Patricia A. Kendrick

Mr. Lawrence S. Kullman Mrs. Megan Loffredo Mr. Kevin M. Lyman Ms. Claudia Marmolejo Ms. Adrian Hunt Marshall Mrs. Shirley Massenburg* Dr. Bervis B. McBride, III Mr. Eric Mendoza Ms. Joyce M. Mills Attorney Brian D. O’Neill The Late Dr. Joel B. Oppenheim and Mrs. Susan Oppenheim Mr. Gregory M. Perry Ms. Kris Pottharst Mr. Peter Price Mr. Michael Rawles Professor Julie Reuben Ms. Lucinda Robb and Mr. Lars Robb Ms. Diane W. Roberts Dr. Joseph F. Ross* Ms. Sondra K. Ruckwardt Mrs. Ingenué SchexniderFields Mr. C. Scott Schlesinger Ms. Florina Sheard Dr. Tina Simpson Mrs. Sally S. Smith Mr. Thomas Stein Ms. Anne Taylor Reverend Douglas Taylor Ms. Faith Taylor Ms. Esperanza Tervalon-Daumont Ms. Ashley M. Thomas Jide Tinubu Attorney Angelia Tucker Mrs. Phyllis M. Wadley Mr. John E. Warren Ms. Anne W. White Mr. Terrence White Mr. David S. Williams Ms. Tonya Williams Raphael Wilson Dr. Shael Wolfson $100 to $249 Professor Ralph Adamo Dr. Michael R. Adams Mr. Cornell Alfred Mr. Donald Allen Eric Allen Miss Iolet E. Ambrose, R.Ph. Mr. Cecil Armstrong Ms. Sheila Ashmon Ms. Aubrie G. Augustus Ms. Candace A. Austin Ms. Rosalyn Bailey Dr. Peter Barrett* Ms. Sharon Barrett Dr. James R. Bartkus Candice Beasley Mr. Christopher A. Bell Ms. Kerri Bennett Candace Berry Dr. Teresa Birdwhistell Ms. Gail Blattenberger*

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

thank you Ms. Cynthia B. Boykin Mrs. Monica Bozonier Ms. Ruth A. Broussard Mr. Robert Browder Mr. Winston Brown Mr. Michael Bruno, C.P.A. Ms. Natalie E. Bumpers Rev. John E. Burger, S.S.C. Katrina Byrd Mrs. Kim D. Byrd Mrs. Carrie L. Caldwell Mrs. Anitra Fenae Calvin Ms. Clepathia Campbell Mr. Chetwin Carter Mrs. Yttria Carter Carla Chandler Ms. Nicole Charbonnet Ms. Azella Collins Mr. Michael Colloway, Sr. Mrs. Geraldine Connors-Lynch Phoebe Cook Mr. Kevin O. Cooper Mr. David N. Crapo Mr. Percy Creuzot III Ms. Margaret J. Cunningham Ms. Charlotte Y. Davis Mr. Gary G. De Leaumont Dr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Derbes Ms. Kathryn DeYoung Mr. John Dimry, Jr. Andreana Dobbs Chef Lawrence Dodd Ms. Leslie D. Doles Mr. Milton Douglas, Jr. Mr. Thomas Duffy* Mr. Jerry and Mrs. Gina Kay Dunn Ms. Julie Dupre Mrs. Karen B. Eastman Ms. Julie Einhorn Mr. Siddieg Elsiddieg Mr. Stephen Engel Ms. Kimberly McCraw Epps Dr. Onita Estes-Hicks Mrs. Stephanie Evans Mr. Louis C. R. Farrelly Mr. Floyd D. Feeling, Esq. Ms. Rae Fellows Mr. Kenneth J. Ferguson Dr. Amy and Dr. Lee Fineburg Ms. Sara Flowers-Dent Ms. Wilma Foreman Dr. Maryam K. Foroozesh Ms. Virginia M. Francois Ms. Barbara J. Franklin Mrs. Eunice Franklin-Ortiz Mr. David Freddie Tracy Freeman Mrs. Wanda Freeman-Sewell Mr. Lamont M. Fulton Mr. Stephen Furney-Howe Dr. Antoine M. and Mrs. Carol J. Garibaldi Ralph Gaspard Ms. Terree Gayle Ms. Ramona Gibson Mr. Robert S. and Mrs. Kathleen A. Gilliam

Sharon Gilmore Mr. Milton E. Goggans Mrs. Victoria and Mr. John Gold Ms. Maryah Gomez Ms. Hattie T. Gordon Mr. Albert P. Grammer Mr. David M. Gray and Mrs. Kimberly A. Gray Ms. Relanda Gray Ms. Leona S. Green Dr. Toni Green-Barrett Ms. Anne Marie Gualtieri Ms. Helena Hall Mr. Bruce J. Hamilton, Sr. Mr. Mark Hammer Ms. Charlotte V. Hankton Susan Harden Mr. Douglas Hardy Ms. Jallure Harrell Mr. Miwako Hattori Ms. Julianne Haugh Mrs. Laura Ann Hewett Haydel and Mr. John P. Haydel, Jr. Mr. Roger G. and Mrs. Mary Kay Hehman Ms. Amanda E. Helm Ms. Simone M. Henderson Gillette Herrington Brad Higginbotham, D.D.S. Charles Hill Ms. Christina Hill Mr. Maurice Hoffman Ms. Barbara B. Holdridge Mr. Ricardo Houston Mr. Shelton A. Howard* Ms. Vanessa Hughes Ms. Adrienne M. Hunter Ms. Vanessa Hunter Gary Huntley Mr. Albert L. Hyland Dr. Alison G. Hyslop* Ms. Diane Irvin Mrs. Ireon W. Jackson Ms. Janice Janz Mr. Stanislaus Jeanmard Mr. Phillip S. Joffray Ms. Tiffany D. Johnson Mr. Frank W. Jones Ms. Lena Jones Pamela Boykins Jones Ms. Patricia K. Jones Ms. Michelle Keagle Mr. Frank Kennebrew Mrs. Bonnie Kennedy* Ms. Jacqueline Kinard Mrs. Mapo Kinnord-Payton Mrs. Mary B. Kittles* Mr. Ronald J. Knill The Late Dr. Vlajko L. Kocic* Mr. Daniel LaFavor Mr. Gerald Lagarde Ms. Barbara H. Lake Fr. Victor Laroche Mr. Victor J. Lawrence, M.D. Ms. Lisa Laws Ms. Avis LeDuff Ms. Lynne Marie Lee Sherita Lee

* - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Eugene Leitzinger Mr. Michael J. LeJeune, Sr. and Mrs. Pamela Lejeune Ms. Dannette J. Lewis Nelsy Lipford Mr. Lawrence J. Loomis Mrs. Karen Mackie Mr. John P. Mahaffey Mr. Frank and Mrs. Judy Mastrocola Andrea Mazzacano Ms. Barbara Margaret McAteer Mr. Carl and Mrs. Margaret Rose McCalla Mr. E. Michael McCann Ms. Susan V. McCloud* Mr. Marc McCulloch and Mrs. Ewa McCuloloch Ms. Rhonda S. McCutchen Ms. Deirdre McElhaney Mr. Henry McKee Jr Ms. Lane McNeil Ms. Michelle McNeill Ms. Andrea Menotti Ms. Virginia B. Michel Mr. Nolan J. Millet, Jr. Ms. Beverly and Mr. Steve Mills Ms. Dorothy A. Mills Amy Misko Mrs. Meredith M. Montgomery Dr. Cecilia A. Moore Dr. Mable J. Moore Mrs. Nancy D. Moore Mr. Thomas J. Motley Mr. and Mrs. William S. Murphy Mr. David Myers Dr. Patience Obih* Clint Odom Ms. I Nicole Okezie Mr. Nmcghee Osse Mr. Gordon C. and Mrs. Laura Ousset Mrs. Virginia Pellerin Dr. Lisa C. Perry-Gilkes, M.D. Ms. Shinita Pettiford Dr. Robin Pike Mrs. Rebecca L. Pittman-Edwards Dr. Martha Plowden and Mr. Nathaniel Plowden Mr. Byron Price Mr. Tony Proctor Dr. Harish Ratnayaka Mr. Simeon B. and Mrs. Linda S. Reimonenq, Jr. Andrew Richardson Mr. Frank J. Rienzo* Mrs. Ann E. Ringia Ms. Lillie Robbins Dr. Shearon D. Roberts Mr. Virgil and Mrs. Alexis B. Robinson Ms. Pearlie H. Robinson Ms. Kim Roddy

Mrs. Christie K. Rodriguez Ms. Brenda C. Rogers Dr. Stephen Rosenman Ms. Sarane H. Ross Mr. William Rueb Mrs. Laurie Ruettimann Ms. Monique Sanders Ms. Keyana M. Scales Ms. Ruby Shackleford Ms. Debra Shenk Angel Sheppard Mr. Kaleb Shervington Mr. Jack M. Simmons, III Mr. Herbert Simmons, Jr., J.D. Mrs. Sharon Singleton Khalilah Spencer Mrs. Serena Spurlock Mrs. Abigail Strawberry Ms. Angela M. Sullivan Jennifer Swartz Mrs. Susan Tanabe Ms. Lynette Taylor Ms. Noreen Taylor Jess Tejeda Mr. William J. Tobias* Ms. Ida Tomlin Mrs. Cassandra Triggs-Tucker Mr. Jeremy Tuman Dr. Brian L. Turner Ms. Donna Vance Ms. Karen Vander Ms. Yadira Vazquez Mr. Dyron Walker Ms. Marie Saul Walters Ms. Gina F. Walton Dr. Ernst and Dr. Teresa Wanser Ms. Charmaine Williams Ward Ms. Anna Lovelace Ware Mr. Erik D. Waters Ms. Gloria Weber Mrs. Roxana C. Weber Mrs. Gina M. West Mr. Kelwyn White Mr. Robert L. White Ms. Kristin H. Whitlock Tamika Wiggins Ms. Miriam J. Wilbon Ms. Beryl Williams Mr. Claude S. Williams IV Ms. Teyanna L. Williams Mrs. June Young Ms. Diane Yurkas Mr. Jay C. Zainey, Jr. $1 to $99 Mr. Oluwasegun Segun Abegunrin Olubisi Aina Angela Allen Ms. Robin Allen Jen Almiron Mr. Hrimgalah Amen Ms. Jabari Anderson Ms. Candace Armstrong Ms. Nya Assis Dr. Douglas Athey

Mr. Louis J. Babst, Jr. Mr. Robert M. Ballasty Mr. Everett Bass Ms. Linda L. Bishop Mrs. Sharlena Black-Johnson Mr. Delovunn Blackmon Ms. Carole Blanks Mr. Brian M. Bolden Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Judith Bonner* Ms. Bridgette Boudreaux Mr. Raymond Boutte Ms. Alexandra Bowen Ms. Barbara Bowers Ms. Tavia Bell Bowers Mr. Eric Braley Ms. Jones Brayanna Sr. Donna Breslin, S.B.S. Mr. Bertrand Brickham Ms. Shawntel Broadus Mr. Jason B. Brossett, Sr. Ms. Deborah Brown Mr. Dexter Q. Brown Ms. Marilyn Brown Ms. Erica Bryant Patrick Burden Ms. Cheryl Burton Matthew Bush Tamra Butler Mrs. Lori A. Cade Ms. Shannon Canavin Ms. Linda Cannon The Late Mrs. Justyna M. Carlson* Dr. Arthur F. Carter Jr. C Carter Eulalia Edwards Carter Mr Rex Carter Manuel Castellon Shawon Clark Ladawna Cole Ms. Leatrice Coleman Ms. Synedra I. Coleman Mr. Calvin L. Cooper Skiler Cornish Ms. Ester Cosby Ms. Marian Crawford Reshawn Crowley Reverend Jennie L. Curry Ms. Mariana Daniels Ms. Chrisula W. Davillier Mr. Derwin A. Davis Mrs. Elaine P. Davis Ms. Elaine Davis Ms. Jo-Ann Stutz Daylor Ms. Mary Lu Dempsey Mr. Kevin Dengel Mrs. Margaret D. Diaz-Fugetta Ms. Shirley Dillard Jai R Dorsey Sr Mrs. Adrienne Dotson* Mr. Brandon Dove Casey Dupart Gina Dupart Ms. Ayesha Dwyer Laretta Earls-Rozelle Ms. Paula Edwards Stephanie Edwards

Ms. Cheryl P. Ellington Natalie English Ms. Roxane Evans Ms. Lorriane M. Everson Mr. John E. Faherty Drs. Joe and Paddy Favazza Swan Fleming Mr. Herman and Mrs. Katherine Flora Sr. Joan K. Flores Renita Flowers Jackson Ms. Chandra Foster Ms. Jenelle Franklin Ms. Myrtle Freeman Mr. V. Allen Gale* Samuel Gallaspy Dr. Morewell Gasseller Dr. Dominique M. Gendrin-Magnuson Ms. Lorie D. Gie Ms. Marcia Gilroy Mr. Blaze L. Gilyot, Sr. Ms. Lizbeth Gonzalez Dr. Denise L. Gordon Ms. LaTanya Graham William Grand Kevin Grant Ms. Doriana Green Ms. Pamela Greer Ms. Esther L. Grissom Mr. Howard L. Hale, Jr. Mr. Julian C. Hale Mr. Derrick Hall Ms. Chenise N. Hamilton Mr. Edward L. Hamilton Ms. Lisa Harrell* Dr. Janice Harrington Winder Mrs. Emma E. Harris Mr. Derrick D. Harvey Morgan Hawkins Ms. Nia Haydel Ms. Keanuh L. Hebert Mrs. Alma L. Henderson Ms. Larenzia Henderson Ms. Lisa Henderson Ceasar Hendricks Camaran Henson Amanda Hill Mr. Claude Hill, Jr Ms. Michelle T. Hill Mrs. Ashley Hohenkirk Rollins Ms. Charmaine Holley Ms. Leslie Holley Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hood Mrs. Janice M. Houston Nigel Hudson Deborah Hutchison Mrs. Betty A. Irby Mr. James E.T. Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Victor Jackson Joy Jackson-Guilford Ms. Equilla James Kelly James Ms. Quiandine Jarrett Ms. Ariana Jefferson Mrs. Barbara J. Johnson Ms. Johnetta Johnson Kira Johnson

Fall 2024 |

33

2023 Honor Roll of Donors Miss Letitia Johnson Patrice Johnson Mr. Robert Johnson, Jr. Ms. Tracy E. Johnson Ms. Kathleen Marie Rouse Jones Ms. Lacrecia A. Jones* Ms Tiffanie L. Jones Mr. William Jones IV Mrs. Tammy Joseph Ms. Erin Keller Mr. David A. Keough, SMC and Mrs. Patricia A. Keough* Mrs. Gloria P. Kindrick* Ms. Kawana King Ms. Allison Kleiman Mrs. Carol J. Koch Luke Kues Mr. Louis E. Labat Ms. Sharlene LeBlanc Mr. Daniel Lee Ms. Stephanie Lemelle Tabitha Liddell Tyler Litt Dr. Letoya M. Lofton Warren Lowe Ms. Deloris Mabins Mr. Jameson MacDonnell Jamika Mack Ms. Aisha Madhi Terrell Malone Dr. Elizabeth Manley Dr. Nancy L. Martino Drs. Joseph A. and Kay Matan Mr. Henry Maury M Maxwell Ms. Nichole McHenry Ms. Elizabeth Meisman Mr. Randy Melton Dr. Howard W. Mielke, Ph.D. Mr. and Mrs. William J. Miller Ms. Ananie Mitchell Mr. Tyrone L. Mitchell Ms. Patricia Moore Ms. Angela Morgan Brenda Morrison Ms. Dionne Narcisse Mrs. Karen Hodge Nathan* Christopher Newsome Anh Ngo Ann Nguyen-Chung Ms. Danitra L. Nichols Ms. Brittany Nixon Ms. Sharon Okoh Mr. Omar O’Neil Ms. Renee Onyebuagu Mrs. Nancy A. Paes Regina Parks Austin Penny Mr. Richard C. Peters Ms. Brigette Philpot Mr. Achenald Pierre Ms. Pauline Pierre Ms. Natalie Pierson Ms. Elizabeth Polakowski Ms. Gloria A. Polite Jordy Polk

34

| XAVIER GOLD

Mr. Samuel Polson Kristin Powers Carl Puckett Ms. Sharon Faye Rahman Mr. Wayne Reese, Jr Mrs. Marla Reid Ms. Regina Reyes Ms. Nancy S. Reynolds Ms. Torranda Richardson Ms. Lasaundra Roberts Troylynn Roberts Aliyah Robertson Mr. Merritt A. Robertson Ms. Marie Robinson Miss Tiffany S. Rogers Ms. Josephine W. Roper Ms. Francisca A. Sabadie Angelica Salmeron Ramon Sam Ms. Rebecca Hamilton Sanchez* Sylvester Sanford Ms. Patricia Schaaf Ms. Alisha Shelton Ms. Pamela SimpsonDiedrick Michelle Sims Dr. Sunil Sirohi Dr. Elizabeth A. Slaughter Ms. Ava Smith Ms. Caroline Smith Mr. James Smith Ms. Michelle J. Smith Ms. Sheila R. Smith Tjuan Smith Catrina Snyder Mr. William Stanley Mrs. Avis M. Stuard* Ms. La Tasha Sublett Mr. John P. Sullivan Ms. Julia Swaby Gregory Swafford Ms. Chamika Taylor Howard Terrell Ms. Gloria Thomas Melany Thomas Mr. Rodney J. Thomas, III* Ms. Valerie Thomas Troy Thompson Dr. Mary Todd Ms. Gwendolyn Tolbert Mr. Karol Townsend Ms. Delanius Trask Ms. Kami K. Tucker Jarrette Tuircuit Artis Ulmer Ms. Solange Isabelle Unger Dr. Sindhu S. Unnithan Ms. Virginia Vaughan Miss Alexus K. Vaughn Ms. Kristie Vead Mr. Earl S. and Mrs. Myrna Vincent Ms. Adicia Waddell Mr. Christopher Walker Ms. Tracey Walker-Hines Ms. Barbara Walsh Jacqueline White

Ms. Renee C. White Ms. Julia Whitehead Mrs. Stephanie M. Wiebke Mrs. Biyaka N. Warren Williams Dr. and Mrs. Calvin Williams Mrs. Cynthia Williams Kaya Williams Lathon Williams Matthew Williams Mr. Tony Williams Mrs. Tonia Williams-Horton Mr. Fenesi Wills Mrs. Ariel Wiltz Ms. Sylvia Essex Winder Allison Winokur Louise Wise Mr. Bernard Wojnowski Ms. Barbara Woods Ms. Tracie J. Woods Stephanie Wright Elaine Wright-Forris Mr. Ryan Yancy Ms. Jacqueline L. Young Mr. Qiang Zhang* Gifts of Artwork or Property The Estate of Ms. Betty Chambers Organization $1,000,000 or Greater National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities $250,000 to $499,999 The Historic Fund I, LP $500,000 to $999,999 Morehouse School of Medicine The Clarence and Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust United Negro College Fund $100,000 to $249,999 National Center for Teacher Residencies The Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving The Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program $50,000 to $99,999 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston

$10,000 to $49,999 A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds American Library Association Black and Indian Missions National Association of University WomenNew Orleans Branch The Student Freedom Initiative Xavier University Alumni Association-Houston Chapter Xavier University of Louisiana National Alumni Association $5,000 to $9,999 Epsilon Tau Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament The University of Southern Mississippi Xavier University Alumni Association-Birmingham Chapter

$500 to $999 Baptist Community Ministries City of Memphis, Tennessee Concordia University Wisconsin Northwestern University St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church Xavier University Alumni Association-Northern California XI Sigma

Student $500 to $999 Mr. Timothy Bennett

$250 to $499 Xavier University Alumni Association-Meridian MS Chapter Xavier University Alumni Association-Montgomery Chapter Xavier University Alumni Association-Southern CA Chapter

$1 to $99 Ms. Aerial Anderson Ms. Imani Buskin Ms. Demadria Davis Youma Diabira Lonzo Hamilton Anthony Haynes Kirsten M. Miss Maliah J. Mayweather Ms. Kennedy Osum Ms. Dezha A. N. Robinson Ms. Tyra Smith Ms. Breanna Washington Ms. Milahni Wilkerson

$1 to $99 Philanthropi Charitable - The Blackwell Family Fund

$250 to $499 Ms. Zakryscha Hayes $100 to $249 Ms. Veralyn Clemons Ms. Keturah Crease Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor

$2,500 to $4,999 Jack and Jill of America, Inc. New Orleans Chapter Knights And Ladies Of Peter Claver Studs Club, Inc. Xavier University Alumni Association - Atlanta Chapter #16 Xavier University Alumni Association-Chicago Chapter Xavier University Alumni Association-Dallas/Fort Worth Xavier University Alumni Association-Memphis Chapter $1,000 to $2,499 Miss Xavier Endowment Fund Mount Zion Progressive MB Church, Inc. Second Baptist Church STEM NOLA Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana Xavier University Alumni Association-New Orleans Chapter #1

Thank you for your support! * - Loyalty Society | HD - Honorary Degree

1925 Legacy Society You may already be eligible to join.

Our Legacy Society was created to recognize those donors who have generously remembered Xavier University of Louisiana in their estate plans.

Membership in the 1925 Legacy Society is available to anyone making a planned gift to Xavier University of Louisiana, no matter the amount.

If you have already included Xavier University in your estate plan, let us know. If you are interested in learning more about making a planned gift to Xavier University, contact: Office of Institutional Advancement (504) 520-7575 ia@xula.edu giving.xula.edu

Dr. Elaine Marie Parker-Adams Mr. Allegretto F. Alexander* Captain Sanders W. Anderson and Mr. Lewis Anderson Ms. Carmen Maria Austin Mrs. Melody K. Baddoo Mr. George W. and Mrs. Carla D. Gibson Baker Ms. Stacey M. Bastian Carolyn Brown Block-Arnelle, Ph.D. Ms. Stephanie A. Bolling * Ms. Linda M. Bolt* Ms. Antonia M. Bossier* Mrs. Louise M. Bouise* Dr. and Mrs. C. Michael Bowman Mrs. Nellie M. Reed Bowman* Mrs. Angela D. Braud Dr. Robert W. Brawley* Mrs. Gladys E. Brennan* Mr. Searl G. Brier * Honorable Lois G. Bronz* and Mr. Charles Bronz* Mr. W. O. Bryson, Jr. * Rev. John E. Burger, S.S.C. Mrs. Myrtle J. Burns * Mrs. Christine J. Butler-Powell* Ms. Margaret Mary Butz * Mr. Frederick J. Carter* and Mrs. Joyce Carter Ms. Joyce A. Carter Mrs. Louise D. Carter * Ms. Marie M. Cavanagh * Ms. Betty Chambers* Ms. Agnes M. Cizek* Mr. Tilford J. Cole * Mrs. Juliet B. Crawford* Mr. John J. Cunningham* Mrs. Gladys C. deBen Majeau* Dr. Carolyn M. Dejoie* Mr. Willard Dennison * Mrs. Lorraine G. Desbordes* Dr. Hampton P. Deslonde, Sr.* Mrs. Helen B. Drye * Mrs. Audrey H. Duncan* Ms. Denise R. Dunn Ms. Eloise T. Dyson * Mr. Malcolm N. Ellington* Mr. Frances B. Ellis * Dr. Patricia E. Evans* Ms. Yvonne Evans Mrs. Marguerite Rey Florent

Dr. Norman C. Francis Mr. Noel M. Gagnon* Mr. Theodore and Mrs. Maria S. George Rev. Dr. Peggy A. Gibson Jesse F. Goodwin, Ph.D.* Mrs. Jennifer Adger Grant Dr. Lois C. Gray Dr. Noel Gray* Ms. Josephine Rebecca Grier * Ms. Catherine A. Guillory* Dr. Rosalind Pijeaux Hale Okyeame Haley, Esq. and Mrs. Melissa S. Haley Mr. Okyeame and Mrs. Melissa Smith Haley Drs. Elizabeth Y. and Elliot D. Hammer Drs. Elliott D. and Elizabeth Y. Hammer Mrs. Cynthia Hardy Ms. Brandi M. Harris Mrs. Gaylene V. Watts Harris Anonymous Donor* Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Hicks* Mr. René Himel, Jr.* Ms. Velva T. Hollier* Mr. Charles A. Honore’ Mrs. Serena J. Hunter Mr. Albert L. Hyland Jennifer C. Johnson, M.D. and Mr. Alpha Johnson Dr. Derrick D. and Mrs. Leontyne P. Jones Professor Eileen J. Julien Mr. Clyde P. Jupiter* and Mrs. Pat Jupiter Mrs. Florence B. Kelleher* Ms. Phyllis C. King* Mrs. Carolyn Millet Lee Mr. Alvin S. Lee , Sr.* Monsignor Paul A. Lenz, D.D.* Dr. Debra M. Lewis, Ph.D. Mr. Walter T. Lewis, Jr.* Mr. Halvan J. Lieteau* and Mrs. Theyon D. Lieteau Mr. Henry Loftin* Ms. Mary Macomber* Dr. John M. Mallette* Mrs. Melba Fortuné Martinez* Dr. Marie Valentine McDemmond* Dr. Jill E. McGovern Ms. Brendolyn M. McKenna Mrs. Dolly M. McKinney*

Ms. Jean B. Meggs* Mr. Cyrus S. Mercier* Mr. Louis H. * and Mrs. Claudia M. Meyi, Sr.* Dr. David R. and Mrs. Synthia Miller Dr. Judith G. Miranti Mrs. Veronica LeDoux Mitchell* Dr. Miranda F. Mitchell-Simmons Dr. James A. Oakes, III Dr. Toi A. Olden Ms. Frances Parker Dr. James A. Paschal Mrs. Gloria Patin* Mr. Charles J. Patio* Mrs. Juanita Betz Peterson Mr. James L. Petivan, Jr.* Mr. and Mrs. William R. Porter Mrs. Oaptar A. Prosper* Mrs. Mildred V. Prudeaux* Dorothy L. Pugh, R.Ph. Mr. Allison B. Randolph, Sr.* Mrs. Corinne Reeves* Mr. Stephen F. H. Revard Mrs. Anna M. Rhodes* Ms. Annie G. Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert D. Robichaux* Drs. Derek J. and Shawn S. Robinson Mr. Marlon E. Roundtree Mr. Henry E. Rouson* Mr. Leo P. Sam, Jr.* Ms. Kathy L. Schulz Ms. Lillie V. Scott* Mrs. Aissatou A. Sidime-Blanton Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Stewart, Jr. Mr. Daniel J. Stocker * Mrs. Minola T. Stuart* Mr. Wellington D. Swindall* Mr. Trevor K. Thompson* Mr. Andrew Tobias Anne Bouise Ward, M.D. Mrs. Louella C. White* Ms. Jimmie C. Wickham Mr. Charles H. Wilcox, Sr.* Mr. and Mrs. Gary F. Willett Reverend Nathan S. Willis* Mr. Rawson L. Wood* Ms. Margaret A. Zimmerman (*Deceased)

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35

XAVIERGIVING

SUSTAINER

LOYALTY

LEADERSHIP

THE ANNUAL FUND at Xavier is the lifeline to the University’s operation. Gifts to the Annual Fund benefit the entire Xavier community by funding student life, maintaining and enhancing campus infrastructure, and securing renowned faculty.

In recognition of annual giving, the Loyalty Society honors alumni that have made a commitment to Xavier by making consecutive annual fund gifts.

The various degrees of loyalty range from our Ambassador members, who are young alumni just beginning their lifelong commitment to annual giving, to our Legacy supporters, who have given to the university for multiple years.

Qualifying Levels Membership in each level is based upon the amount of the donor’s annual gift. All donors must be an annual donor for 5 or more years (except the Piety Membership which is 10 or more years).

Specific qualifications are: · Ambassador: Within 5 years of graduation · Piety: 10+years of consecutive giving · Crescent Member: ($2,500-$4,999) · Leadership Member: ($5,000-$9,999) · Sustainer Member: ($10,000-$24,999) · Drexel Member: ($25,000+annual gifts (Lifetime $250,000)

For a list of Loyalty Society benefits, please refer to the following page. For more information about the Loyalty Society, call (504) 520-7575 or go to www.xula.edu/alumni.

36

| XAVIER GOLD

Dr. Norman C. Francis Dr. Farrell David Fort Dr. James A. Paschal .Dr. Tanya Robinson

CRESCENT

Captain Sanders W. Anderson and Mr. Lewis Anderson Dr. Rosalind Pijeaux Hale Ernest W. Jackson, D.M.D.

PIETY

Capt. Eugenia Foster Adams, Ret. Mr. Joe L. Allen, Jr. Ms. Arlene A. Aranha Dr. Brian G. Ashford Mrs. Larna J. Atkinson Janeen R. Azare, Ph.D. Dr. Janel Bailey Wheeler Mrs. Gwendolyn E. Ball-Julien Mr. Kevin L. Barnes Mr. Norman E. Barnum, IV and Mrs. Dionne Gremillion Barnum Dr. Peter Barrett Ms. Debbie Bissett Mr. Alvin Blackmon, III Ms. Gail Blattenberger Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Judith Bonner Mr. William T. and Mrs. Elizabeth Bostick Mr. Marion B. and Mrs. Judy Bracy Ms. Elease M. Bradford Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D. Ms. De Etra Branch Mrs. Beverly Anna Avery Broussard Mr. Bentley J. and Mrs. Olivia M. Broussard Dr. Yasmin K. Brown Asha S. Bryant, M.D. Dr. Kimberly M. Bush, M.D. Charlette M. Cain, DVM Mr. Emerson Carey, Jr., Esq. Ms. Barbara J. Carmon Nikki Harrison Carter, M.D. Colonel Dexter E. Caston and Mrs. Demetria George Caston Mrs. Betty J. Caudle Drs. George E. and Christie L. Clayton Miss Terry A. Cook Dr. Jaime A. Crawley Mr. Douglas Cunningham Mr. James Leonard Currence Alauna Davis Curry, M.D. Ms. Janet Margaret Davis Mrs. Kathleen Keyes DeGrange Ms. Tiffany T. Devereaux Mr. Keith V. Dillon Dr. Tonya R. Dobbs Mrs. Adrienne Dotson

Rashida M. Downing, M.D. Mr. Thomas Duffy Ms. Barbara Cooper Duhe Dr. Martha Brown Earls Mr. James and Mrs. Cheryl B. Elmore Mr. Kelvin P. Esters Mr. Amos J. Evans and Mrs. Barbara Keyes Evans Mr. Ronnie L. Favors, II, J.D. Dr. Michelle A. and Mr. Perris Fields Natasha Fievre, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. John L. Finley, III Ms. Janice M. Florent Drs. Coleridge T. and Cheryl Franklin Mr. Louis C. Gaignard, Jr. and Mrs. Carol Gaudin Gaignard Mr. Ronald D. Gaines Mrs. Mildred Young Gardner Mrs. Yolanda D. Gautier Dr. Lloyd A. Gavin and Mrs. Eunice C. Gavin Dr. Marguerite and Dr. Ray Giguette Kidada N. GilbertLewis, M.D. Dr. Danielle Gilliam Mr. Henry J. Glover, Sr., MBA and Mrs. Janice R. Glover Dr. Pheophilus H. Glover Ms. Sharrone M. Godfrey Dr. Susan P. Goggans Ms. Ainka C. Gonzalez Ms. Gladys Hampton Mr. Faruq El Haqq Miss Andrea N. Harper Ms. Lisa Harrell Mr. William H. Harris, Jr., Esq. Mrs. Gaylene V. Watts Harris Ms. Jazmine A. Harris-Branch Ms. Veronica L. Harrison Dr. Portia M. Harris-White and Mr. Marcus White Linda N. Harvey, M.D. Aliya S. HeyligerHayes, M.D. Mrs. Elvira Day Henry Ms. Teal A. Holden Ms. Chakita R. Holmes Mr. Shelton A. Howard Mrs. Wanda Minor Howard Mrs. Denikka L. Hull-Blackmon Dr. Alison G. Hyslop Mr. Benjamin M. and Mrs. LaToya D. Jackson Ms. Keli D. Jackson Dr. Jarvis B. Jacobs Mr. William L. and Mrs. Deborah M. Jeffrion Mr. and Mrs. William L. Jeffrion Mrs. Lynell Jones Johnson Mrs. Worell B. Johnson

Mrs. Kimberly I. Johnson-Henry Ms. Taffie Nicole Jones Ms. Lacrecia A. Jones Mrs. Shirley Melton Judge Mrs. Bonnie Kennedy Mr. David A. Keough, SMC and Mrs. Patricia A. Keough Mrs. Gloria P. Kindrick Mrs. Mary B. Kittles Mrs. Leta M. Knighten Drs. Anil and Poonam Kukreja Ms. Kristen R. Labat Ms. Gwendolyn A. LaCroix Mr. Jerrol M. Larrieu Mr. Stanley Paul Logan Dr. Quinisha K. Logan-Nash Dr. Michael R. and Mrs. Patricia A. Lucey Dr. Brandy Gallen Malbrough L. Karenna Senors Manning, M.D. Dr. Jarrett Manning, D.D.S., MPH Dr. Christopher E. Marrero Mrs. Shirley Massenburg Mrs. Susan R. McCleskey Ms. Brendolyn M. McKenna Mrs. Carolyn Jennings McLain Dr. Amya Herrington Mitchell and Mr. Trevor Mitchell Dr. James W. Moore (Captain, USPHS, Ret.) and Mrs. Avis Senigal Moore Dr. Quinesha L. Morgan, Ph.D. Ms. LaToya B. Moseley Dr. and Mrs. Dawud Muhaimin Mrs. Alice U. Murchison Mrs. Karen Hodge Nathan Dr. Nwamaka A. Ngoddy, O.D. Kenneth E. Nixon, M.D. Mrs. Cynthia Ball Nixon Dr. Patience Obih Selika R. Owens, M.D. Dr. Tian Merren Owens Mrs. Tiffany Milam Owens Alejandro R. Perkins, Esq. and Mrs. Dina G. Perkins, MHA Mr. Gary J. Tanner and Mrs. Audrey M. Pinera-Tanner Mrs. Myla Reese Poree Mr. Eugene A. Priestley Ms. Kimberly M. Reese Mrs. Sondra C. Reine Dr. Carryn N. Rice Dr. Oneka Y. Richardson Mr. Frank J. Rienzo Mrs. Lila June Courtney Riley Ms. Juliet T. Robertson Mr. McLouis and Mrs. Harriette G. Robinet Mrs. Kaye L. Rolland

Dr. Joseph F. Ross Mr. and Mrs. Kevin M. Saberre, Sr. Ms. Rebecca Hamilton Sanchez Ms. Joyce M. Sandifer Dr. Samarlos Boykin Scott Mrs. Aissatou A. Sidime-Blanton Ms. Kelley J. Simmons Drs. Raegan Higgins Siwatu and Kamau O. Siwatu Mr. Jeffrey P. Sloan and Mrs. Demetria F. Sloan Ms. Candice M. Smith Attorney Monica Lynn Smith Dr. Gia B. Soublet Mr. Wayne A. Steele, Sr. Ms. Michelle D. Strong Dr. Courtney R. Tafesse Mr. Gary J. Tanner and Mrs. Audrey M. Pinera-Tanner Dr. Erica L. Taylor Ms. Teresa Spikes Terry Dr. Trevonne M. Thompson and Dr. Nicole C. Thompson Mrs. Kendra Woodard Tircuit Mr. William J. Tobias Mr. Yamlak Tsega Ms. Joan Ulmer Mrs. Patricia H. Vaultz Mr. Gerald A. Villavasso, Jr. Ms. Paulette W. Wagner Ms. Monique T. Wakefield Dr. Pamela N. Waldron-Moore Mr. Stephen M. Ward and Mrs. Christina M. Sommer Ward Ms. Karen DeGrange Watkins Ms. Quo Vadis M. Webster Dr. Donald D. Weddington Angele T. White, Pharm.D., J.D. Ms. Jimmie C. Wickham Mrs. Melva D. Williams Mr. Alexander Oscar Williams Rev. Starsky D. and Dr. LaToya Smith Wilson Dr. LaToya Nicole Woods Cheynita WoodsonJones, M.D. Mr. Harold W. Wright and Mrs. Margaret Wright Mr. Qiang Zhang

AMBASSADOR

Dr. Brittany A. Allison Mr. Treyvon Merritt Ms. Tresa M. Northington Dr. Valencia L. Potter Ms. Brianna Pulliam Mrs. Carolyn E. Robinson

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CENTENNIAL SOCIETY PHILANTHROPY CIRCLES AND BENEFITS

The Centennial Society was established to recognize and honor donors to the Centennial Campaign who have provided the highest levels of financial support during the campaign's life. The Centennial Society consists of five distinct philanthropy circles, each with a unique name and set of benefits for qualifying donors. It is open to alumni, friends, and corporate/foundation partners alike.

Drexel/Francis Philanthropy Circle

Sr. Agatha Ryan Philanthropy Circle

•

•

•

•

Cumulative campaign giving $1M+ Circle honors Xavier’s foundress, Saint Katharine Drexel, and longest-serving president, Dr. Norman C. Francis, ‘52 Benefits include an invitation to the President’s Leadership Breakfast, a commemorative Xavier Centennial pin, listing on the Centennial donor wall, VIP access to all Homecoming events, priority seating at all University events, a special listing in Xavier Gold, and private dinner with the President and Chairperson of the Board annually

• •

Anthony Rachal Philanthropy Circle • •

Leo Sam Philanthropy Circle •

•

Cumulative campaign giving $500K - $999.9K Circle honors Xavier's generous alumnus donor, Leo P. Sam, Jr., ‘52 Benefits include an invitation to the President’s Leadership Breakfast, a commemorative Xavier Centennial pin, listing on the Centennial donor wall, priority check-in at Homecoming, priority seating at special University events, and a special listing in Xavier Gold

Cumulative campaign giving $250K - $499.9K Circle honors the first Sister of the Blessed Sacrament to serve as President of Xavier University Benefits include an invitation to the President’s Leadership Breakfast, a commemorative Xavier Centennial pin, listing on the Centennial donor wall, priority check-in at Homecoming, and priority seating at special University events

•

Cumulative campaign giving $100K - $249.9K Circle honors former Vice President for Administration Anthony Rachal, '49 Benefits include an invitation to the President’s Leadership Breakfast, a commemorative Xavier Centennial pin, listing on the Centennial donor wall, and priority check-in at Homecoming

Cornerstone Philanthropy Circle • •

Cumulative campaign giving $25K - $99.9K Benefits include an invitation to the President’s Leadership Breakfast, a commemorative Xavier Centennial pin, and a listing on the Centennial donor wall

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The Clarence J. Jupiter '48 Scholarship Society

In gratitude for the generous contributions of scholarship donors, we introduce the Clarence J. Jupiter ’48 Scholarship Society to recognize donors whose lifetime giving to the scholarship program totals $10,000 or more and/or who have established annual or endowed donor named scholarships at Xavier University of Louisiana during the Centennial Campaign. Because of their benevolence, “Doors of Opportunity” are open to allow talented and deserving students to study in their chosen fields.

“We must open the doors of opportunity. We must equip our people to walk through those doors.”

~ Lyndon B. Johnson

36th President of the United States of America

Mr. Clarence Jupiter ‘48 The Society is named after Mr. Clarence J. Jupiter ‘48 who in 1968 was named as the first Director of Development under the new lay administration at Xavier. He was later named Vice President for Development, a post he held until his retirement in 1998. In those capacities he spearheaded Xavier’s fundraising, alumni relations, and public affairs, and was the “architect of the thirty years of growth” at Xavier. In recognition of those achievements, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education endowed in Mr. Jupiter’s name the Clarence J. Jupiter Fellowship Program in Institutional Advancement.

LEVELS gold • •

SILVER

• •

To recognize donors who have established annual named scholarships at Xavier and contributed $2,000 annually to fund the scholarship

bronze To recognize donors who have established annual named scholarships at Xavier with a minimum contribution of $10,000 and contribute $2,000 annually to fund the scholarship.

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BENEFITS

To recognize donors who have endowed scholarships at Xavier with a minimum corpus of $25,000 to fund the scholaship.

| XAVIER GOLD

• •

Commemorative Pin Invitation to Scholarship Donor Appreciation Luncheon Annual Impact Reports Student Stewardship Opportunities Donor Recognition Wall Invitation to President’s Breakfast (with gifts of $5,000 or more in the calendar year)

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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Beta Tau) Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Beta Tau) Fraternity to raise the most money and with the most donors Fraternity to raise the most money withTheta the most donors Inc. Delta and Sigma Sorority, (Gamma Alpha) Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Alpha) Sorority(Gamma to raise the most money and with the most donors Sorority to raise the most money

Houston Alumni Chapter Houston Alumni Chapter Chapter to raise the most money Chapter to raise the most money

Atlanta Alumni Chapter Atlanta Alumni Chapter

Chapter with the most donors

Xavier South NannetteXavier Smith-South Team Captain Nannette SmithTeam Captain Campus Building to raise the most moneytoand Campus Building raise with the most donors the most money and with the most donors

Chapter with the most donors

and with the most donors

Board of Trustees

Class of 2002

William & Liz Haydel Bostick

Class of 2002 Alumni Class to raise the most money

Couple to the mostBostick money William & raise Liz Haydel

Group to raise the most money Board of Trustees

Alumni Class to raise the most money

Couple to raise the most money

Group to raise the most money

Alumni Class the most donors Classwith of 2004

Individual with the most donors Chloe Ward

Group with donors College ofmost Pharmacy

Alumni Class with the most donors

Individual with the most donors

Group with most donors

Class of 2004

Chloe Ward

College of Pharmacy

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2024

LIFE SAVER DONOR HONOR ROLL DONORS WHO GAVE $1,000 OR MORE ON

DAY

Life Savers 2024 Katrice A. Albert Ashli S. Alexander Belinda B. Alexander Garrett D. Anderson Melissa V. Antoine Emma L. Aristide Allister D. Arnold Brian G. Ashford Daria E. Babineaux Jacquelyn A. Bailey Reneathia P. Baker Tracey A. Banks Antoinette M. Bannister Karmen N. Bates Tara D. Benjamin Stacy C. Benton Youshea A. Berry Montianna S. Bingham Denise A. Boggs-Wilkerson Melanie B. Boston-Holland Michael C. Boucree Sheila D. Bouldin Shameza L. Boyd-Dennis Verron Brade Malcolm J. Broussard Carolyn M. Brown Charles J. Brown Dawn K. Brown Isaac Brown Shunji Q. Brown-Woods Lina B. Caldwell Benjamin E. Cannon Dean M. Cannon Kenneth L. Carter Marion T. Christie-Campbell Mark A. Clay Kimberlee A. Coleman-Henderson Melonie A. Coleman-Richard Ashté K. Collins Karl J. Connor Lucius Craig Douglas Cunningham Torijaun D. Dallas Torijaun & Michelle Dallas

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Foundation, Inc. Wallace L. Davenport Kibibi Davidson Alvin S. Deloach Learnard G. Dickerson Jacquelyn A. Dinvaut Jeniqua R. Duncan Yolanda A. Dupre Michelle R. Easton Brandon M. Edgerson Renata D. Ellington Kathryn L. Elmore Christopher D. Eubanks Barbara K. Evans Reynaud M. Farve Paul Fine John L. Finley Farrell D. Fort Timothy B. Francis Henry Frantz Lavonne J. Gaffin Mildred Y. Gardner Charles J. Gibson Peggy Gibson Marguerite S. Giguette Henry J. Glover Rossie J. Gomez Otis Gowdy Marcellus Grace April D. Green Carole Guss Mulligan Tomia P. Harmon LeWanza M. Harris Mia H. Harris Veronica L. Harrison Jenna R. Hatton-Cobb Elizabeth M. Haydel-Bostick Troy J. Heard Trent S. Heisser Ruston G. Henry Betty Henson Cherie C. Hill MaCalus V. Hogan Teal A. Holden

Camiel J. Irving John H. Jackson Katherine A. Jackson Marjorie Jackson Torri A. Jacobus Ruth C. Jean Michaelle V. Jones Nadja N. Jones Taffie N. Jones Leah Jordan Lillian A. Joseph Kara M. Keller Kathleen B. Kennedy Nicole A. Kerley-McGuire Melissa I. Lancaster Courtney A. Landry Alison J. Lavigne Carolyn M. Lee Ivan L. Lemelle Christina A. Levings Marlon Lloyd Quinisha K. Logan-Nash Maxime Madhere Cassandra R. Mallary Veronica A. Malone Kevin T. Marks Claudia Marmolejo Roy R. Marrero Nicole A. Matthews Robyn D. Mays Cedrek L. McFadden Brian L. McGee Randall McHenry Randy G. McKee Tamara J. McLemore Patrice E. McNeal Joe A. Melcher Gwenesta B. Melton Asia K. Michel Chester W. Mitchell Tanisha R. Moore Joyce M. Morgan Tommy C. Morris LaToya B. Moseley

Kimberly A. Moss Shayla B. Nesbitt Kenneth E. Nixon Victor C. Njoku April R. Noble Monique A. Norfolk Claire H. Ojeh Sancerie J. O'Rourke-Allen Selika R. Owens Tiffany M. Owens James A. Paschal Javonne D. Patterson Mary Pattillo Alejandro R. Perkins Marjorie E. Person Steven T. Player Yashoda V. Pramar Peter R. Quirk Funmilayo A. Rachal Clarence J. Red Aisha O. Redmond Jo S. Reed Tamika E. Reed Stephen F. Revard Ramona L. Rhodes Lakeisha W. Richardson Lisa M. Ripoll Derek J. Robinson Melanie J. Robinson Michael D. Robinson Quintin R. Robinson Tanya M. Robinson Ida L. Rose Kelley H. Rouse Farrah M. Roybiskie Michael M. Rue Bridget R. Russell Chimene G. Saloy Joyce Sandifer Keira N. Scanks Anna R. Scott Courtney B. Scrubbs Chantel Shackleford Ashley N. Shanks

Demetria F. Sloan Klyne L. Smith Nannette Smith Mary M. Stallworth Michele A. Stanley Mitchell J. Stevens Margaret C. Stewart Nancy P. Stork Alvin R. Styles Audrey F. Sudbury Gloria M. Sudbury Ingrid T. Taylor Cleopatra E. Thompson-Ebanks David A. Travillion Jacquelyn S. Turner Erica Twyman Wallisa T. Vaughn Vanessa M. Vavasseur C. R. Verret Monique T. Wakefield JoAnn E. Warrick Monica O. Watts Denise A. Webb Alicia J. Weber Angele T. White Dolly C. White Jimmie C. Wickham Lisa L. Wilkerson Donielle F. Williams Collins Damon L. Williams Elijah J. Williams Karen R. Williams Lashonda L. Williams Toye Williams Yolanda A. Williams Clarice A. Wimberly John A. Woodard Charlotte H. Wooten Xavier University Alumni Association-Chicago Chapter Sharon J. Zealey

Names are listed as input by donors.

challenge grant

Healthy Blue $400,000.00

First Bank

obinson '98 Derek R

Brandon Garret

$75,000.00

$25,000.00

$25,000.00

Sodexo Magic

Ida Rose

Teal Holden '2002

$25,000.00

$10,000.00

$10,000.00

Humana

Hale ' 1969 Rosalind

Warrick ' 1999 JoAnn

$10,000.00

$5,500.00

$5,000.00

za Harris ' 1993 Lewan

Capital One, N.A.

Gallo Mechanical

$5,000.00

$5,500.00

$5,000.00

Joe Melcher

Otis Gowdy 1995

es Brown Jr. ' 1993 Charl

$5,000.00

$2,500.00

$2,500.00

Jo Ann Reed 1998

Peggy Gibson

$2,500.00

$2,500.00

To learn more about challenge grants and how to become a donor email alumni@xula.edu or call (504) 520-7575.

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COVER STORY

Opera!

X

AVIER IS KNOWN for serving as a cornerstone for Black students and excellence. Part of this legacy is its service

as a home and haven for Black performing artists, specifically in the opera music genre.

Sister Mary Elise Sisson, SBS

Xavier's live production of “The Pirates of Portsmouth,” based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance”

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| XAVIER GOLD

Reviving a Deeply Rooted History

Opera Returns Xavier TO

BY ALISHA TILLERY | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A Beacon of Light in Crescent City Founded in 1934 by Sister Mary Elise Sisson, SBS, Xavier’s opera program was designed to ensure that students were exposed to the arts of the time despite Jim Crow laws that excluded people of color from overarching cultural and recreational activities. Within a year of its establishment, Xavier became the first HBCU to produce a full-scale opera production, and New Orleans would later be known as the “first city of opera.”

Sisson’s foundational work and musical footprint remained decades beyond her departure from Xavier in 1969, introducing students and the region to the genre and, in turn, a new cultural outlook.

Joyce Carter, ‘69, an esteemed mezzo-soprano, concert artist, and educator, recalled her experience watching Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida and Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites” as an understudy. During her time as an undergraduate, she auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera and New Orleans Symphony, performing in the role of Bess in a concert performance of “Porgy and Bess” her senior year. She credits her audacious success with her exposure, experience, and mentorship from Xavier faculty.

She later received a teaching assistantship and pursued

postgraduate study at Indiana University, working and teaching the arts ever since, never giving up on her dream to be an opera singer.

Xavier’s historic opera program allows students to bet on themselves and receive worldclass instruction. “It’s an opportunity for them to explore and try [opera], especially if they have that talent,” Carter said. “And if they have that talent, they can come to Xavier and improve it, and grow and develop.”

After more decades in existence, the XU Opera program began to take a different shape, still continuing to produce renowned performers –the late Debria Brown, ‘58, noted opera singer who became known for her signature lead role in Bizet’s “Carmen” at New York City Center Opera and Gail Gilmore, who’s performed in opera houses globally, including Teatro de le Fenice, La Scala, and Carnegie Hall. Lavergne Monette, ‘72, ‘19, another opera great and Xavierite, sung at Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera Company, touring abroad, and soprano Annabelle Bernard, who spent 40 years with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Eventually, funding, cultural impacts, shifts in music interests, and faculty might’ve led to a downturn in the program.

Scene from Xavier's live production of “The Pirates of Portsmouth”

X

avier’s historic opera program allows students to bet on themselves and receive world-class instruction.

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Opera!

A New Era of Xavier Opera Always serving with a global view, Xavier has revamped the program to acknowledge its rich history, preparing students today for a multi-skilled future. Career vocalist and performer Sakinah Davis, Ph.D., who is an assistant professor in the Department of Music, is building on the groundbreaking history of Xavier’s opera program. She also wants students to know they can be active in the genre without having to grace the stage as a vocalist.

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| XAVIER GOLD

Opera Returns Xavier

In her Opera Workshop course, which increases students’ awareness and knowledge of their options in the genre, students are exposed to other competencies, skills, and career pathways involved in staged productions, such as lighting and music administration. Performance majors must take at least one semester of an opera workshop, but it’s open to all students for exploration.

Continuing to produce graduates who would go on to become accomplished performers, such as Simone Brown, ‘15, and Taylor White, ‘20, the Music Department began rebuilding its opera program, preparing for

TO

a production in early 2020, but was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-pandemic, Davis and other faculty worked to reorganize the program and ready students for productions, presenting musicals as a gateway to full opera productions.

In Spring 2024, the program put on its first opera in years, “The Pirates of Portsmouth,” an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance,” revamped to celebrate the history and legacies of HBCUs. As a testament to the program’s swift impact, students, even those not enrolled in the workshop course, were eager to participate.

“They’re (students) very creative and very talented, a number that had musical experience before they got here,” Davis said. “They love building community, so they try to problem-solve. They always have ideas, and some of the suggestions have gotten incorporated into a show.”

Rising senior and Liberal Arts— Music major Devin Sloan was part of the Portsmouth cast. He joined Opera Workshop to feed off fellow students’ energy, spending time learning and reviewing lines, eventually joining the cast as a key performer. He says current and incoming students should take advantage of the available unique learning opportunities.

COVER STORY

“B

eing on the stage, as well as singing, was a very fun experience, especially during my first production ever."—Devin Sloan

“Being on the stage, as well as singing, was a very fun experience, especially during my first production ever,” the Orlando native says. “I think that [Opera Workshop] is awesome.”

He encourages current and incoming students to utilize the program’s resurgence. “I see it as building onto a legacy that was already there –and building on a new era. For a long time, these types of things weren’t available, and now that we brought them back, I would say to the student who might be interested or just want to see the show, come out, come support,” Sloan said. “It would be very important, not only just for us, the Xavier community, but the community, overall.”

Looking Forward to Uncovered Possibilities In her sixth year as a Xavier faculty member, Davis is most excited about the opportunities available to students beyond what meets the eye. Xavier remains on the cutting edge by providing a comprehensive view of the music genre.

“They’re interested in all these different things,” she said. “A lot of them just don’t know the possibilities, and part of it is because traditional music programs focus on performance and skill craft. You can be stage manager, you can perform on stage, or you can come up with your own performance curation.

There are so many options.”

Vision-casting, Davis is developing an explicit trajectory to accommodate the many pathways students can take for a viable career in opera. “The thing about opera that’s interesting is that it’s so expansive,” she said.

“It involves behind the scenes, singing, acting, instrumental performance, and sometimes it’s hard to get it all in one course. It’s like putting the puzzle together.”

Reintroducing opera to the community at large through alumni and community engagement and technology is also a priority, as well as making the program sustainable for longevity.

Expanding the program also provides more opportunities to teach the campus environment and extended community about the hidden history of the longtime Black presence in opera.

Davis says the primary goal of Xavier’s opera program is to use the art form “to connect students to reflections of themselves.”

Learn more about the Xavier Department of Music by scanning the QR code (below). XG

Learn more about the Xavier Department of Music by scanning the QR code:

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ATH L ETI CS REVIEW

BY ED CASSIERE

ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA continued its longtime athletics success in 2023-24. XULA won two more national championships and six additional team championships at the conference or unaffiliated group level. The successes have raised XULA’s total team championships to 172 since opening in 1925 — 125 championships in the last 21 seasons.

Seth Alexander (above) earned his second consecutive National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship in the men’s triple jump with 15.42 meters/50 feet 7 1/4 inches on March 2 at the indoor meet in Brookings, South Dakota. Alexander finished fourth at NAIA outdoor nationals in Marion, Indiana — he was the champion in 2023 — and set a school record of 15.47 meters/50 feet, 9 1/4 inches.

Competitive Cheer earned the other national title. On April 13 at the National Cheerleaders Association meet in Daytona Beach, Florida, XULA outscored Westcliff 91.3375 to 89.7166 to win the advanced large coed NAIA division. The championship occurred two weeks after the Gold placed second at NAIA nationals in Ypsilanti, Michigan. St. Ambrose outscored XULA 97.28 to 96.91, and those schools produced the two highest scores in meet history.

The April victory was XULA’s second national title in five seasons as a varsity program. The Gold won the 2022 NAIA championship and became the first XULA team in any sport to win an NAIA-sponsored national title.

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| XAVIER GOLD

Competitive Cheer won the national title on April 13 at the National Cheerleaders Association meet in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Cheer Coach Glen Caston, NAIA Competitive Cheer National Coach of the Year

XULA’s other championships: • Women’s Soccer won the Red River Athletic Conference regular season in its first varsity season and reached the second round of NAIA nationals.

• Women’s Volleyball, for the 13th consecutive season, won a conference tournament and an automatic bid to NAIA nationals. XULA trailed 13-8 at home against Our Lady of the Lake in the fifth set of the Red River final before rallying for a 7-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23, 19-17 decision.

Track coach Yhann Plummer, Louisiana Coach of the Year award winner, with the Men's and Women's trophies from the Red River Meet.

• Men’s Tennis, playing at home in its unaffiliated group final against OLLU, won 4-2. It was the third consecutive group title for the Gold Rush and a school record for the 15th successive berth for NAIA nationals.

• Women’s Tennis defeated LSU-Alexandria 4-0 in the Red River final at San Antonio, Texas, and qualified for NAIA nationals for the 12th consecutive time. The Gold Nuggets reached the semifinals of NAIA nationals for the seventh time, and indoors in February, they were the ITA NAIA national runner-up. XULA’s 23 dual-match victories were a program record.

• XULA won an outdoor title in Women’s Track and Field for the seventh consecutive time and the 10th in its last 11 attempts. The Gold Nuggets, competing in New Orleans at Tad Gormley Stadium, scored 392 points, the most ever by a women’s team at the Red River meet.

• Also, Men’s Track and Field set the overall Red River record for points at a league meet with 405 at Gormley.

Men's and Women's Coach Alan Green, Louisiana Coach of the Year award winner.

Fall Fall 2024 2024| | 4747

At center, Freshman Dylan Sonnier, NAIA Co-Cheerleader of the Year

More XULA highlights: • XULA’s other debut program, Men’s Soccer, entered the final week of the regular season in a tie for first place in the Red River. The Gold Rush finished third in the 14-team league and reached the conference tournament’s semifinals.

The Gold Rush made a big enough splash to earn votes in two of the regular season’s final three NAIA coaches’ polls.

• Freshman Dylan Sonnier was NAIA Co-Cheerleader of the Year as part of the organization’s All-America team.

• Glenn Caston was chosen NAIA Competitive Cheer National Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons.

• On the All-Louisiana Women’s Soccer team, Luci Schroeder was chosen Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, and Ashley Cordeiro earned Coach of the Year.

• XULA earned three other Louisiana Coach of the Year awards: Yhann Plummer in Men’s Track and Field and Alan Green in Men’s Tennis and Women’s Tennis.

• Green reached 300 career victories with the Gold Rush when XULA defeated Texas Wesleyan 6-1 on April 5 at Alexandria, Louisiana. Green notched his 300th victory with the XULA women in 2023.

• Women’s Basketball was 25-7 — the Gold Nuggets’ winningest team in 12 seasons — and qualified for NAIA nationals for the 23rd time in the last 30 seasons.

• Men’s Basketball narrowly missed an at-large bid to nationals, but XULA reached 20 victories for the 36th time to extend its Louisiana men’s college basketball record. The Gold Rush (22-7) was a 20-game winner for the third consecutive season and the 16th time in the last 21 seasons.

• Nour Abbes (Women’s Tennis), Shaun Dumas (Men’s Basketball), Eddie Flint (Football, Basketball, and Baseball), Dannton Jackson (Men’s Basketball), and Demetria Lang (Women’s Basketball) were voted in June into the XULA Athletic Hall of Fame. They’ll be inducted Nov. 7 in a 6 p.m. banquet on the third floor of Xavier’s University Center.

Visit XULAGold.com for more information about XULA Athletics and xulagold.com/archives for news.

Follow Athletics on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @xulagold. XG

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| XAVIER GOLD

Above right, All-Louisiana Women’s Soccer team member Luci Schroeder was chosen Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

Soccer Coach Ashley Cordeiro , Louisiana Coach of the Year award winner

Members of the Men's Tennis team celebrate a victory over Our Lady of the Lake

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Xavier University of Louisiana has announced continued progress with Ochsner Health, the Gulf South’s leading academic medical center in training physicians, to launch their transformational Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM), focusing on allopathic medicine. This groundbreaking partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing medical education by addressing health disparities in diverse communities and helping fulfill the urgent need for more physicians in Louisiana and the nation.

Fast Facts: Here’s What You Need to Know

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1

Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, or XOCOM, will be located in the burgeoning BioDistrict New Orleans, which is located downtown in Benson Tower next to Caesars Superdome.

2

Xavier and Ochsner officials have announced that Leonardo Seoane, M.D., FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Ochsner Health, will serve as the new HBCU medical school’s founding dean.

3

The announcement on April 29, 2024, follows votes by the Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees and the Ochsner Health Board of Directors in February to approve the formation of the new medical school.

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XOCOM is slated to be the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South when it opens. (There is no official opening date available)

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Xavier University of Louisiana will seek approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). XOCOM will seek preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

6

When it opens, the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine will be one of a handful of HBCU medical schools, joining the nation’s four existing historically Black medical schools: Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

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Institutional Advancement Welcomes New Team Members!

Your Office of Institutional Advancement (IA) plays a crucial role in building and stewarding relationships in support of the University’s mission, vision, and philanthropic goals. Through our initiatives and services, IA increases support for scholarships, academic and student support programs, and institutional priorities and fosters lifelong connections with students, alumni, and the greater community.

Demetria George Caston, ‘98

Jimmie Johnson, ‘13

Shelly Lindsey

Meet the new members of our team.

Demetria George Caston, ‘98 Regional Gifts Officer Jimmie Johnson, ‘13 Alumni Relations & Development Coordinator

Leslie D. Rose, ‘05

Shelly Lindsey Regional Gifts Officer Leslie D. Rose, ‘05 Director of Advancement Communications Tiffany Guillory Thomas Database Manager

Tiffany Guillory Thomas

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A CHANGED APPROACH TO PREMEDICAL EDUCATION & SUPPORT

Remembering PROFESSOR EMERITUS

JW

Carmichael, Ph.D.

BY LESLIE D. ROSE

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

The passing of Professor Emeritus JW Carmichael is a cause for sadness but also joy as we recall his life of purpose and deep love for Xavier students and the decades of graduates blessed by his influence. [His] imagination and dedication shaped Xavier’s great work in STEM and pre-medical education and are a foundation for the current and future work of the University. Professor Carmichael lived a calling as he gave of himself to Xavier students and colleagues. May we each take lesson from his example.

– Reynold Verret, Ph.D., President, Xavier University of Louisiana

JW CARMICHAEL, PH.D., became a legend at Xavier University of Louisiana from the first time he stepped on campus fresh from an evening of partying for an informal chat with two members of S.B.S. to explore his potential hiring. Surprisingly, the vibrant young man, stout with sandy hair still dressed from the night before, was invited back for a formal interview and thus began a five-decade career assisting premedical Xavierites with securing life-changing careers in medicine.

“As to my early professional career, coming to Xavier and discovering I loved New Orleans and the students at Xavier were extremely important to me… Within three years, I knew I was not going anywhere unless they kicked me out because I loved my job,” Carmichael told George Dawson, M.D., in a 2005 National Medical Association (NMA) interview.

While Xavier has long been known for producing a top number of African American graduates who go on to complete medical school, Carmichael noted that in the mid-1970s, the University placed fewer than 10 students into medical school annually.

“Xavier was always strong in the sciences because of the College of Pharmacy. However, premed was very small in the mid-1970s. We were placing five to eight students into medical school and another couple into dentistry. Over the next 10 years, we grew large enough to

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place about 25 per year into medical school and another 10 or so into dentistry, veterinary medicine, etc.,” Carmichael told Dawson.

At the time of the NMA interview, Carmichael reported that Xavier was generally placing 75-85 students into allopathic medical schools and another 45-60 into dentistry, osteopathic medicine, and other areas of medicine. Overall, however, Xavier had solidified itself as a leader in premedical studies.

“As far as I can tell, from 1975 to the fall of 2004, premed placed approximately 1,285 into allopathic medical school, 55 into osteopathic medical school, 240 into dental school, 24 into veterinary school, 53 in optometry school, 53 in podiatry school, and 275 in public health or health administration graduate programs,” Carmichael said.

Over the past 20 years, 803 Xavier graduates earned medical degrees in the U.S., a credit

to its premedical office, which Carmichael founded. He joked that he was ‘roped into’ the role of premedical advisor because he complained about prior guidance available to premed students. His name became synonymous with pre-medicine at Xavier, and incoming freshmen were told to meet him immediately to explore all the possibilities of their future careers.

“My cousin started Xavier a few years before me, and when I arrived on campus, she told me I had to meet [Dr. Carmichael] if I was going to be a doctor,” said obstetrician-gynecologist Cherie C. Hill, M.D., ‘05. “Our first interaction was not what I expected—he told me all the things I had better do otherwise—he was going to send a letter to my mama! I had the pleasure of working as a student tutor in his premedical office and really saw his dedication to our success and his ability to tell students when it was time to pursue other fields. Dr. Carmichael

certainly had the magic formula to help me succeed, and his passion and persistence pushed me to the start of this amazing career.”

At notice of his passing, tributes filled social media. Black doctors across the industry noted how Carmichael had been the perfect combination of stern and playful that they needed to send them along their successful medical journeys. “[I met] Dr. JW Carmichael during the Howard Hughes Summer Program at Xavier in the summer of 1996,” said surgeon and freelance medical correspondent Cedrek McFadden, M.D., ‘00, in a social media post. “Before meeting him… I was expecting someone in a suit—polished, proper, and all business.

Instead, in walked this intriguing, slightly ornery but deeply sincere man who, while laid-back, was still all business—mentoring with humor, purpose, and just the right amount of sarcasm from day one. I remember working in the premed office, running errands, even driving his car to Office Max for supplies—little moments that at the time seemed small but were shaping something greater. His legacy is etched in the countless doctors who now walk hospital corridors and serve communities nationwide.

We carry his lessons, discipline, and belief in our potential. We are his living legacy, and for that, I will always be grateful.”

Quo Vadis Webster, ‘00, Director of Xavier’s premedical program, began working with Carmichael long before she became his successor. As a freshman in 1996, Carmichael was her premed advisor.

“Having worked closely with Dr. Carmichael on Xavier’s campus, as well as assisting him with his personal life both pre-and post-retirement, I have many, many, many stories I could share

about him, but I will just say here that he has had a huge impact on my life as a student, as a professional, and as a friend,” Webster said in an op-ed for The Xavier Story Project. “On a personal note, the impact Dr. Carmichael has had on my life since graduating from Xavier University cannot be overstated. When I couldn’t enroll in medical school because my mom was sick, he created a full-time position for me; he made sure that I remained on the payroll during the Hurricane Katrina closure; he introduced me to food I’d never eaten, movies I never would have watched, and NPR; he has been a surrogate father, grandfather, zany uncle, and friend to me; he invested in my work and personal well-being. He is truly family to me, and while he can be a thorn in my side, I cannot forget the beautiful rose that is JWC.”

of Illinois in 1965. In 1970, he accepted a teaching role at Xavier where he later developed its Summer Science Academy and founded the premedical office. He served as Premedical Office Director until his retirement in 2016 when he was named Professor Emeritus.

For five decades, industry experts studied Carmichael’s methods as a model of success; however, when reflecting on his greatest professional moment, Carmichael was less than boastful, only remarking that doing everything he could was his true mark of achievement. “…As far as I am concerned, the only accomplishment worthwhile was being able to look back at any time and say that I had done everything humanly possible to help as many students achieve their goal of becoming a health professional,” he told Dawson in 2005.

“I won’t have a headstone on a grave because I have written that I want to be cremated and have my ashes poured out in front of an all-night bar on Bourbon Street. It is legal, I checked. However, if I had a headstone, all I would want it to say is, “Here lies an honest man who did his best to make the world a better place.”

JW Carmichael passed away on September 7, 2024.

Carmichael, born in Lamesa, Texas, in 1940, grew up in New Mexico. He attended Eastern New Mexico University, earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and mathematics, and later received his doctorate from the University

Ever dedicated to Xavier University of Louisiana, Carmichael established the Premed Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to the Premed program and scholarships for its students. To support the fund, please scan the QR code or visit giving.xula. edu. XG

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OMMENCEMENT C

2024

Xavier University of Louisiana Awards more than 650 Degrees at 2024 Commencement A total of 656 graduates were awarded their degrees during the two ceremonies celebrating Xavier University of Louisiana’s 97th annual commencement on May 11, 2024. The first ceremony celebrated graduates of Xavier’s College of Pharmacy (COP) and College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs.

The second honored those graduating from Xavier’s Undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences.

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Deborah H. Telman (center) receives an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Xavier University of Louisiana. Pictured with Reynold Verret, Ph.D., President (L), and Marguerite Giguette, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost (R).

Deborah H. Telman Gives Commencement Address at College of Pharmacy and Graduate Programs Ceremony STAFF REPORT “Your dreams may look different when you wake up… often that pivot is the stepping stone to success.” — Deborah H. Telman, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel at Gilead Sciences, to Xavier’s 2024 graduates in the College of Pharmacy and graduate programs.

Those words of encouragement derived from her fantastic career that shifted when she realized she no longer wanted to become a doctor. A Juris Doctor paved the way for the dedicated work she continues to do in advancing health equity.

Like many Xavierites, Telman was a first-generation college student in her family. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania before earning her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. Throughout her more than 25year career, she has held increasingly advanced positions with several Fortune 500 companies, including Johnson Controls, Boeing, Abbott Laboratories, Sorrento Therapeutics, and Morgan Stanley, before joining the Gilead team in 2022. PR Weekly Magazine also named her a “Top 30 Health Influencer” in 2022.

Her dedication to furthering health equity exemplifies the values of Saint Katharine Drexel and Xavier’s mission. Telman encouraged this year’s graduates to use their voices and ‘who’ they are to speak truth to power to affect change.

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OMMENCEMENT C

2024

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Toasting to Success More than 300 members of the Class of 2024 joined the Office of Alumni Relations, the National Alumni Association, and the Student Government Association to participate in a senior toast, a new tradition at the University.

As a gift to all Xavier graduates, the National Alumni Association extended a one-year free membership to an alumni chapter in their respective cities. Alumni chapters provide a great resource to all Xavier alumni. Chapters often host networking, social, and mentoring events.

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The Need for History

TODAY

XAVIER HAS ADDED A PROGRAM to its roster that will help illustrate the cultural conditions that led to its establishment with the launch of its African American and African Diasporic Cultural Studies Program (AAADCS). The new program will carry the name of the current minor, African American Diaspora Studies (AADS).

Xavier Welcomes New African American and African Diasporic Cultural Studies Program STAFF REPORT

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“Xavier has always embraced diversity and inclusivity as core values and is committed to expanding programs that create more opportunities for Xavierites,” said Dr. Marguerite Giguette, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The AADS program has an interdisciplinary approach that builds historical and cultural knowledge for program students and allows them the chance to gain experience and receive an education preparing them to be of service to global society.”

The AADS Program is a new major offered at Xavier University that started in the spring of 2024. However, a “soft launch” of the program in August made select courses available to students during the fall 2023 semester. Spearheaded by Dr. Sharlene Sinegal-Decuir, ‘99, the program intends to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the African American Diasporic experience in a global world, allowing Xavierites to learn and understand the development of social, political, and economic structures of several countries. Funded through a grant by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the largest supporting grant program of the arts and humanities in the United States, the new program will help students understand historical and cultural shifts in the Black “I was blown experience and teach the necessary facts about a history away by the that is essentially their own.

fact that I

“Today, it is evident that students are not receiving did not know knowledge [about Black history] as school systems tend to remove the African American Diasporic experience anything from history and learning. Students are entering HBCUs about our (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with little history.” to no knowledge of the value and contributions of the diaspora,” Sinegal-DeCuir said. “This does a real disservice to us [Black people]. Our youth doesn’t know our history. I remember being a student at Xavier back in the ‘90s and taking some African American Diasporic minor courses; I was blown away by the fact that I did not know anything about our history. Taking those minor courses fueled my desire to learn more about my history.

After teaching African American History for 15 years at Xavier, I clearly saw the need to expand the AADS minor into a major. Our students are eager to learn more about their history!”

BY MARCIA PECOT

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

AS

WE APPROACH our centennial, remaining connected to our dedicated alumni becomes even more of a priority. This past year, we’ve been around the country and even Belize to support opportunities to share space, grow, and engage with Xavierites. Here are just a few highlights.

Alumni Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C. Photo by Randall McHenry, ‘86 (insert, above)

Alumni Leadership Conference The Xavier University of Louisiana Alumni Leadership Conference occurred in June 2024 in Washington, D.C. The annual conference aims to empower chapter leaders, strengthen connections among alumni, promote volunteerism, and educate alumni about the National Alumni Association, Office of Alumni Relations, and other departments at XU. Attendees at the Leadership Conference gained insights into effective chapter management strategies. They explored opportunities to take on leadership roles within the alumni community and various volunteer initiatives and programs available to them. The conference provides a platform for alumni to discuss the University’s mission, values, and future direction. It also provides a valuable opportunity for attendees to engage in meaningful conversations about faith service and the impact they can make within the XU community.

Golden Alumni Holiday Party During the Christmas holidays, the Xavier community gathered to celebrate and reflect on the concept of community with our Golden Alumni at the iconic Dooky Chase’s Restaurant. As we shared stories and memories, the significance of community and connection became even more evident, bridging generations and reinforcing Xavier’s values. The gathering was not just a celebration of the festive season but also an homage to the enduring legacy of our alumni. The Golden Alumni, who have contributed so much to the Xavier ethos, were honored and celebrated for their lifetime of achievements and service. This event reminded us that community is not just about proximity but about shared values, mutual respect, and the collective effort to support one another.

ni Highlights * Alumni Highlights * Alumni Highlights * Alumni Highlights

Alumni Highlights

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Alumni Highlights * Alumni Highlights * Alumni Highlights * Alumni Hi 60

Rudy Lombard Symposium The annual Dr. Rudy Lombard Symposium on Civil Rights was created at Xavier to remember Lombard’s powerful legacy and is sponsored by Xavier’s Office of Alumni Relations. The 2024 symposium featured several panelists who discussed voting rights as a critical election year looms, including the Honorable Ronald C. Gathe Jr., ‘96, United States Attorney for the Baton Rouge-based Middle District of Louisiana; the Honorable Ellen Hazeur, ‘86, judge for the Orleans Parish Civil District Court Division A in Louisiana; and Dr. Cassandra Shepard, adjunct professor of African American Studies at Xavier; class of 2024 student panelists Kennedy Carey-Prescott, president of Xavier’s Student Government Association; Terrol Perkins, president of the Xavier chapter of Collegiate 100; and Layla Dent, president of the NAACP at Xavier. Dr. Sharlene SinegalDeCuir, ‘99, moderated both panels. The Honorable Judge Edwin A. Lombard, brother of Dr. Rudy Lombard, ‘61, was a featured guest.

Belize Girls’ Trip The Belize Girls’ Trip was about caring for ourselves and each other. A group of Xavier women spent the days reminiscing about familiar stories and experiences at our beloved Alma Mater, enjoying adventures and excursions, shopping at local artisan shops, and bonding over food and family. It was an excellent opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new memories. We laughed, cried, and supported each other like true sisters. The trip was a reminder of the importance of self-care and the power of female friendship and the Xavier woman.

College of Pharmacy Alumni Dinner – Chicago The College of Pharmacy’s Chicago area alumni dinner provided a unique opportunity for former students to reconnect with their peers, reminisce about their academic journeys, and witness the advancements and achievements within Xavier’s College of Pharmacy. The dinner aimed to strengthen alumni bonds and inspire continued involvement in the College’s endeavors by fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. The evening’s program included inspiring speeches, updates on current projects from XUCOP Dean Kathleen Kennedy, and heartfelt testimonials from alumni. These narratives highlight the transformative impact of pharmacy education and underscore the importance of continued support to sustain and expand Xavier’s mission. By coming together, alumni play a pivotal role in ensuring the College of Pharmacy continues to thrive and produce the next generation of healthcare leaders.

National Association of Black Journalists Convention Xavier was proud to co-sponsor the 2024 Sports Task Force Scholarship Jam, held during the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago.

Gregory Lee, Jr., ‘96, was a facilitator for the event and assisted the University with celebrating Xavier-educated journalists and communications professionals that evening, as well as engaging with other media experts who have an interest in HBCUs and the amazing work the University is doing, especially leading up to its centennial.

Equity in Healthcare Fireside Chat at the National Medical Association Convention During the 2024 National Medical Association Convention & Scientific Assembly, Xavier and Ochsner hosted a panel discussion on health equity, addressing the urgent need for representation in clinical practice and medical research. Moderated by Dr. Derek Robinson, ‘98, panelists included Dr. Dawn Brown, ‘00, Dr. Regina Benjamin, ‘79, and Dr. Leo Seone, Founding Dean of XOCOM. The room was filled with many Xavier-educated doctors who later joined President Reynold Verret for a photo along with NMA President Dr. Yolanda Lawson. XG

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Atlanta This chapter year, the Atlanta Alumni Chap ter hosted the following events: • Membership Drive • HBCU Alumni and D9 Night with the Hawks • A Derby Attired Affair Scholarship Fundraiser • Participated in HBCU College Fairs • Alumni Chapter Holida y Event • Give.Love.Xavier Ev ent at the Beverly • Atlanta Alumni Busin ess Expo • Young Alumni Socia l • Sunday Soiree Scho larship Fundraiser

Central

Florida This chapter year, the Central and Florida Alumni Chapter held events: par ticipated in the following 50-50 Raffle • Bayou Classic • Watch Par ty Black Santa Photo • Holiday Mixer Holiday Basket Raffle • GLX Central Florida • Alumni Fete

Dallas This chapter year, the Dallas-Fort Worth Alumni Chapter hosted the following events: The 2023 XULA DFW Freshmen Reception was held on Sunday, August 6, 2023. We welcomed 35 students, parents, and alumni to celebrate the Class of 2027. The XULA DFW Alumni Chapter gave $15,000 in scholarships, bringing our total scholarship fundraising donations to over $100,000 since 2001.

• The 2nd Annual HBCU Awareness & Recruitment Event was held on Sunday, September 10, 2023. The HBCU Project hosts this event, which includes participation from 25 HBCUs, a college preparation panel discussion, scholarships, and attendance from over 1,500 students, parents, and teachers from the Dallas—Fort Worth metropolitan area. This is the largest HBCU event in North Texas, and XULA DFW was proud to represent the university.

• Our XULA DFW Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fundraiser Old School Day Party was held on Sunday, April 28, 2024. The theme was “Dress in the Decade of Your Choice.” We hosted over 70 attendees, including Centennial Campaign Vice-Chairperson Teal Holden, and raised over $15,000 in proceeds to benefit scholarships for DFW area Xavierites.

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Chicago

Chicago Alumni This chapter year, the following events: Chapter hosted the te Annual Fe e im ert Summ • ser Scholarship Fundrai alumniea Ar go ica Ch Various • therings Ga d an themed events dents and stu tive ec sp pro Support • out the gh ou thr s current Xavierite rs, tou ol ho sc ing lud year, inc college fairs Chapter of Awarded the Alumni • mnus of Alu d an the Year award Mrs. Joyce to nt we ard aw ar the Ye Carter, ‘69.

DMV

(DC, MD &

VA)

This chapte r year, the D M Chapter ho sted the follo V Alumni wing events • 5K Run/Wa : lk • Black Tie S ch • Provided T olarship Gala wo Scholarship Freshman s • Supported the XU Com es to You event fo r • Hosted the admitted students DMV Holid ay Social

Houston Alumni This chapter year, the Houston nts: eve g win Chapter hosted the follo ni Alum ston Hou A XUL • Mardi Gras Gala nch The Vincent Rachal Jazz Bru • and Scholarship Fundraiser with State Attorney Alejandro Perkins and as n nso Joh is Representative Jarv speakers. fry Annual crawfish boil and fish • e driv hip bers mem to Par ticipated in various events • ent curr and tive pec pros t por sup to You students, such as XU Comes Fair lege Col U HBC ual Ann the and

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Memphis ar, the This chapter ye Chapter ni um Al Memphis wing hosted the follo events: e A Night with th • ary nu Ja t, en id Pres 15, 2023 bbles, Brunch and Bu • 23 20 March 5, rvice Community se • St. th wi food drive olic th Ca e in st gu Au r vie Xa Church, umni students and al

Montgomery This chapter year, the Montgomery Alumni Chapter hosted the following events: • Quarterly-themed bingo games • A Christmas gathering • Mardi Grasthemed event

s n a e l r O w Ne ans ar, the New Orle This chapter ye sted the following r ho Alumni Chapte : r events pcorn Fundraise Double Good Po HBCU + Divine 9 • the Participated in nter • oothie King Ce Sm e th Night at e ffl Ra Homecoming • rship Drive and Annual Membe • Crawfish Boil re Package Senior 2024 Ca • Distribution Helis ndraiser at the Scholarship Fu er • nt Scott Ce Foundation John

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k r o Y w Nie -State Tr

te Area York Tri-Sta in the w e N e th r, r yea ipated This chapte ter hosted and partic p a h C i n m Alu ch rayer brun vents: following e cese of New York p ter n io lay Ce Archd • at the Barc HBCU Fair t mixer with alumni y • igh ational Da Karaoke N Month Mass and N nd African • a ry n to Black His the African America • for of Prayer Cathedral t. Patrick’s Family at S

North

Louisiana This chapter year, the North Louisiana Alumni Chapter hosted the following events: • Membership Drive • HBCU Alumni Mixer • Participated in the HBCU College Fair • Alumni Chapter Holiday Event

Southern

California This chapter year, the Southern California Alumni Chapter hosted the following events: • Pre-GLX Bowling Fundraiser/Meet-Up • Give.Love.Xavier Day Event • First Chapter Scholarship Fundraiser held at Darrow’s New Orleans Grill in Carson, CA • Black College Expo Table

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FAITHFUL, CONSISTENT, AND HUMBLE SERVANT TO XAVIER, COMMUNITY

Joyce Carter, ‘69 Honored with Xavier’s Esteemed Victor H. Labat Sr. Alumnus of the Year Award

BY LESLIE D. ROSE

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

Xavier University of Louisiana has named Mrs. Joyce Carter, ‘69, our 2023 Alumnus of the Year. The South Holland, Illinois resident and native of Mobile, Alabama, received the esteemed Victor H. Labat Sr. Alumnus of the Year award at the annual Homecoming banquet in November.

“I’m just an ordinary citizen,” Carter said about receiving the award. “I am deeply honored and privileged to receive this award, and I accept it on behalf of all our committed and hardworking alumni, families, friends, staff, and administrators of this world-class institution of education. I am deeply humbled and privileged to be able to stand on the shoulders of those who came before me – each of us is working in concert to lay a solid foundation for our aspiring young people.”

Carter remains dedicated to Xavier as a Chicago Alumni Association chapter member. She and her late husband, college classmate and sweetheart Frederick J. Carter, RPH, tirelessly devoted themselves to raising funds for the Chicago Alumni Association and Xavier University of Louisiana, a commitment she maintains. She also created the Post-Holiday Party and In-Coming Student Reception and is a mentor and advisor to the chapter and Xavier students and graduates. This unwavering support of her alma mater made her stand out as this year’s award recipient.

Xavier’s National Alumni Association President Chantel Shackleford, ‘90, said she is encouraged

by Carter’s humble giving spirit.

“Mrs. Carter taught us how to serve without shining,” Shackleford shared. “She taught us how to give without bragging and how to be silent when we wanted to speak up. Because of her silent service that she has been faithful and consistent with, we are standing here today as her legacy and will continue to serve for years to come.”

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Upon receiving her Bachelor of Arts in music from Xavier and her Master of Music from Roosevelt University of Chicago, Carter, a mezzo-soprano, embarked upon a fruitful career in the performing arts that found her working alongside legendary artists, bestowing music knowledge and skill upon younger generations, and living out her dreams on stages across the world. She said Xavier truly prepared her for those opportunities.

"I want to help get scholarships.

I want kids to have to get the opportunity to go and get that higher education.

I feel like it’s necessary.”

“One big memory that comes to my mind is that unforgettable moment as an undergraduate when I got a chance to sing the role of Bess in a concert performance of “Porgy and Bess” with the New Orleans Symphony conducted by the world-renowned conductor Carlos Manati,” she said. “While Xavier did present its own opera [productions at that time,] it meant an awful lot to me to be able to sing in that performance. The type of training that I got [at Xavier] – I am very grateful for it.”

Carter credits Xavier with much more than just her career; because of this, she works hard to find multiple ways to support the University, paying it forward for students, current and prospective.

“Xavier made a way for us to take care of ourselves and our families and made a way for us to commit ourselves to the community and reach back,” she said. “It has provided an opportunity for us to show the next generation how it should be done, not just get ours. So, I want to help

get scholarships. I want kids to have to get the opportunity to go and get that higher education. I feel like it’s necessary.”

Using her experience as a former opera singer, concert artist, and full-time educator, she now works as a piano and voice instructor who also donates considerable time to serving her community. Carter is a shining example of what it means to commit yourself to something greater than your dreams. As an active member of the Chicago community, she is a 29-year member of the Links Incorporated, South Suburban Chicago Chapter, where she served as a two-term vice president and two-term chapter president. She is chapter president of The Society, Incorporated Chicago Chapter for the Arts, a board member, treasurer, and the National Chair of Ethics and Standards of the Harold C. Jones Memorial Center of Chicago Heights, and a member of The Nathaniel Dett Music Association. She serves on the African American Network Advisory Board of the Chicago Symphony Center. She is also a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member, where she previously served as chair of the Arts and Letters committee. Further community commitments include her loyal and longtime membership at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Chicago. Her past memberships include the National Council of Negro Women and a 20-year tenure in South Suburban Jack and Jill leadership roles, including vice president and two terms as president.

She is the proud mother of Dr. Jocelyn A. Carter (Christopher), a physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and James F. Carter (Lisa), an investment banker and Central Regional Director of Academy Securities.

LIVING A FULL CIRCLE LEGACY

Fred Toca, ‘62 Reflects on His History-Making Legacy

BY MARTIE BOWSER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Frederick Toca, Ph.D., CIH, CSP, is the epitome of a Xavier legacy that has come full circle.

He began his educational career at Xavier University Preparatory School. With the encouragement of the sisters and his family, Toca chose to continue to Xavier University to earn his bachelor’s degree.

“My father loved it because I would be staying home instead of going away, and he wouldn’t have to pay for room and board,” Toca said jokingly.

Influenced by several family members in the science and medical field, Toca focused on medical technology and served as president of the club associated with the program.

After receiving his degree, Toca enlisted in the United States Army to gain access to their scholarship programs. He served four years in the military, making him eligible for the GI Bill, which he used in conjunction with various government-issued grants to complete his graduate degrees.

He attended the University of Michigan to earn his master’s in physiology, with plans to become a research scientist. He soon pivoted to industrial health after beginning his work under Dr. Warren Cook, the first industrial hygiene professor at the University of Michigan and co-founder of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).

Toca was among the few African American students in the course but quickly excelled due to his undergraduate education at Xavier.

“Xavier prepared me,” Toca said. “When Warren Cook looked at my resume, he said, ‘Well, you know, you could do great in industrial hygiene because you have taken all of the chemistry courses.’”

With Cook as his mentor, Toca was introduced to several industrial and occupational health areas.

Public health service grants continued to fund his education, and he completed his master’s in 1968.

After graduating, he obtained his first position at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, where the first atomic bomb was developed. Toca was the only Black employee in the occupational health department.

In his position, he monitored scientists as they completed their research to create plans to ensure their health at every step. Although the position had risks and required strenuous and meticulous work, Toca said the people made it a memorable experience.

“It was a great environment,” he said. “The head of the group I worked for was more like a second father to me. There were just a lot of good-natured people. So, I was able to learn on that job and apply a lot of stuff that I already had because it wasn’t a pressured environment.”

Toca’s work at Los Alamos solidified his love of lab work and furthered his interest in scientific research.

He worked there for two years as a laboratory technician before leaving to pursue his doctorate, which he earned in 1972 in preventive medicine from the University of Iowa. His toxicology and industrial hygiene education made him a leading voice within policy and compliance.

His expertise in the field was evident in his executive positions at prominent organizations – he was the former Director of Occupational Safety and Health for Hoechst Celanese, Director of Industrial Hygiene Safety and Compliance for USX Corporation (U.S. Steel), and Manager of Environmental Protection for General Electric Company’s Plastics Division. He also held director-level roles at Tenneco Chemicals and Gulf Oil. Throughout his corporate career, Toca worked in various industrial and occupational health sectors; however, his most challenging role was managing people rather than scientific findings.

“It was a people thing,” he said. “How do you get people to do a good job and enjoy it? I made a few mistakes there, but like I said, I had some really great people and some that weren’t so great.”

In 1989, Toca was named president of the AIHA, where he led the 12,000-member organization until

1990. To date, he is the only African American to serve as president. He admits he experienced some “pushback” from the executive director at the time, but eventually, he was able to take over the position and implement the needed changes.

In 1996, he co-authored the book "Management of People and Programs in Industrial Hygiene," which remains a significant resource for environmental health professionals.

Throughout the years, Toca has become a staple on HBCU campuses nationwide, speaking with students interested in environmental and industrial health. His influence is evident in L. Faye Grimsley, Ph.D., CIH, MSPH, the head of Xavier’s Department of Public Health Sciences. Toca served as a professional mentor for Grimsley and has been cheering her on as she has developed the department from the ground up.

“I felt very good about it,” he said.

Toca and his wife, Oliva, continue to give back to Xavier through the Frederick & Oliva Toca Endowment Scholarship, which awards financial support to a student majoring in any field of science.

While he officially retired from consulting within the environmental and industrial health industry in 2019, his legacy in the field is evident in the influence of minority professionals he has mentored and impacted. His dedication to research and contributions have become the foundation for improving today’s workplace safety and health standards.

When reflecting on his expansive 40+ year career, Toca referred to the parable of “listening, understanding, and acting” as his guide.

“I used to tell the students, ‘You have to listen to what the workers say,’” he said. “Understanding – understand what they are doing and how they can do it. Then, take some action to prevent exposure and prevent abnormal health effects from happening. That actually applies to all of life.”

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ALUMNI NOTES Dr. Alisha Bailey, ‘11, received the prestigious Hall of Honor award at the 2024 UNCF PreAlumni Leadership Conference and Alumni Summit.

Youshea Berry, ‘98, was appointed to the U.S. Foreign Service. She will serve as a U.S. diplomat at the Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, as the Resident Legal Officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

She previously served as the Deputy Assistant General Counsel at USAID in D.C. and as Director for Global Development & Strategic Planning at the White House’s National Security Council.

Dawn Kamilah Brown, M.D., ‘00, provided a psychiatry perspective at the 11th Annual Brain Health Panel held during the 37th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party in Las Vegas.

Nicole Brunson, ‘98, joined A.O. Smith Corporation.

U.S. Congressman Troy Carter, ‘86, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Urban League’s Whitney Young Gala on July 26.

"Austin Black Business Journal & Community News Magazine" named Demetria George Caston, ‘98, one of its Top 40 Professionals and Entrepreneurs honorees. Caston was also recognized with the inaugural SERVE award by the Young Women’s Alliance.

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Kev Choice, ‘98, has been elected San Francisco Chapter President of The Recording Academy.

Jesslyn Magee-Gonzales, ‘15, completed her Doctor of Medicine at the University of California, Davis – School of Medicine.

Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, Ph.D., ‘99, has been promoted to Professor of History at Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. DeCuir began her career in the History Dept. at Xavier as an Assistant/Associate Professor in 2009.

Allyson Graham, Ph.D., ‘13, defended her dissertation and was appointed Clinical Assistant Professor of Counseling at the University of Memphis.

Dorian Doss, MS RD LD, ‘97, has selfpublished a guide “3 Steps to Prep: A Meal Planning Journal for Women on the Go,” which is available on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

Walter Reed National Military Hospital held a flag ceremony for Captain Kelly O. Elmore, ‘98, on April 4 to culminate her tour of duty as its first African American Chief of Staff.

Christina Francis, ‘89, was awarded the Lead with POWher award from the World Woman Foundation.

The award is given to those who strive to positively impact the lives of women and girls worldwide.

Dr. Alayna Freeman, ‘17, has recently achieved the milestone of being selected as an Air Force Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Her commitment to the mental health and well-being of young individuals will soon take her overseas for her first assignment following her rigorous training. In addition to this role, Dr. Freeman has also been chosen for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship training at Yale University, set to commence with the class of 2026.

Nina Giddens, ‘23, represented Xavier University of Louisiana in the HBCU Zone segment at the 2024 Urban One Honors.

Sponsored by Walt Disney World Resort, the HBCU Zone highlights students and graduates who dream beyond their imagination.

Henry A. Grant, Jr., ‘75, has been named a 2024 Warren Easton Charter High School Hall of Fame inductee. Selection to the high school’s Hall of Fame is based upon outstanding contributions and demonstrated love for Warren Easton.

D. Wendy Greene, ‘99, the Center for Law, Policy, and Social Action director at Drexel University Kline School of Law, delivered the 2024 Hartman Hotz Lecture in Law and Liberal Arts at University of Arkansas. Greene, a prominent legal authority on grooming code discrimination, presented “#FreeTheHair: Locking Black Hair to Civil Rights Movements.”

Dr. Rosalind Hale ‘69, was honored as the Woman of the Year for the National Association of University Women – New Orleans Branch.

ALUMNI NOTES The Blairisms, founded

by Blair Dottin-Haley, ‘02 and Brandon Dottin-Haley, has a John Lewis-inspired 2020-designed face mask featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture collection.

LaMiah Hall ‘19, in participation with the National Football League’s Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, will complete a clinical rotation with the New Orleans Saints sports medicine department during the 2024 training camp.

Rachel Hardeman, ‘04, has been named to Time 100. Her selection was based on her antiracism research in the fight to end the nation’s maternal health crisis.

Joseph Harland, II, ‘94, President & Managing Broker of Atlanta-based Commercial Real Estate Brokerage firm, À la Carte Investments, LLC, has launched a new commercial capital subsidiary, À la Carte Commercial Capital.

The new firm offers businesses access to capital including loans for medical and dental practices, SBA loans, and more.

LeWanza Harris, M.D., MPH, MBA, MS, ‘93, has been selected as Becker’s Healthcare 2024 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know.

These leaders have been selected for their outstanding capacity to cultivate enriching patient experiences, educate the next generation of healthcare providers, and advance health equity.

Cherie C. Hill, M.D., ‘05, is part of an allwoman research team crafting a study protocol for the implementation of “Centering Patients with Fibroids,” a novel group education and empowerment program for patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids.

Teal Holden, ‘02, has been acknowledged as this year’s United Way of Greater Houston’s Young Leader of the Year. The award recognizes a bold young professional who is a pacesetter in their company or organization, leads by example, and makes a name for themselves through hard work, active engagement, and great results.

Dr. Candace Holmes, ‘95, celebrated the release of her new book “Transform Your Brain with Neurofeedback.”

“Brown Girl, Brown Girl,” a book by Leslé Honoré, ‘98, is available for preorder everywhere books are sold.

Patrice Jean, ’93, has been elected to serve as President of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association.

Victor M. Jones, Esq., ‘07, has been selected as the Louisiana State Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year.

Christina Angela Kalonji, ‘22, was recognized as an Outstanding Young Alumni at the 2024 UNCF Pre-Alumni Leadership Conference and Alumni Summit.

High school English teacher Dawn Lafargue, ‘97, ‘03, was named High School Teacher of the Year at Riverdale High in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

Three Xavier alum completed a complex cardiac procedure at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge – Max Madhere M.D., ‘02, Director of Cardiac Anesthesia, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center; Lance LaMotte, M.D. ‘90, Interventional and Structural Cardiologist, Baton Rouge Cardiology Center; and Justin Player, a post-baccalaureate student at University of New Orleans.

Marlah H. Mardis, M.D., DABFM, ‘87, started a new role as Statewide Medical Director at Georgia Department of Corrections.

Miranda D. McDonald, MPA, ‘07, was hired as Director of Community Programs at the Tennessee Titans.

Jasmine Merlette, ‘18, presented “The Call for Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools” at the APA Division 12 Inaugural Conference.

Dr. Kendall McManusThomas, ‘12, ‘15, has been named principal of Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans.

March 8, 2024 was proclaimed Dr. Contessa Metcalfe Appreciation Day in Fulton County, Georgia. Presented by District 4 Commissioner Natalie Hall, the proclamation, given to Dr. Contessa Metcalfe, ‘98, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, emphasized her advocacy and commitment to health equity.

Hallmark Mahogany Honors has also selected Dr. Metcalfe as one of thirty trailblazing Black women across generations, diverse backgrounds, and industries who are making extraordinary contributions that have shaped history and inspired our communities.

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ALUMNI NOTES Diverse: Issues In Higher Education highlighted Nadrea Njoku, Ph.D., ‘05, among 40 women who have made a difference in academia by tackling some of higher education’s toughest challenges, exhibiting extraordinary leadership skills, and making a positive difference in their communities.

Rebecca Pittman-Edwards SPHR, SCP, ‘99, has been named one of the Top 25 Women in Business by the Charlotte Business Journal for 2024. For 28 years, this award has honored 25 outstanding businesswomen who have made significant contributions to their professions and their communities yearly.

Kimberly Novod, ‘03, contributed to Fanaroff & Martin’s Perinatal-Neonatal Medicine textbook in a chapter titled “Improving the Quality, Safety, and Equity of Neonatal Intensive Care for Infants and Families.

Lauren Powell, MPA, Ph.D., ‘06, has joined Biogen as Head of Health Equity. In this role, she will focus on embedding health equity in research, development, and medicine.

Dr. Elaine Parker Adams, ‘61, has released a new collection of lowku poetry, “Respirator Blues,” which is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book and eBook outlets.

Dr. Jacenta Parker, DVM, ‘05, is the esteemed owner of Franklin Turnpike Veterinary Hospital in Ramsey, New Jersey. This full-service general practice offers preventative care, medical care, general dentistry, and general surgery.

The Baton Rouge Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. has named Alejandro Perkins, ‘99, and Dina Perkins, ‘01, Mother and Father of the Year.

Chef Jamika Pessoa, ‘01, was featured on the Drew Barrymore Show during the Black History Honors segment.

Jordan Pierre, DDS, ‘15, is a 2024 Meharry Medical College 10 Under 10 young alumni honoree. The award recognizes ten young alumni who have graduated within the last ten years.

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Gina Ricard, ‘13, served as a panelist at the Parity Project Symposium to discuss the critical role that corporations can play in closing the racial wealth gap.

Deirdre Roberson, ‘08, founder and CEO of Eumelanin, has announced the brand’s first luxury retail partnership. Eumelanin’s HEX Bag, once available only via e-commerce, is now also in-store at ELUXEIT in Atlanta.

Dr. Derek Robinson, ‘98, has started a new position as Divisional Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Enterprise Health Care Management at Health Care Service Corporation.

Sherrika Sanders, ‘98, has received the Women Who Steam Award from the Links, Incorporated Dallas Chapter.

Juval Scott, ‘97, has been named Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders. She is the first African American and woman of color to lead the organization in its 27-year history.

Chantel Shackleford, ‘90, was awarded the Drum Major award, a lifetime honor given to community members representing faith, business, and political sectors, during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamer’s Breakfast in Chicago.

Carita Shanklin Walker, J.D., ‘93, was the keynote speaker at Xavier’s annual Black History Month Convocation.

Dennis Sigur, ‘97, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Dillard University, was named an SAS HBCU+ Fellow.

Demetria Sloan, ‘95, was featured in “The Legacy of Excellence: Phenomenal Black Women in Central Florida,” an exhibit presented by The African American Women’s History Month Project and The Poinsette Foundation.

Avita Care Solutions has promoted Atlanta “Top Doc” Quintin R. Robinson, M.D., AAHIVS, ‘98, to the position of medical director of AvitaCare Atlanta, its medical center and pharmacy.

Tahira Stalberte ‘96, is celebrating her 10th anniversary in Union County Public Schools and the beginning of year 23 in school public relations.

Robert Russell, M.D., MBA, ‘97, has started a new position as Chief Medical Officer at Majestic Care.

Kennedy St. Charles, MBA, ‘16, graduated in the inaugural cohort of Administrative Fellows from LCMC.

ALUMNI NOTES Touro has announced the appointment of Dr. Candace Stevens Robinson, ‘01, as chief medical officer. Robinson, a physician and healthcare executive, brings more than 15 years of medical experience and more than nine years of healthcare leadership to her new role.

L. Chris Stewart made Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers.

Myiesha Taylor, M.D., CFMP, FAAEM, FACEP, ‘96, has started a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM).

George Tolbert, II ‘04, was named Director of Philanthropy at ACLU of Tennessee. He is also the Chief Consultant for at his own firm, The POURS Network, LLC. Takara Turner, ‘13, joined John Hopkins University as a business analyst.

Robert Vinson, ‘96, has been named Senior Manager of Regional Marketing Operations at Genesis Motor America, the luxury vehicle brand of Hyundai Motor Company.

Allergist Carlos Vital, M.D., FACAAI, ‘95, was unanimously voted by the Texas Senate and Gov. Greg Abbott to be reappointed to serve on the Texas Health Services Authority.

Sherman “Trey” White, ‘12, a media personality at iHeartMedia, served as a host with McDonald’s during Essence Festival in New Orleans.

Kennetha Wiggins, ‘05, has been promoted to Principal Global Experiences and Engagement Manager at Amazon.

Christy Valentine Theard, ‘96, President and CEO of Healthy Blue Louisiana, facilitated a $400,000 Give.Love.Xavier Day gift on behalf of Healthy Blue.

Chevelle Thomas, LTC, Ret., ‘96, was selected for two awards: Golden Apple Teacher and Serving Those Who Serve Award. Ret. LTC Thomas is a Senior JROTC instructor at Murphy High School.

She retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years of service.

Xavierite Accomplishments & Good News The Office of Alumni Relations wants to celebrate your good news. Please keep us up to date on all the fantastic happenings in your life, from weddings to job advancements to awards and accolades and all things in between!

To submit news, please email alumni@xula. edu with the subject line “Good News” or scan the QR code.

Alumni Experts Needed Are you an industry expert who wants to offer your voice on hot topics relevant to our community? We’re always looking for alumni who can either speak or write about important things we all need to know. If this is you, please email alumni@xula.edu with the subject line “Industry Expert” and tell us what you can discuss.

Update Your Information

Damon Williams, ‘01, participated in a panel discussion exploring trends shaping diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia at the 2024 Leadership Alliance Presidential Forum in Washington, D.C. Elijah J. Williams, ‘05, has been named Senior Advisor to City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

To keep up with you, we have to know how to find you. To update your information in our system, please email alumni@xula.edu with the subject line “Update Info” or scan the QR code.

Keep up with all things alumni by following us on social media.

– @xulaalumni Fall 2024 |

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Homecoming ‘23

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Class Reunion ‘23

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Class Reunion ‘23

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2023 HONOREES The 40 Under 40 Awards, established in 2014, celebrates alumni 40 years of age and younger who are making significant strides in their careers and living Xavier’s mission to promote a more just and humane society.

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XAVI E R U N IVE R S I TY O F LO U I S I A N A

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Allen J. Antoine, M.Ed. (’04) Director, Computer Science Education Strategy The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center

Emmanuel Spence (‘14) Principal Advisor, Inclusive Philanthropy ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Ashley N. McPhie, M.D. (‘07) Chief Medical Officer, Tampa Family Health Centers

Felipe Perrier Jr. (‘18) Music Producer / DJ

Brittaney Hill D.D.S, M.S., MPH (‘11) Clinical Assistant Professor and Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry

Gina M. Ricard (‘13) Director, Strategic Initiatives Ichor Strategies

Chandler David Schexnayder, Pharm.D. (‘17) BCPS, CDCES, BCACP, Educator & Writer | SchexLevel Education, LLC

Ja’Nelle Maxine Blocker, M.D. (‘06) Integrative Medicine Fellow Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Thomas Jefferson University

Denisa Charles, Pharm.D. (‘13) Clinical Staff Pharmacist Memphis VA

Jasmin Patriana Eugene, Pharm.D., BCOP (‘14 & ‘18 Clinical Assistant Professor Xavier University of Louisiana

DeriAnne Honora (‘13) College and Career Counselor John F. Kennedy High School

Jasmine Martin Burds (‘14) Owner, Director of Publishing/ Founder Burds of a Feather Publishing Co.

DeVon A. Pruitt (‘15) Financial Advisor WestPoint Financial Group

Jonathan Spears Newsome, Pharm.D., BCGP (‘08) Interim Chair and Associate Professor The University of Texas at Tyler Fisch College of Pharmacy

Brittany Singleton, Pharm.D. (‘13) Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Xavier University of Louisiana

Jordan Reaves (‘15) Associate Controller Mosaic Development Partners JV (Mosaic)

Danaka Hancock, Pharm.D. (‘15) Clinical Staff Pharmacist St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Keairez Coleman, P.T., D.P.T., CSCS (‘19) Performance Physical Therapist Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kandys McKinley-Foster, Ph.D., M.Ed. (‘06) Owner/Psychotherapist Restored Haven Counseling, PLLC

Kwame Terra, MPH (‘15 & ‘22) Founder & CEO bEHR Health Systems, Inc.

8)

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Young Alumni Awards Mark Veals Jr. (‘20) Assistant Director of Marketing & Digital Media Xavier University of Louisiana

Ronicka Briscoe, Ph.D. (‘06) Chair - Department of Education, University of Holy Cross

Mecca Abdullah, D.D.S. (‘07) Owner/Orthodontist Harvest Grove Orthodontics

Shandrell Briscoe (‘09) Senior Manager of Strategic Communications InspireNOLA Charter Schools

Mia Gonzales Washington, MAT (‘08 & ‘10) Director of the New Orleans College & Career Attainment Network (NOLA CCAN) at the Cowen Insititute Tulane University

Timothy Al Ambrose Jr. (‘19) Presidential Fellow Xavier University of Louisiana

Michael Dwight Sanders Jr., Ed.M. (‘08) Marketing + Communications Lead, Social Impact & PlayStation Career Pathways Sony Interactive Entertainment

Torrey Fingal (‘08) Lead Pastor The City of Love

Naomi Winston (‘21) Founder & Creative Director Revolutionary Hearts Industries

Tyre’ Jenkins, Ed.D. (‘21) Literacy and Learning Specialist The Center for Literacy & Learning

Nwamaka Ngoddy , O.D. (‘07) Founder and CEO EyeServe & Anwuli Eyewear

Varsha Castro Gusman, MPAS, PA-C (‘06) Program Director of the Xavier-Ochsner Physician Assistant program Xavier University of Louisiana

Pauline Sequoia Storms-Perkins (‘11) Founder & CEO Storms Secured Services

Vernon K. Dunn Jr., Ph.D. (‘10) Research Staff Science and Technology Policy Institute

Peyton Williams, MBA (‘15) Sustainability and Communications Specialist NTT Data Services

Vincent Ekenga, Pharm.D. (‘12) Clinical Associate Professor Xavier University of Louisiana

Porscha Showers, Pharm.D., AAHIVE (‘14) Principal Medical Scientist Gilead Sciences

Zoe Trask (‘23) Journalism Graduate Student University of Southern California

Rev. Javon Elisea Bracy (‘14) Minister & Mental Health Counselor

Alexis Stokes, Ed.D. (‘05) Associate Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Harvard University Fall Fall 2024 2024| | 7979

Silver Anniversaries During Homecoming 2023, the 1998 line of the Epsilon Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. celebrated its silver anniversary.

“When we became sisters bonded by service to all mankind on October 26, 1998, we were still dreamers on XULA’s campus; the world was ours to make our mark. Through these 25 years, we have supported and encouraged each other as we have made our dreams a reality. We are doctors, attorneys, dentists, pharmacists, authors, educators, wives, mothers, mentors, and more. We have stood by one another through highs and lows, wins and losses, successes and failures, marriages and divorces, births and deaths. Even though distance may keep us physically separated, if anyone places a need or request in our robust GroupMe, someone will answer the call, and whenever we can connect in person, the vibes are just vibing! I am continuously inspired by these remarkable women and perpetually grateful to call them my sisters! We are Alpha Kappa Alpha, we are Fall 1998, Epsilon Tau!” — Cassandra Pillette, M.D., FAAFP

Photo: L to R: Dayna Ellison, Arriana Heins, Alisha G. Reed, Janelle Jessie, Tiwine Coulon, Lori M. LeDuff, Cassandra Pillette, Jesalyn Taylor, and Ariane Stevens Carrier.

During Homecoming 2023, the 1998 line of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrated its silver anniversary.

Photo: L to R: Candyce Smith, Pharm.D., Jarelle Morgan Scott, M.D., Demetria Brown, LaShunda Rosette-Green, Pharm.D., Tawny Small-Burnam, MA, CCC-SLP, Jacinta Robinet, Pharm.D., Monita Chambers Moore, MSOT, OTR, Najaz K WoodsBishop, M.D., FAAP, Tamara Sadler Lewis, Dawn K. Brown, M.D., Megan Jackson Morris, M.D., and Aliya Smith Brown, Pharm.D.

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“25 years have come and gone, and we have reached a milestone that deserves celebration! We have known each other for more than half of our lives and shared a strong bond through Delta. Over the years, that bond has grown even stronger, and we have all evolved into the powerful women we are today. We are all unique and special, with our strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments. I am immensely proud of every one of my line sisters and wholeheartedly accept them for the women they are today and will be tomorrow. Words will never express the honor I feel in sharing this occasion with them. Our sisterhood unites us forever, and we are all forever E.V-O.L.U.T.I.O.N. Let’s celebrate our achievements and continue to grow and thrive together!” ­ — Najaz K Woods-Bishop, M.D., FAAP

College of Pharmacy Honors Alumnus ARTHUR BURTON, ‘52,

toured Xavier’s campus during Homecoming 2023 and was

recognized by the College of

Pharmacy for his history-making

career as the first Black pharmacist

in Jefferson Parish when he opened his store in Metairie.

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Spirit Xavier of

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stablished in 2018, by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Spirit of Xavier Award is presented to alumni in recognition of their outstanding service and contributions to Xavier.

Spirit of Xavier Award 2023 Demetria George Caston, ‘98

Demetria George Caston, ‘98

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Carolyn Lee, ‘62

Sister Mary Ann Stachow, ‘67

Carolyn Lee, ‘62

Yamlak Tsega, ’94 (not pictured)

Sister Mary Ann Stachow, ‘67

Alumni Relations Launches Intergenerational Podcast,

“XAVIER GOLD LIVE” STAFF REPORT

THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS has officially

launched its podcast, “Xavier Gold Live.” Hosted by mass communication students Ja’lyn Jones and TaShia Hogue and supervised by Alumni Relations Coordinator Jimmie Johnson, ‘13, this intergenerational podcast seeks to highlight the remarkable achievements of alumni in various fields and demonstrate how their endeavors align with Xavier’s mission.

Named after the annual alumni magazine "Xavier Gold," the podcast provides an additional platform to bring alumni stories and experiences to life. Each episode of the inaugural season allows alumni to share insights and successes with the Xavier community, including their peers, friends of Xavier, faculty, staff, and students. Along with the standard podcast interview approach, student hosts also run through a round of rapid-fire questions in a segment called “The LIVE Five,” which focuses on guests’ unique Xavier experiences.

“Offering a podcast is our way of expanding story-sharing opportunities within our community and the community at large,” said Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kimberly Reese. “This additional platform helps to foster a sense of alumni pride, cross generations, and encourage support for Xavier’s legacy.”

Among the interviewees is Dr. Derek Robinson, ‘98. As an alumnus and Xavier Trustee, the Divisional Senior Vice President

and Chief Medical Officer at Health Care Service Corporation shared lots of insight, encouragement, and Xavier pride during his episode.

“Xavier, I think, really is a gift to the nation, it’s a gift to our global community, and I think we all carry an enduring commitment to Xavier’s mission, and it’s reflected in the lives you see Xavier graduates living. Both in New Orleans, across the nation, and around the world,” Robinson said.

Stories like Robinson’s, which grow from the Xavier community and seek to pour back their time, talent, and treasure, make “Xavier Gold Live” an essential platform. Utilizing student hosts further exemplifies Xavier’s mission while allowing alumni to connect with students and providing mass communication majors with a real-world opportunity to apply the skills they are learning and cement their place in fostering Tashia Hogue Xavier’s legacy.

“Xavier Gold Live” is available on Apple, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are listened to.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

TASHIA HOGUE is a mass communication major minoring in creative writing from the South Side of Chicago. As co-host of “Xavier Gold Live,” she brings her personality to life while exploring various forms of storytelling. On campus, Hogue is active in organizations like Women of Xavier and The Xavier Herald. She believes in the power of storytelling and communication to inspire change, build bonds, and amplify marginalized voices. She volunteers as a music technician at her church and works at the campus bookstore. Her previous work experience includes interviewing, camera operations, and social media marketing. She has also assisted in producing video projects like XU News and promotional work for the DePaul Community Health Center. Aspiring to become a radio personality, Hogue enjoys binge-watching TV shows and YouTube interviews in her free time.

Ja’lyn Jones

JA’LYN JONES is a mass communication major with a concentration in multimedia from Holly Springs, Mississippi. As co-host of “Xavier Gold Live,” Jones utilizes his skills in editing, interviewing, camera operation, and social media marketing. Alongside his podcast hosting duties, he’s a contributing writer to The Xavier Herald and pursues music production and writing. He is a scholar of multiple organizations, including the Exponential Honors Program, the US-UK Fulbright Commission, the Horatio Alger Association, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. While passionate about music, poetry, motivational speaking, and content creation, Jones remains intentional about dedicating time to connecting with God, spending time with family and friends, playing video games, and participating in sports.

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Remember When?

Scenes from Xavier’s Past

Photos clockwise from top left: Homecoming 1990; Registration Day in The Barn, circa 1950s; Students studying, Dedication of Admin Building; “we’re not new to STEM, we’re true to Stem,” undated.

Opposite page clockwise from top: Female students in a dormitory; Men on campus; Dr. Norman C. Francis speaking on two phones at once; Activist Angela Davis in The Barn; Activist Julian Bond speaks with students; Stevie Wonder visits campus; Students being welcomed to their dormitories, undated.

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Remember When?

More Scenes from Xavier’s Past

Photos clockwise from top left: Mother Agatha Ryan, S.B.S. (Left) and Mary McLeod Bethune (Right), 1938; First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson (Right) Shaking Hands with Blanche Francis (Left) while Visiting Xavier University of Louisiana, 1968; James Baldwin and Oscar Bouise, English Professor at Xavier, 1963; Group of freshmen, 1945; Xavier Football Squad and coaches, Fall 1943. Coach Giles Wright and Coach Jason Dupinace at the left. Coach J. A. Wright at right.

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Photos clockwise from top left: Graduating Class of 1952; Mr. Chapelle (Class of 1959), a pitcher for Xavier’s Baseball Team; 1986-1987 Women’s Basketball team. Front Row, L to R: Courtney Simon, Samantha Lambert, Delanor Junis, Regina Bowen, Sheleen Jones, and Dorcas Harvey; Back Row, L to R: Elaine Johnson, Robin Woods, Scarla Franklin, Angela Rixner, Head Coach Ernest Lewis, Henrietta Mitchell, Kim Williams, Demetria Lang, and Oma Holloway; 1968-1969 Men’s Basketball team. Standing L to R: Coach James Wadley, Bernard Griffith, Kenneth James, Wilfred Haydell, Paul Rivers, Willie Jackson, Robert Sanders, Bernard Metoyer (manager), and Enos Peters (statistician); Kneeling L to R: Richard Clark, Hubert Morton, Timothy Williams, Charles Winfrey, Walter Knowles, Kenneth Broussard; Members of the Xavier University Alumni Executive Board;L to R: Edna Cordier, Etta Blanchet, Unkown, Mable Henry, Victor Labat, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Warren McKenna, Walter Morial, 1942; 1974 Track and Field squad. From left to right: Row 1 - Portene Pugh, Maria Conant, Joan Porter, and Winston Rudder, Row 2 - Claudette Thompson, Pamela Lynch, and Margaret Ransom. Row 3 - Ronald Walker, Grandival Grier (Captain), and Ernesto Keith Lane.

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We Remember…

Alumni & Class 1944 1949 1950 1951 1951 1952 1953 1955 1955 1955 1955 1956 1957 1957 1958 1958 1959 1959 1960 1960 1960 1961 1961 1961 1963

Mrs. Jacqueline P. Kendall Mr. Clyde P. Jupiter Dr. Wilbur B. Clarke Brigadier General Albert S. Bryant, Sr. Jesse F. Goodwin, Ph.D. Dr. W. Jean Porter Mrs. Ann Preston Mrs. Jessie M. Smallwood Mrs. Joyce Signal Graves Mrs. Marjorie V. Wynn Mr. Victor J. Labat Mr. William S. Fischer Mr. Calvin I. Smith, Jr. Mrs. Iris G. Billinger Gloria Jackson Bacon, M.D. Mrs. Renette Viltz Scott Mrs. Annie F. Tureaud Lewis Ramsey Mrs. Ella J. Frost Mr. Gerald J. Hardy Mrs. Claire Burnett Ms. Natalia Maruja Jones Mrs. Claire F. Wilson Mr. Thomas R. Bailey Mr. Alfred M. Palmer Mr. James L. Addison

1963 1963 1964 1965 1967 1967 1968 1968 1969 1970 1970 1973 1973 1974 1974 1974 1974 1975 1975 1976 1976 1977 1977 1978 1979

Mrs. Helen M. Butler Mr. James Fuller, Esq. Mrs. Marcella M. Keyes Sr. Mary J. Blanchard Mrs. Dolores D. White Sr. Dr. Mary Ann Stachow, S.B.S., Ph.D. Mr. Richard F. Roussell Mrs. Anita Broussard Mrs. Brenda J. WIlson Mr. Walter J. Nicholas III Herbert J. Richardson, Jr., P.D. Mr. Melvin F. Thompson Mrs. Jean A. Benjamin-Vappie Mr. Martin Leon Lecour Ms. Wanda R. Jackson Mr. Michel Sterling Mr. Meaurex M. Williams Mr. Callistus I. Agochukwu Mr. Edward Griffin Dr. Milton D. Moore, Jr., M.D. Mrs. Debra G. Shropshire Ms. Antoinette Aubry-Guillory Ms. Elise VanDergriff Mr. Albert D. Dumas Ms. Pernell R. Denet

Friends of Xavier (FOX) Mrs. Miriam B. Haydel Ms. Mary F. Butler Mr. Thomas E. Brinkman, Sr. Mr. Curtis Graves Dr. Matthew Causey Mr. Edward J. Davidson III Ms. Rosie M. James Mr. David K. Sullivan

Dr. George M. Neely, Sr. Ms. Wilhelmina Armour Dr. William L. Cody Mr. Carling Dinkler Mr. Richard A. Voke Mr. Arnold Johnson Mr. Keith E. Weatherspoon Dr. Joel B. Oppenheim

1980 1980 1981 1981 1981 1984 1987 1988 1988 1988 1988 1989 1989 1991 1992 1996 1996 1997 2003 2005 2010 2013 2014

Sr. Donna M. Gould Mr. Randall Schexnayder Ms. Dorette M. Howard Ms. Carol Jenkins-Gaye Mr. Louis F. Lecour, Sr. Mr. Joseph Coleman, Jr. Ms. Juanita C. Perriatt Mr. Stephen C. Ayers Ms. Deneen M. Schexnider Ms. Audrey J. Lee Mr. D'Juan Hernandez Ms. Mary L. Absher Ms. Marietta M. Noel Ms. Stephanie E. Hale Ms. Alisia N. Cantrelle Ms. Crystal J. Baker Ms. Myra B. Johnson Mr. Anthony J. Lonero Mr. Jules Ambrose, Sr. Mrs Helen Marie Bazile Mr. Brock J. Williams Mr. Eric J. Nethercott Mr. Rahim A. Alem

XULA Faculty & Staff Dr. Edgar L. Chase, III Dr. Thomas G. Pretlow Mrs. Mae Ancar Ms. Nelda Matirne Jones Mrs. Dolores B. Felton Dr. Royal D. Saunders

Sr. Grace Mary Flickinger, S.B.S. Dr. Vlajko L. Kocic Dr. Cheryl K. Stevens Professor Clifford S. Wright, CPA

The Xavier family extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the following deceased alumni and friends of Xavier.

They remain in our prayers and memories. The University was notified of these deaths at some point during the period dating from 5.12.23 to 06.24.24. If a name has been inadvertently omitted or incorrectly listed, please accept our apologies.

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A Life Lived Through Our Mission Remembering Five Trailblazing Xavierites Who Passed Away in 2024 WRITTEN/COMPILED BY LESLIE D. ROSE

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

Built upon the foundation of creating a more just and humane society, Xavier University of Louisiana instills in its students pride in changemaking. Xavierites uphold the legacy of foundress Saint Katharine Drexel and strive to create equitable outcomes.

Since its founding in 1925, the University has had great leaders across a multitude of industries, legendary changemakers, and revolutionary industry firsts grace its campus. From STEM groundbreakers and mentors to media mavens and influential doctors to activists who rightly challenged the status quo, Xavier is proud to play a foundational role in the lives of people who go on to change something that so desperately needs changing.

In 2024, the University said several sincere farewells to Xavierites who made their life’s work matter to many people and the communities they served. These legends quested for decades to create a society where everyone could thrive. They lived through our mission and uplifted their beloved alma mater every step of the way.

Health Equity Trailblazer Dr. Gloria Jackson Bacon, ‘58 2018 Victor H. Labat Alumnus of the Year award recipient Dr. Gloria Jackson Bacon, ‘58, was a health equity trailblazer long before the words were all the buzz. A retired physician and former elected official who championed health equity for the underserved, she passed away in New Orleans on February 9, surrounded by her family.

A native New Orleanian, Dr. Bacon’s often unorthodox approach was centered on collaboration to achieve success in issues affecting the quality of life of persons of low income and from disadvantaged backgrounds. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Science from Xavier, she attended Howard University School of Medicine, completing two years of medical school training, before enlisting the help of U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen (IL) to transfer to the University of Illinois School of Medicine, to join her first husband, Herbert Jackson, after having their first child. In 1962, She earned her M.D. In 1984, she earned a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and in 2006, at 69 years old, she earned a Master’s in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.

In 1964, she worked part-time at a public health clinic at Altgeld Gardens, an impoverished community on Chicago’s far South Side. After having her second child in 1965, she found that primary care permitted her to find a better balance between work and family, and she joined the clinic full-time. By 1970, she had become so engrossed in her patients’ unmet needs and so appalled by the lack of quality public health services that she founded a new medical clinic. The Clinic at Altgeld, Inc. (now TCA Health) would care for thousands of patients annually.

As founder and executive medical director, she guided The Clinic at Altgeld to have an enormous impact in the area, most notably, a significant drop in the community’s infant mortality from 50.2 deaths per thousand in 1970 to 9.2 by 1990. More than 30 years later, in 1997, after opening a new state-of-the-art facility, she retired as medical director, continuing as a consultant until 2001.

Satisfied that the clinic would continue to provide critical health care, she was eager to expand her service to the community beyond traditional healthcare to help the children she cared for succeed.

“I saw that the medicine that people came to the doctor for was only a little piece of the care they needed,” Jackson Bacon recalled as she retired. “They had so many other needs.”

In 1980, she remarried to Retired BG Frank Bacon. She began to pursue other interests. Most notably, she became the second Black woman to be elected to statewide office in Illinois when she was elected to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, lighting the path for U.S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (IL), the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2007, Dr. Bacon came out of retirement to return to New Orleans, answering the call for physicians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She served as an ambulatory care services physician at LSU Hospital Health Care Services Division until 2010.

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Physics Pioneer Clyde Jupiter, ‘48 A New Orleans native, Clyde Jupiter, ‘48, was a pioneering African American in physics. After completing his studies at Xavier, Jupiter became one of the first African Americans to attend the University of Notre Dame in 1949. He pursued a career in physics, where he was renowned for his contributions to nuclear radiation detection and the advancement of nuclear energy.

His dedicated career as a leader in the nuclear field included working for such agencies as the Atomic Energy Commission, Lawrence Laboratories, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Jupiter also served in various leadership roles for the American Nuclear Society from 1978-2000, worked as an adjunct professor at Howard University from 1981-1987, and was an invited lecturer at various universities across the United States. Other career highlights include being featured on the cover of Ebony Magazine (“Negroes at Notre Dame,” February 1950). He was also the subject of a 1979 United Negro College Fund ad with the headline, “This Jupiter Is No Myth.”

After resigning from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1987, he and his wife Pat started Jupiter Corporation in Wheaton, Maryland, working with government agencies on nuclear waste management research. He later co-founded AZ Isotopes in Bunker Hill, Indiana, where he served as a senior scientist providing radioisotopes for nuclear medicine imaging and research. In October 2023, he was inducted as a National Academy of Engineering member.

“Growing up with dad, we would often hear stories of his college days, particularly of times spent at Xavier University in Louisiana and being a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (‘All Hail the Black and Gold!’). His biggest hero was his brother, Clarence (CJ) Jupiter, and they attended Xavier together until grad school,” The Jupiter Family shared in a statement to Xavier. “Dad has had many accomplishments throughout his lifetime. Although we knew of his work at government agencies such as Lawrence Laboratories in Livermore, CA, EG & G in Nevada, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C., starting his own company, Jupiter Corporation, and finally co-founding AZ Isotopes, it wasn’t until his final years and after his passing that we truly knew the depth and scope of his career. But above all this, he was always humble, with family being the most important. He was always there for us and would happily invest his time and efforts to support and elevate those he believed in. Many friends and family can attest to his indelible warmth and dedication to shaping us into strong, confident, successful adults. We miss him every day and will always cherish those precious moments we had with him.”

Jupiter’s personal life was filled with family, fun, food, and brotherhood as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 at the Chemical Corps Laboratory in Fort Detrick, Maryland. He was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved sailboats, woodworking, and cooking Louisiana Creole delicacies such as gumbo and turtle stew. He passed away peacefully on March 31, at age 95.

Civil Rights Champion Sybil Haydel Morial An activist, Civil Rights champion, and purveyor of class and graceful leadership, Sybil Haydel Morial, a member of the class of 1952, was shaped by her lived experience of growing up in New Orleans in the ‘30s and ‘40s, a time when Black folks weren’t free to move about at leisure. That, coupled with her curiosity, led her down the path of carving out change, not just for herself but for many, many others who benefited from her zest and spunk.

“Our love and prayers go out to the family of Sybil Haydel Morial. We remember her generous life and legacy and the deep, lasting connections that she and her family have maintained with Xavier University of Louisiana over many decades; we are inspired by her activism, leadership, steadfastness, and commitment to serve,” said Reynold Verret, Ph.D., President of Xavier University of Louisiana. “She has been neighbor to many, as taught in the parable of the Samaritan. A member of Xavier’s class of 1952 and a longserving administrator here for 28 years, our university has been greatly blessed by her intellectual and personal gifts that manifest not only on this campus but throughout New Orleans, Louisiana, and worldwide. Her gift to all is enduring, and she will be sorely missed.”

While Haydel Morial began her higher education at Xavier, she completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University, at the same time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked on his doctoral degree. In Boston, Haydel Morial relished life outside of Deep South segregation and politics, but New Orleans still tugged at her roots. Upon the Brown V. Board of Education decision, she returned to her beloved hometown and successfully enrolled in Tulane University for two courses until they noticed ‘Negro’ checked off on her registration forms – she was asked to leave and later rejected from nearby Loyola for the same reason. This further fueled her dreams for an inclusive environment. She returned to Boston to finish her graduate studies and began her professional life.

In 1955, she married fellow Xavierite Ernest “Dutch” Morial, ‘51, who at the time had just become an example of Civil Rights as he had been the first African American to receive a law degree from Louisiana State University the year before wedding Haydel Morial. He would later continue to make history as New Orleans’ first Black mayor. “Dutch,” with his fearless activist wife at his side, began a career of prominence in civic engagement in the fight for equity and equality.

Racial rejection continued to rev Haydel Morial’s quest, and upon being disqualified from membership in the League of Women Voters, she and several other women formed their own organization, CiCulSo (Civic, Cultural, and Social Organization). The organization evolved into the Louisiana League of Good Government –a racially inclusive group of women that pursued voting rights and ensured voter rolls included Black people. As tensions rose in the ‘60s, Haydel Morial fought even harder. In 1963, she filed lawsuits against the Orleans Parish School Board for enforcing a law that prevented Orleans Parish teachers from advocating for integration or belonging to associations that favored integration. As a New Orleans Public Schools teacher, she offered cultural awareness as a Civil Rights champion and community organizer.

In 1977, Haydel Morial returned to Xavier University of Louisiana, where she served for 28 years, retiring in 2005 as Vice President for External Affairs. Throughout the decades, the Haydel Morial family has been deeply connected to Xavier in various capacities, encompassing time, talent, and treasure.

In an interview for The Xavier Story Project, Haydel Morial reflected on the significance of returning to New Orleans in the wake of civic uprisings and, ultimately, Xavier’s legacy.

“Even though we loved the freedoms of the North, we all wanted to go back to the South to be a part of the change when it came. And we did.” Haydel Morial also talked about her beloved HBCU and the cultural hub it was, from creating opera opportunities for Black singers to being a haven for the Freedom Riders, among other significant civic engagement and equitable efforts.

Haydel Morial passed away on September 3, at age 92.

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Media Maven William ‘Bill’ Rouselle Jr., ‘67 William ‘Bill’ Rouselle Jr., ‘67, was a pioneering media maven from New Orleans. His longstanding career, including being the first African American reporter for WDSU, where on his first day of work, he covered the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout his career, he hosted several prominent shows and held numerous other leadership roles, including nearly 40 years as the founder of Bright Moments, a public relations, marketing, and advertising firm.

His life in the media was rooted in a desire for the truth, a commitment to change, and a will to leave this world a better place. During his time at WDSU, he saw first-hand how media censorship works when police authorities convinced the TV station not to air information on the riots in other urban areas in America. They feared similar reactions from local citizens. His passion for truth and commitment to his people grew stronger. In 1969, he left WDSU following a controversial interview with the protesters fighting the SUNO merger into the LSU System. He would be appointed Deputy Director of the City’s Human Relations Committee where he engineered the passage of a local Public Accommodations Ordinance, opening restaurants and bars to all citizens.

Following a year at City Hall, he worked 10 years in the community with the Free Southern Theater. He helped organize a community-based effort to include African Americans in the TV media. The Media Project challenged TV stations’ licenses in the early 1970s and won concessions from most local TV stations.

In the mid-70s, he hosted a weekly TV show on the public television station WYES-TV called Nation Time while serving as producer for the Free Southern Theater. During this period, Rouselle joined the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation board following a community-based protest for Black involvement in the event. He would eventually serve as president and help oversee the festival’s development into one of the world’s premier music events.

Rouselle later worked as director of the Parent Community Alliance, an organization developed to encourage parents to be more involved in public school policy. He learned about community organizing in this role under the tutelage of Oretha Castle Haley, his most important mentor. In the late ‘70s, Bill headed the Ad Hoc Committee for Accountable Police, which won increased civilian oversight of police involved in brutal citizen interactions.

In the early 1980s, Rouselle put his publishing skills to work at the Black Collegian Magazine, a Black-owned and operated national publication based in New Orleans. Then, in 1984, he and former Black Collegian editor Kalamu ya Salaam opened the doors of Bright Moments. The company has provided public relations, marketing, and advertising services to many clients, including enduring clients like Liberty Bank, Total Community Action, The City of New Orleans, Entergy, and New Orleans Public Schools. Rouselle was also noted as one of the city’s leading political strategists, having managed successful campaigns for Public School and City millage elections, as well as numerous political candidates such as Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the first female African American mayor of New Orleans, Dorothy Mae Taylor, the first Black woman legislator in Louisiana, Mayors Ray Nagin and Mitch Landrieu, and former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu.

“William Rouselle Jr. was a dear friend, trailblazer, media personality, and civic leader,” Congressman Troy Carter, ‘86, said. “His impact on New Orleans and the people in our community will not be forgotten. Rest in peace, Bill.”

Educator & Mentor Randall Schexnayder, ‘80 Randall Schexnayder, ‘80, a beloved pharmacy educator and native New Orleanian, earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. He continued his studies at Tulane University, earning a Master of Science in Public Health. His dedication to educating future pharmacists began in 1984 and culminated in a 38-year tenure in Xavier’s College of Pharmacy, retiring as the Assistant Dean for Professionalism.

He was a mentor to many students, particularly African American males. Over the years, he served in several positions, including Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and as an advisor for many student organizations. He was an active member of several pharmacy organizations and was elected to serve as the Orleans Regional Director of the Louisiana Pharmacists Association to focus on diversity and inclusion. Schexnayder was also instrumental in working with the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum –the oldest in the country— to establish the African American Pharmacy in New Orleans exhibit, which was on display in September 2023.

His love for Xavier was palpable, and he always led the ‘Give Love Xavier Day’ campaign for the College of Pharmacy. He was a passionate historian and had a keen eye for photography. His collection included memorable images from the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel. In 2022, Schexayder was honored with the prestigious Spirit of Xavier award, a testament to his deep connection with the University.

“As the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact Randall had on our community. Randall was in my first class as a faculty member here at Xavier. He was a mentor, a friend, and a source of inspiration to all who had the pleasure of crossing paths with him.

His dedication to excellence in service was unparalleled, and his legacy will continue to resonate within our halls for generations to come,” said Kathleen Kennedy, Pharm.D., Malcolm Ellington Professor of Health Disparities Research and Dean, College of Pharmacy.

A faithful servant of God, devoted family man, and esteemed member of the pharmaceutical community, Schexnayder departed from this life on January 30 at the age of 66. In honor of his legacy at his alma mater, the College of Pharmacy established the Randall Schexnayder Endowed Scholarship Fund, dedicated to supporting aspiring pharmacists who embody his passion for pharmacy and commitment to serving others. XG

It is never easy to say goodbye, so we instead extend our gratitude to these legendary Xavierites and wish their family and friends great peace in the wake of their loss.

In 2007, the New Orleans Ad Club presented Rouselle with the local advertising industry’s highest honor, the Silver Medal, equivalent to a lifetime achievement award. The Silver Medal honored him for his many firsts and significant contributions to the industry. He entered eternal rest on July 21 at 77 years old.

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Recognizing Our Loyal Supporters Gifts from 1925 Legacy Society members help secure Xavier’s long-term future

For many of our alumni and friends, the joy of giving back to Xavier through financial support is a deeply fulfilling experience. Our Xavier family, hailing from diverse backgrounds and locations, find this act of generosity a source of great satisfaction.

The 1925 Legacy Society recognizes loyal supporters who have remembered Xavier with gifts in their estate plans. Eligible gifts can be made through a will or trust, a beneficiary designation on a life insurance or retirement account, a charitable gift annuity, or other vehicles.

During Homecoming 2023, Xavierites and friends of Xavier gathered in celebration and recognition of the 1925 Legacy Society members at a special jazz brunch. Dr. Reynold Verret updated everyone on Xavier’s march toward its centennial, both fundraising and academic progress. Vice President of Institutional Advancement Phillip D. Adams introduced the newest members of the 1925 Legacy Society: Carmen M. Austin, ‘70, Rev. John Burger, Dr. Debra Lewis, Dr. Toi Olden, ‘03, and Stephen Revard. Named in honor of the year of the founding of Xavier as a college, the gifts made by our 1925 Legacy Society members today will impact the University’s long-term future.

For information about joining the 1925 Legacy Society, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Dr. Box 66, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125. Call (504) 520-7575 or email ia@xula.edu.

PHOTOS: Dr. C. Reynold Verret, President; Sanders Anderson, ‘78 Dr. Toi Olden, ‘03 and Mr. Michael Rachal; and Carolyn Block Arnelle, ‘63

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Celebrating the classes of

4s and 9s

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

HOMECOMING IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 6 – 10, 2024

We are excited to welcome all alumni back to campus for homecoming weekend!

Celebrating the classes of 4s and 9s 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019.

WEDNESDAY

NOV 6

PRAYER SERVICE Let’s start our celebration in praise and worship.

Join us for a prayer service remembering our mission and purpose.

ALUMNI AUTHORS University Center Bookstore, 2nd Floor Join the Xavier University Alumni Relations Office as we celebrate books written by Xavierites (books may be purchased throughout the weekend).

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINAR AND RECEPTION Celebrate 96 years of pharmacy at Xavier through lifelong learning and reconnecting with classmates.

FRIDAY

NOV 8

CLASS REUNION RECEPTION AND CLASS PHOTOS (The Higgins Hotel) An evening celebrating our Alma Mater and friendships through the years. We will celebrate the reunions of the class years of 4s and 9s.

CONT

NEOPHYTE PRESENTATION THURSDAY

NOV 7

LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST (On Campus) Join President Reynold Verret at an invitation only breakfast for Xavier alumni and friends who have given at the leadership level during the 2024 calendar year.

ALUMNI GOLF CHALLENGE Join the National Alumni Association for a morning of fun and golf while supporting the students of Xavier University.

NOV 9

PLANNED GIVING SEMINAR (Invitation Only) TAILGATE BBQ (Convocation Center Parking Lot) Catch up with classmates and friends before the game (Tents are available for rental).

Alumni may choose the VIP Experience.

HOMECOMING 2024 KICK-OFF EVENT (Off Campus) All Alumni are invited

VIP TAILGATE (Convocation Center Parking Lot) An upscale tailgating experience that includes a private tent, extended menu selection, and open bar.

GOSPEL CHOIR CONCERT (On Campus) Former gospel choir members and students join together to perform alumni favorites.

GOLD RUSH/GOLD NUGGETS BASKETBALL GAME Let’s sell out the Convocation Center!

VIP SPONSOR AND CORPORATE MIXER (Private Location Off Campus) Invitation Only

NOV 8

ALUMNI AFTER PARTY There is no party like a Xavier party; end the evening with a night of dancing.

SATURDAY

3RD ANNUAL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME EVENT Join us as we salute and celebrate Xavier’s rich legacy of athletics.

FRIDAY

HOMECOMING BANQUET (The Higgins Hotel) A celebration of epic proportions. Celebrating classes ending in 4s and 9s.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING (On Campus) National Alumni Association annual fall meeting.

All Alumni are invited.

SUNDAY

NOV 10

CELEBRATION ON THE YARD Remember Fridays on the Yard? Reconnect with classmates and faculty while sharing this uniquely Xavier tradition with students, shopping alumni and student vendors, and enjoying our favorite DJs.

SGA LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST Past SGA Presidents, Queens, and members of SGA leadership who served at Xavier University of Louisiana.

MEMORIAL SERVICE Remembering our alumni who passed before us.

ALUMNI MASS Let us close out in prayer and thanksgiving.

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Qatar Pharmacy Atrium

GOLDEN CELEBRATION Is Soul Train, the Commodores, and the Spinners more your speed? Join your classmates from those eras to reconnect, reminisce and remember your Xavier experience. Refreshments will be served.

book your

HOMECOMING 2024

Loews Hotel (504) 595-3300

reservations The Intercontinental Hotel (504) 525-5566

The Higgins Hotel (504) 528-1941

5

C O R P O R AT E S P O N S O R S H I P • H O M E C O M I N G 2 0 2 4

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FALL ‘24 Office of Institutional Advancement

Non-Profit Organization

Xavier University of Louisiana

U.S. POSTAGE PAID New Orleans, La. Permit No. 387

1 Drexel Drive New Orleans, LA 70125

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