University
Highlights Xavier University of Louisiana raised $1,022,614 during its annual online, social-media driven fundraising event – Give. Love. Xavier Day – held in April 2021. This year’s theme was “For the Love of Xavier.” The Office of Alumni Relations launched the Give Love Xavier initiative nine years ago to strengthen alumni engagement. “Need based financial aid is a core necessity for the majority of our students and will continue to be the lifeline for students to remain part of the Xavier academic community,” said President Dr. Reynold Verret. “The success of this year’s Give Love Xavier fundraising event shows that we are united in our shared mission to follow in the footsteps of our founder St. Katharine Drexel and ensure that our students get the education they deserve.”
Xavier has received a historic $20 million-dollar donation – the University’s largest private gift to date from an individual. Xavier was among nearly 120 organizations to benefit from a cumulative $1.7 billion contribution by MacKenzie Scott centered on combating racial and gender inequality. The gift has provided Xavier with a unique opportunity to expand its scholarship endowment and make other much needed investments to sustain its mission. Xavier was one of 10 institutions awarded a $5 million grant from Google, designed to help create pathways and opportunities for increased diverse representation in the STEM industry. The one-time unrestricted grant will provide the University with financial support for scholarships, technological infrastructure support, career readiness, and curriculum development. Ochsner and Xavier have partnered to develop two new graduate degree programs in genetic counseling and health informatics. The academic programs will include classroom instruction at Xavier and clinical rotations at Ochsner Health facilities. Xavier is the first university in Louisiana to offer a genetic counseling training program and provides the only such program based at an HBCU. Genetic counselors advise individuals and families affected by or at risk for genetic disorders and support them in making informed healthcare decisions. Health informatics professionals identify, capture, organize and interpret health data to develop effective healthcare processes and solutions, subsequently improving the delivery of healthcare services.
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