text:
Office Phone 504-520-7568
Irving Johnson III
University Photographer
Media Arts Specialist
(504) 520-5426
Richard Tucker
Director of Publications
(504) 520-5425
Xavier Hosts Discussion on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Xavier University of Louisiana to Become 100% Tobacco-Free Campus
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana will become a 100% tobacco-free campus Jan. 1, 2014.
That's the date the University will begin to enforce its new tobacco-free policy, which was officially launched with a joint resolution signed by XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis and XU Student Government President Javon Bracy. In implementing this policy, Xavier joins over 1200 colleges and universities across the nation and sixteen in Louisiana to ban smoking and tobacco products on their campuses.
For years, Xavier University has prohibited smoking in its campus buildings including offices, classrooms, university center, residence halls and athletic facilities. As a result of the university's continuing commitment to the health and well-being of its students, faculty and staff, this ban of smoking and use of all tobacco products is being extended to all university properties, including parking lots, and contiguous sidewalks and streets within the Xavier campus boundaries.
The policy has been nearly a year and half in the making. A Tobacco-Free Living/Fresh Campus committee, formed in spring 2012, sought and received funding from the Louisiana Public Health Institute and sponsored several programs to increase awareness on the effects of second-hand smoke and health risk factors linked to use of tobacco and developed policies to make the university a healthier place to learn, live and work. The committee also invited smokers and tobacco users to participate in a focus group and discussed the impact of transitioning to a tobacco-free campus.
Adherence to the policy is designated as the responsibility of all students, faculty, staff visitors and contractors. Warnings will be issued at the first occurrence, thereafter other penalties and/or sanctions will apply.
To view the Xavier University Tobacco-free policy, visit HERE.
Xavier Provost Named to SACS-COC Board of Trustees
New Orleans LA - Dr. Loren Blanchard, University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana, was named to the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) during its annual conference in Atlanta GA.
Blanchard was among 21 University Presidents and Provosts from across the southern region of the United States elected to serve a three-year term beginning in 2016. He will serve as one of five Trustees representing the state of Louisiana.
SACS-COC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in 11 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees. The Commission also accredits several international institutions of higher education.
The primary function of the Board of Trustees is to take final action on the accreditation of applicant, candidate, and member institutions, and reports to the College Delegate Assembly at its Annual Business Session those institutions approved for accreditation and those which have not been approved for accreditation. The final action of the Commission's Board of Trustees is based on its determination of an institution's compliance with Commission standards, policies, and procedures.
Xavier to Host Louisiana's First Clinical Psy.D. Program (TCSPP)
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Xavier Named Top College for Teacher Education
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana has been recognized as a top college for teacher education by Online College Database. The organization's new ranking, "Top Colleges in Louisiana Shaping the Next Generation," honors the post-secondary institutions in the state that graduated the most education and teaching professionals in 2012.
Schools are ranked by the number of graduates. Xavier, with 57 graduates, is ranked 13 on the list which includes 19 public and private colleges. Xavier is No. 2 among the private colleges. LSU ranks 1st (652 graduates), while Louisiana College (114 graduates) is first among private colleges.
Explaining its methodology, the website says: "The cornerstone of some of the best education degrees in Louisiana is a dedication to the building of the next generation. With the goal of advancing the field of education, these programs focus on research and community outreach alongside classroom curriculum. Internships give students the ability to apply their knowledge to real-world environments, and develop effective teaching methods. A further advantage found at these Louisiana colleges is the ability to choose a concentration, leading to graduates who have specialized knowledge in the field. With guidance from award-winning faculty, and access to exceptional facilities, these Louisiana schools provide the best education degrees available."
The complete list is available at HERE.
Carter Named Xavier 2013 Alumnus of the Year
New Orleans LA - Frederick Carter '69, who has served as National Alumni Association for the six years, was honored as Xavier University of Louisiana's top alumnus at the 2013 Alumni Homecoming Gala.
He was presented the Victor H. Labat Alumnus of the Year award by Michael Labat '63, XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis '52, and National Alumni President Vivian Broussard Guillory '75 at the annual Homecoming Gala.
The annual gala drew 520 attendees to the University Center Ballroom this year. Class agents for the 14 special five-year reunion classes presented the University with gifts totaling $381,068. The 50-year Reunion Class of 1963 led the way with 58 members contributing $107,805.
Carter, a retired pharmacist, was lauded for "giving his time, talents, and treasures to ensure that future generations of students benefit from the same excellent education provided to him."
In his acceptance remarks, Carter said he realized the value of hit education soon after beginning his professional career at the Revco Pharmacy in Cleveland OH, when it became clear to him how much better prepared he was for his professional career than the other young pharmacists from around the country. "After a I realized what Xavier did for me, I knew that I had a responsibility to my Alma Mater," he remarked.
Carter served as president of the Chicago Alumni Chapter for more than 20 years. Under his his leadership membership grew at a rapid rate, and the Club established the Yvonne Allen Hughes Scholarship and the Chicago Boat Ride, now a signature event for the Chapter.
XU Student Awarded Gilman Scholarship
New Orleans LA - Gregory Jones, a Xavier University of Louisiana junior political science major from Rockville IL (Auburn High School), has been awarded a 2014 Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship for study abroad, which he will use to study at Richmond University in London, England, this coming Spring.
Torian Lee, director for Xavier's Center for Intercultural and International Programs, said Jones, who considers study abroad opportunities as an integral part of his development as a future professional, was selected out of thousands of students nationally who are studying abroad during the spring 2014 term. The scholarship is worth $3,500.
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
Xavier Campus Leaders Make Annual Who's Who List
New Orleans LA - One hundred and fifty Xavier University of Louisiana student scholars will appear in the 2014 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, an annual chronicle of the nation's outstanding campus leaders.
The students – chosen by XU department chairs and faculty and approved by the editors of the directory – were selected based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success. They join an elite group of students from more than 2,000 institutions of higher learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign nations. Outstanding students have been honored in the annual directory since it was first published in 1934.
The students included in this year's directory are listed below, grouped by their divisions/departments:
ART – (Art Education) Erica Hampton
BUSINESS – (Accounting); Nadine Bizimana, Shanequa Grayson, Christopher Hayes, Ivyanne London, Kyle McClue, Javon Mead, Victoria Thompson, Dana Thompson, and Amber Williams; (Finance) Kara Everhart and Keisha Murray; (Management) De'Angela Smith; and (Sales & Marketing) Kaylin McLeod and Hue-Hillary Nguyen
BIOLOGY – (Biology) Kayla Colvert; (Biology/Pre-Med) Kristia Abernathy, Shaniqua Bagley, Tarrin Casey, Duy Dang, Jeremiah Davis, Paige Estave, Shikira Flounory, Kristen Fowler, Parixit Joshi, Oluwapelumi Kareem, Jymirah Morris, Danh Nguyen, David Nguyen, Oluwadolapo Oyebadejo, Tri Pham, Heba Sarhan, Treasure Stone, Theresia Sutherlin, and Dieplinh Tran
CHEMISTRY – (Biochemistry) Terrell Buckson and Desmond Stewart; (Chemistry) Sion Ward and Kamirah Demouchet, (Chemistry ACS) Milana Jones,Lydia Mensah, and Jonathon Watson; (Chemistry Education) Jennifer Tran; (Chemistry/Pre-Med) Jamie Bolden, Amber Carter, Brandan Dotson, Shannon Douglas, Chinedu Echebelem, LeaAnn Love, Alyssa Mercadel, Lauree Thomas, and Jasmine Thompson; (Chemistry/Pre-Pharmacy) Nancy Pham
COMPUTER SCIENCE – (Computer Engineering) Greogry Degruy; (Information Systems) Jasmine Lewis; and (Computer Science) Emmanuel Detiege, Morgan Edwards, Nam Nguyen, and Alexandria Rencher
EDUCATION – (Counseling) Chinelo Ananaba, Aasiyah Clark, Carolyn Granders, Kelly Hardy, Tara Payne, Andrea Spreter, Chantell Washington-Williams, and Jasmine Williams; (Educational Leadership) Charles Allen, Shella Banks, Amy Milam, LaKeisha Weber-Davis, Thomas Wright, and Ashonta Wyatt; (Elementary Education) Megan Riley and Melissa Riley; (MAT) Katerine Rosales, Odell Isaac, Jeremiah Jackson, James Saunders, Dwaynes Cormier, and Jordan Sanchez; (Middle School Education) Vallery Jenkins
ENGLISH – (Education) Javon Bracy, Jordyn Goody, Simone Graham, Anthony Lotten, Mia Ruffin; (English Education) Kamaria Beamon
HISTORY – Alexis Parker
MATH – Kaitland Brannon
MASS COMMUNICATION – Randi Lemons
MUSIC – (Music) Jasmine Eugene; (Music Performance) Sandi Lewanika
PHARMACY – Raina Abdelfattah, Temitayo Banjo, Amy Beshir, Bianca Brock, Kelly Chapman, Chukwuemezie Chimezie, Lauren Day, Seth Delise, Michael Ezebuenyi, Felicia Gibson, Brittany Gorden, Alexis Gosserand, Johmyrin Johnson, Holly Landrieu, Kelly Mott, Stephanie Ogunrinade, Ashlee Poolson, Christopher Pugh, Claire Reuter, Teri Robinson, Haley Schexnayder, Johlee Schinetsky, Brandi Semien, Porscha Showers, LaShon Synder, Ashlynn Volpe, Brittany Williams, Lashira Williams, Michelle Winn, and Candance Zahn
PHILOSOPHY – Adia Wallace
PHYSICS/ENGINEERING – (Civil Engineering) Breanna Bell
POLITICAL SCIENCE – Jade Crutch, Evangeline Dech, Gregory Jones, Ja'Keria McCowan, Michael Moore, and DeVon Pruitt
PSYCHOLOGY – (Psychology) Ricaylah Citizen, Gabrielle Gloston, Ariana Mitchell, and Jillian Young; (Psychology/Pre-Med) Armond Collins, Nia Geiggar, Kyriante Henry, Jazzolynn Kelly, Alonda Moore, Autumn Myers, Thuy-Lihn Nguyen, Amber Owens, Emmanuel Spence, and Khalil Thompson
SOCIOLOGY – Brionnee Broussard and Jeanece Kelly
SPEECH PATHOLOGY – Amithyse Moore, Jade Romain, and Taylor St. Charles
SayNOLA Inspires Community-based Action
New Orleans LA – An honors public speaking course at Xavier University of Louisiana is working to inspire young people to take action toward building and strengthening community in New Orleans. To achieve this goal, students have created sayNOLA: inspiring community-based action, an event hosted on November 12, 6-9 p.m. at the XU Administration Auditorium.
sayNOLA is an event hosted at Xavier University for 200 high school and college students that will inspire them to take community-based action. Modeled after the format made popular by TED Talks, sayNOLA will feature New Orleans citizens who will give the 15-minute "talk of their lives" to activate young people to create change.
Speakers represent a wide range of change agents, including: 2-Cent (Hip hop grassroots media collective), Javon Bracy (Student Government Association President, Xavier University), Kelly Harris-DeBerry (Poet and New Orleans literary activist), New Renaissance (Hip hop artists), Anne Rolfes (Founding Director, Louisiana Bucket Brigade), and Gian Smith (New Orleans spoken word artist).
The event will also include story circles that allow high school and college students to share their own personal narratives and discuss meaningful social action. Participants will be invited to network with presenters and community-based organizations to discover ways to take action themselves.
sayNOLA is sponsored by the Department of Communication Studies at Xavier, which studies and applies communication in many different contexts, including relationships, culture, and performance.
For more information, contact Ross Louis (firstname.lastname@example.com; 504-520-5103)
Xavier Faculty Awarded CUR Research Grants
New Orleans LA - Fourteen Xavier University of Louisiana faculty members have been awarded Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) grants totaling nearly $53,000 for their respective faculty-student initiatives for the 2013-2014 academic year, according to Dr. Gary Donaldson, CUR director.
Those receiving Andrew Mellon Foundation mini-grants (and their projects) were: Ralph Adamo, Editing and Production of a Catalogue for the Xavier Review; Drs. Lisa Flanagan, Ross Louis, and Robin Vander, "'Here is Where You Turn Back: A Literary Study of New Orleans-based Short Stories through Performance"; Dr. Robin Runia, "Research of Mary Edgerton's Original Ennui"; Dr. Brian Turner, "Black Male Experiences in Higher Education: Identity, Relationships, and Experiences on Campus"; Dr. Brenda Edgerton-Webster, "'The Tale of Two Voices:' Women Communicators from the Mississippi Freedom Summer, 1964"; and "'A New Black Feminist Concept,' A Mini-documentary".
Dr. Michael Homan received a Andrew Mellon Foundation (Enhancement Grant) to fund student travel to the Southwest Region of the American Schools of Oriental Research.
Receiving Title III mini-grants (and their projects) were: Dr. Andrew Klimas, "To Investigate Linear-Preserving Maps"; Dr. Anup Kundu, "Formation of a Targeted Nanoparticle System for the Treatment of Breast Cancer"; Dr. Candice Lawrence, "Drug Delivery Systems Utilizing Modified Nucleobase Hydrogelators and Polyamine Systems"; Dr. Krista D. Mincey, "Masculinity Scale in African American Males"; and Dr. Jayalakshmi Sridhar, "Synthesis of Potential Anti-Cancer Compounds".
Dr. Lester Jones received Title III (Enhancement Grant) to fund student travel to the Field of Dreams Conference.
CUR was established in 2003 to foster undergraduate research at Xavier. The Center was originally funded by a grant from the Andrew F. Mellon Foundation, and has been refunded twice.
Xavier Hosts Discussion on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana will host a discussion, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," Monday, Oct. 28, featuring two of her granddaughters (Lacks Whye and Kim Lacks) and facilitated by the Dr. Regina Benjamin, the 18th U.S. Surgeon General and the XU nola.com/Times-Picayune Endowed Chair in Public.
Admission to the event, which will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom, is free and the public is invited.
Lacks, who died in 1951, was an African-American woman who was the unwitting source of cells (from her cancerous tumor) which were cultured by Dr. George Otto Gey to create the first known human immortal cell line for medical research. Dr. Roland Pattillo, a 1955 Xavier graduate who now serves as director of gynecologic oncology at the Morehouse School of Medicine, helped created a vaccine that protects women from cervical cancer using the same cell, now known as the HeLa line.
A book written by Rebecca Skloot in 2010, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, uncovered the dubious history of the HeLa cells, human cells that have thrived in a laboratory setting. Although HeLa cells have been used by medical researchers for the past sixty years, including by Jonas Salk in his development of the polio vaccine, they were taken from Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge. In recent years the family has attempted to regain some control over cell usage.
The book is this year's shared reading selection for students, faculty, and staff under the University's Read Today, Lead Tomorrow program, a five-year campus-wide initiative designed to enable students at Xavier to become more active and engaged readers and to ultimately enhance the reading culture on our campus and in our community.
Erna Brodber Lecture at Xavier
New Orleans LA - Erna Brodber, well-known and prize-winning Jamaican writer, anthropologist, and social activist, will make a presentation, "Why Louisiana?", at Xavier University of Louisiana Nov. 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center Annex, Room 111. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a short reception at 5:30 p.m. and a book signing afterwards.
Brodber is the author of four novels: Jane and Louisa Will Soon Come Home (1980), Myal (1988), Louisiana (1994) and The Rainmaker's Mistake (2007), a collection of short stories, The World Is a High Hill (2012), and a number of historical and ethnographic studies. In 1999 she received the Jamaican Musgrave Gold Award for Literature and Orature. She is also the winner of the Caribbean and Canadian regional Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1989.
In all of her works, Erna Brodber is interested in exploring the religious beliefs that unite Jamaicans and other members of the African diaspora in the Caribbean, the Americas, and the European continent.
The lecture and reception are sponsored by the XU English Department and African American and Diaspora Studies Program. For more information, contact Dr. Violet Bryan or Treschere Washingon of the English Department at 504-520-5158.
The New Orleans Jazz Funeral
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana will host a special presentation on one of the city's most unique cultural traditions, "The New Orleans Jazz Funeral: A Joyous Path to Heaven," Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. The program is free and open to the public.
The program will feature a short film by noted author and historian Jason Berry, a panel discussion with Berry and several long time participants in jazz funerals (including musicians Gregory Stafford and Bennie Pete and social aid and pleasure club members Alfred "Bucket" Carter and Fred Johnson), and a live musical performance by Dr. Michael White and the Liberty Brass Band.
The program is hosted and sponsored by Dr. Michael White, the Charles and Rosa Keller Endowed Chair in the Humanities at Xavier.
Benjamin to Receive Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism
Boston MA – Regina M. Benjamin MD, the 18th U.S. Surgeon General (2009-2013) and nola.com/Times Picayune Endowed Chair in Public Health Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana, will accept the 2013 Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism from the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) at its annual Schweitzer Leadership Awards Ceremony & Reception in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 1. She will also deliver a keynote speech at the organization's annual Leadership Conference on Nov. 2.
The Prize for Humanitarianism recognizes an individual whose life example has significantly mitigated the social determinants of health in the US and/or abroad, and whose commitment to service influences and inspires others. Past honorees include Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, Norman Cousins, Marian Wright-Edelman, Dr. David Satcher, Ted Turner, and Desmond Tutu.
"From her work with the National Health Service Corps as a medical student to her founding of the Bayou Clinic and her tenure as Surgeon General, Dr. Benjamin's service is an inspiring example for our Fellows, who will soon be influencing public policy in their own right," said Sylvia Stevens-Edouard, executive director of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. "Dr. Benjamin epitomizes Albert Schweitzer's famous observation, 'With a little reason and much heart, one can change many things, or move mountains.' We are so proud to honor her lifetime of service with the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism."
"I am so pleased to be receiving The Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism," said Dr. Benjamin, a 1979 graduate of Xavier. "Advancement of public health takes patience and perseverance, and The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship is giving those who will be undertaking this important work the leadership skills they will need to get the job done."
The Prize for Humanitarianism is awarded annually in conjunction with ASF's Schweitzer Leadership Conference, an opportunity for established and emerging professionals to learn from leaders who are shaping the way we think, talk, and act when it comes to health equity, health care, social change, and public policy. Dr. Benjamin will deliver the afternoon plenary address at the Leadership Conference.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge MA. Learn more about the ceremony and the conference at SchweitzerFellowship.org.
Founded in 1940, ASF has 11 Fellowship sites around the country, including one in New Orleans.
Plan Launched Increase Campus Internationalization
New Orleans LA - Anastasia LeBeaud arrived in New Orleans three weeks before Hurricane Katrina and today, the Russian native is completing her pre-med requirements with a 3.85 grade point average at Xavier University of Louisiana. LeBeaud is among a growing number of international students Xavier is hoping to continue to attract. Increasing the number of International Students on campus is one of several priorities in Xavier's Internationalization Strategic Plan 2013-2018.
"At Xavier, we offer multiple opportunities for students to develop global awareness in both the United States and around the world," said Dr. Torian Lee, Director for the Center for Intercultural and International Programs (CIIP) at Xavier. "In today's world, graduating students need to be able to articulate how their academic and intercultural experiences will be an asset to a company, organization or post graduate institution. While every student does not study abroad, the interaction between U.S. and international students at Xavier is one of the many ways students expose themselves to the interconnected world."
Under the priorities of Xavier's Internationalization Strategic Plan 2013-2018, the university will continue to attract, admit, and retain high quality degree-seeking international undergraduate and graduate students; increase the international aspects of the curriculum in all disciplines; expand campus and community intercultural outreach activities; increase the number of students who study abroad for a semester or summer; and increase faculty international research and program development activities.
The University is already very aggressive in its internationalization efforts. Xavier offers international development travel grants to its faculty. Many students spend a semester or summer at universities abroad. Also, XULA is the first university in Louisiana to develop a GlobeMed partnership, where public health and medical students enroll in service projects to gain practical and experiential learning overseas. Xavier's Confucius Institute, promoting Chinese language and culture, is the first among the nation's HBCU's and in Louisiana. Additionally, through a partnership with the HBCU-Brazil Alliance, Xavier is host to seven visiting international students in Biology and Pharmacy. Xavier also hosts visiting students from Pakistan and France through the State Department IREX program and the Louisiana consortium program, MICEFA. Finally, Xavier is connected to Middle Eastern institution, Qatar University and the University of Notre Dame in Haiti through international exchange and development initiatives.
Lee credits the Xavier's administration, faculty, staff, and students with helping international students become part of the Xavier family. Lee said, of the international student experience at Xavier, "Naturally, being a small institution, there is an opportunity to develop a close relationship with the students. We know their names. They know ours. It allows us to be a support mechanism to help them perform better academically and develop leadership and networking skills critical to their success in the Unites States and back home."
Similarly, LeBeaud credits her high GPA and academic success to Xaviers size and one-on-one attention to international students. "I love Xavier because it's smaller. It is like a little family," she said. "It helps because I get personal attention, and if I need help with a certain class or situation, I know the support is there." Because of LeBeaud's tenacity, she is also teaching math to high school students, is a chemistry tutor and plans on making the Dean's list every year.
As Xavier moves through the 21st Century, global learning has become a central component of its character, identity and success. With the launch of the Internationalization Strategic Plan: 2013-2018, the University will reach its ultimate goal of better enabling the Xavier community to become more aware of the world in which we live. To view the strategic plan, visit HERE.
Computer Science Students Shine @ Apps Competition
New Orleans LA - A team of seven Xavier computer science majors took third place honors, while another pitched in to help the team which placed second, during the second-ever Startup Weekend New Orleans (SWNO).
The SWNO competition is based on a global model where designers, developers, market strategists, and entrepreneurs come together to design, build, and present a new company's business model. The 54-hour local event attracted 77 participants, all of whom were there to share ideas, form teams, build products and launch companies.
The presentations were judged by a panel of local entrepreneurial leaders.
The XU team of Gavin Bauman, Camille Rhodes, Morgan Edwards, Nam Nguyen, Adrian Smith-Thompson, Adia Wallace, and Maurice Shorter created a prototype and presented a business plan for "GeoTones", an app that changes ringtones based on the cellphone's GPS, so "you never have another awkward moment at work again."
Another XU student, Chris Matthews, lent his programming skills to Steeming, an independent team which created a mobile dating app that connects young professionals over a cup of coffee.
BeneFIT, an app service that helps people lose weight by giving the calories you aren't eating to someone else in the world who is hungry, came in first place at SW. The audience was BountyTaco, a web service which connects people who want tacos to people who will deliver tacos. Six other ventures were also entered into the competition.
More information about SW can be found HERE.
University Honors 74 Long-Time Faculty/Staff Members
New Orleans LA – Seventy-four long-time faculty and staff members were honored as part of Xavier University of Louisiana's annual Founder's Day celebration.
Topping the list of honorees celebrating anniversaries of their employment at XU were Sister Grace Mary Flickinger, S.B.S. with 45 years of service in biology and as faculty athletic representative, along with Sister Barbara Hughes, CSJ (history), Marlene Robinson (graduate education) and Dorothy Sterling (admissions), all honored for 40 years.
Other employees honored for long-term service included:
35 years – Dr. Jose Bautista (business), Dr. Marie DeLarge (upward bound), Thais Kennedy (library), Dr. Deidre Labat (biology), Dr. Joseph Lefevre (philosophy), and Harriet McCoy (library).
30 years – Sharlena Black-Johnson (human resources), Dr. Vimal Kishore (pharmacy), Gladys Norwood (Sr. VP for Administration's Office), Charles Spencer (physical plant), and Carolyn Thomas (career services).
25 years – Nedra Alcorn (student services), Dr. Robert Berman (philosophy), Lori Blouin (admissions), Cathy Brimmer (financial aid), Medgar Brock (campus police), Dr. Treva Lee (institutional research), Sandra Monroe (library), Dr. Patience Obih (pharmacy), Dr. Joseph Ross (biology), and Kathy Smith (pharmacy).
20 years – Dr. Douglas Athey (education), Dr. Karen Becnel Moore (languages), Edith Cox (financial aid), Rawn Davis (physical plant), Melvin Hosley (physical plant), Dannton Jackson (athletics), Dr. Nancy Martino (communications), Brenda Medley (health services), Dr. Justina Ogbuokiri (pharmacy), Dr. Lisa Schulte-Gipson (psychology), Selena Vance (financial aid), and Edvige Wilkerson (library).
15 years – Dr. Michael Adams (chemistry), Erroll Audrict (central plant), Sheila August (counseling), Dr. Thora Bayer (philosophy), Ron Bechet (art), Dr. Loren Blanchard (Provost, Sr. VP for Academic Affairs), Marion Bracy (facility planning), Dr. Mary Carmichael (biology), Dr. Lonald Daughtry (pharmacy), Dr. Valerio De Angelis (mathematics), Steven Elloie (physical plant), Veronica Farve (yearbook), Sharrone Godfrey (university center), Erin Harris-Williams (human resources), Sister Juliana Haynes S.B.S. (music), Jenestaer Home (ITC), Typhanie Jasper (volunteer services), Dr. Elizabeth Rousselle (languages), Maynard Sayas (physical plant), Avis Stuard (registrar), Holly Terrie (admissions), Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore (political science) and Dr. Thomas Wiese (pharmacy).
10 years – Dr. Renee Akbar (education), Dr. Rondall Allen (pharmacy), Dr. Stassi DiMaggio (chemistry), Dr. Timothy Glaude (education), Bruce Hamilton (facility planning), Nedra Kelly (academic success), Dr. Ross Louis (communications studies), Deborah Modica-Fulgham (library), Morris Moore, Sr. (campus police), Trenice Pickney (fiscal services), Kecia Poplus (financial aid), Dr. Harish Ratnayaka (biology), Dr. Steven Salm (history), Ingenue Schexnider-Fields (fiscal services), James Thiebaud (library), Shoneka Thomas (education), and Alvin Tircuit III (campus police).
Xavier Hosts Business Week Forums
New Orleans LA – "The Business of Biotech", a series of forums delving into the growing biotech industry, will be presented by theXavier University of Louisiana Division of Business Oct. 21-23.
The events, which are part of XU's annual Business Week Activities, are free and open to the public.
The Series includes:
October 21 - "Learning the Biotech Industry in New Orleans", a look at the major players in the local biotech industry and their respective organization's role. From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in University Center Ballroom A.
October 22 – "The Role of Universities in the Biotech Industry", a discussion on the roles universities play in creating biotech businesses and growing the local economy. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center Annex Room 111.
October 23 – "The Ethics of Biotech", a panel discussion on ethical issues in biotech ranging from moral and theological to differing business perspectives. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center Annex Room 111.
For more information contact Tonia Simmons-Doakes at (504) 520-7505 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Xavier Celebrates Founder's Day
Note: Founder's Day will be celebrated at Xavier Oct. 8 at 12:15 p.m. in the Convocation Center. U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby '83 will be the featured speaker.
St. Katharine Drexel's story is one of unparalleled vision, commitment and sacrifice – it is a story that cannot be repeated too often.
She was the equivalent of an American princess, born into the privileged family of a wealthy Philadelphia banker and philanthropist. She could have lived her life in the lap of luxury, oblivious to the suffering of others.
But instead, throughout the 1890's and the first half of the 20th century – long before taking up the cause of racial equality came into vogue – St. Katharine Drexel was at the forefront of efforts to improve the lives of others.
It was during these decades shadowed by the segregation and degradation forced on Blacks as well as the dispossession, relocation and betrayal of Native Americans that the name of St. Katharine Drexel shone out as a beacon of hope.
St. Katharine was at the forefront of efforts to educate African-Americans and Native Americans with an eye toward helping them to develop their own leadership and self-determination. Her schools were always open to all faiths; and the nuns who followed her lived among the poor they served.
She was born in 1858 to wealthy Philadelphia banker and philanthropist Francis Drexel and his wife Hannah, who died a mere five weeks after giving birth. Her father remarried two years later. It was from her parents, revered for their own generosity and charity to the less fortunate, that St. Katharine learned early the lesson of stewardship and responsibility to the poor.
Early on, St. Katharine indicated her intent to establish a bureau to distribute her wealth to Indians and Black missions, and to enter a cloistered religious order. But instead, during a trip to Rome with her family, she accepted the challenge of Pope Leo XIII and established a brand new order (the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament) which went on to found and staff schools and centers in the inner cities of the North and East, the Indian reservations of the west and across the Deep South.
Despite the many obstacles placed in their path, including strong opposition from whites, by 1942 the Sisters were operating black Catholic schools, convents and mission centers in some 13 states. So extensive was her influence in the Black, rural areas of New Iberia, St. Martinville and other Acadiana parishes that she is often referred to as the "Patron Saint of South Louisiana."
St. Katharine's presence was also felt in urban New Orleans, where the Sisters not only opened a Catholic high school and several elementary schools, but also established Xavier University of Louisiana, which was to become the capstone of her educational system.
Originally a coeducational secondary school, Xavier evolved into a teacher's college and by 1925 had achieved full university status. A College of Pharmacy, now one of only two pharmaceutical schools in the state, was added two years later.
The stresses and strains of building a nationwide network of schools for black and Indian children were hard on St. Katharine. The never-ending work and awesome responsibilities that she shouldered for more than a half-century finally took their toll in 1935 when she suffered a near-fatal heart attack. For 20 years she was confined to the infirmary at the Motherhouse in Bensalem, Pa., where she is said to have spent most of her remaining waking hours in prayer and meditation.
St. Katharine died on March 3, 1955. She was officially canonized a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in October of 2000 by Pope John Paul II. She is only the fifth American to have been canonized and only the second American-born Saint. She is now in the select company of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, Rose Philippine Duchesne, Bishop John Neumann and Mother Elizabeth Seton.
"(Katharine) Drexel is an excellent example of that practical charity and generous solidarity with the less fortunate that has long been the distinguishing mark of American Catholics," the Pontiff said during a rain-soaked canonization ceremony that drew tens of thousands to the Vatican, noting that her life brought about "a growing awareness of the need to combat all forms of racism through education and social services."
It is estimated that St. Katharine, who during her lifetime shared the annual income from her father's trust fund with her two sisters, gave away more than $20 million.
Xavier, Delgado Announce Academic Business Partnership
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana and Delgado Community College have signed an articulation agreement establishing a new gateway program designed to provide students with an easier transition between the schools and a prescribed path towards a bachelor's degree in business.
Under the Delgado 2 Xavier program, Delgado students who earn an associate degree in business administration from Delgado's Business and Technology Division can apply for direct admission as juniors into Xavier's Division of Business, where they will complete upper level courses leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.
"The advantage of this new initiative is that it gives students a clear, designated path to complete the requirements for both an associate's degree and a full bachelor's degree," said Xavier President Dr. Norman C. Francis. "Delgado students with a desire to attend Xavier will know exactly what courses to take and what will transfer toward their Xavier degree from the very start."
Dr. Joe Ricks, chair of the XU Division of Business and the J.P. Morgan Chase Professor of Sales and Marketing, said the partnership will provide Delgado students with an opportunity to participate in Xavier events and activities that will "help them become more familiar with our business programs even while they are still attending Delgado."
The program specifies the number of business degree-relevant hours Delgado students can transfer towards the 128 total credit hours required to complete a bachelor's degree from Xavier, depending on their preferred concentration. Students will complete at least 50 percent of business courses at Xavier.
Commodores, En Vogue, and Bill Cosby Headline XULA Scholarship Benefit Concert
New Orleans LA - Motown superstars The Commodores, the sophisticated R&B trio En Vogue and legendary comedian Bill Cosby are the concert headliners for Xavier University of Louisiana's sixth annual benefit concert Nov. 22 at 8:00 p.m. in the University's new Convocation Center.
The Dr. Norman C. Francis Endowed Scholarship Benefit Concert was inaugurated in 2008 to coincide with the Xavier President's 40th Anniversary at the helm of the nation's only Historically Black and Roman Catholic institution of higher education. He is now in his 45th year at the post and continues to be the longest serving university president in the United States.
The net proceeds generated by the annual concert series are dedicated to an endowed scholarship fund which was created to help ensure that deserving students are able to earn a college degree regardless of their financial situation. The original total goal established for the endowed scholarship fund was $1 million, which was reached last year. Additional monies from this year's event and all future concerts are earmarked for the purpose.
The Commodores – If you haven't seen them live, you haven't seen the Commodores. It all began in 1968 when members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute. They later signed with Motown in 1972 after performing as the opening act for the Jackson 5 tour. They were, in fact, Motown's largest selling act for more than two decades, the 70's and 80's. The Commodores racked up hit after hit after hit with such classics as Machine Gun, Brick House, Easy, Three Times a Lady, Sail On, Still, Lady (You Bring Me Up), Oh No, Slippery When Wet, Too Hot Ta Trot, and many others that literally moved an entire generation.
In 1984 the Commodores decided to re-establish the co-lead vocal formula that had catapulted them to the top of the R&B and Pop Charts in the past. After interviewing over 50 candidates, the Commodores chose James Dean "J.D." Nicholas, then vocalist for the British band Heat Wave. The result was a perfect match. Rounded out by original members Walter "Clyde" Orange and William "WAK" King and the world renowned rhythm section the "Mean Machine", in 1985 the Commodores won their first Grammy Award for the track Nightshift, which was a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
The successful Commodores of the present have not only produced six new albums and undertaken world-wide tours, but have created their own record label, Commodores Records and Entertainment. Today they stand not only as talented and successful musicians, but as artists determined to continue their success into the future.
En Vogue – the name rings more than a bell. It invokes memories of a long line of red-hot R&B and pop smashes recorded in the 1990s. Songs like Hold On, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It), Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Free Your Mind, and Whatta Man featuring Salt-N-Pepa, are just a sampling of the mega hits made famous by the R&B super group.
Fusing style, sophistication, sass and sex appeal, the En Vogue formula is magical and the group has sold more than eight million albums. In total, En Vogue has recorded five albums: 1990's Born To Sing; 1992's Funk Divas; 1997's EV3; 2000's Masterpiece Theatre; and 2002's The Gift of Christmas. They have also released several compilations including 1999's Best of En Vogue and 2001's The Very Best of En Vogue. In 1993, En Vogue was honored with the "Soul Train Entertainer of the Year" Award and an American Music Award for "Best Soul Album of the Year".
Bill Cosby – One of America's most beloved comedians of all time, Cosby has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums and best-selling books such as Fatherhood. His comedy transcends age, gender and cultural barriers.
Cosby broke television's racial barrier with I Spy, becoming the first African American to co-star on a television series while winning three consecutive Emmys. He also created and produced the Emmy-winning cartoon Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
Perhaps Cosby's greatest contribution to American entertainment and culture is The Cosby Show, about a close-knit, upper middle class black family. In his current best seller, I Didn't Ask to Be Born, But I'm Glad I Was, Cosby talks about the Bible, being a grandfather, and his first love in his humorous and insightful manner.
Cosby has received the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (America's highest civilian honor), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the Marian Anderson Award. He was awarded an honorary Xavier degree in 2000. A true friend of the university, he is making his third appearance in six years at the Benefit Concert.
Tickets are on sale for $45 and $90 through the Ticket Master hot line 1-866-448-7849 or ONLINE Additional concert information is available on the Xavier WEBSITE.
Sponsor tables, patron packages and concert tickets are available through the Office of Institutional Advancement at 504-520-4252.
Alumni Homecoming Set for Nov. 20-24
XU No. 5 HBCU in U.S. News Report
New Orleans LA - For the second year in a row, Xavier University of Louisiana tied for the No. 5 spot among Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the 2014 edition of "Best Colleges" by U.S. News Media Group.
XU and Tuskegee were tied for the No. 5 spot on the list of 67 HBCUs that were compared. Topping the HBCU rankings were Spelman, Morehouse, Howard, and Fisk.
To qualify for the U.S. News ranking, an HBCU must be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first year, first-time students and must be a school that is currently included in its overall 2014 Best Colleges rankings.
Among all U.S. colleges and universities, U.S. News ranked Xavier tied for 161st in the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges category. That's 17 spots higher than last's rating.
Two Xavier Board Members Receive Presidential Nominations
New Orleans LA - Two members of Xavier University of Louisiana's Board of Trustees – Dwight Bush, Sr., and Carla Harris – have been nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama for positions in his administration.
Bush, president of D.L. Bush and Associates, a financial advisory and business consulting firm in Washington DC, has been named U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco. The nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Harris, Vice Chairman of Global Wealth Management, Managing Director, and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, has been appointed chairperson of the National Women's Business Council, a non-partisan federal government council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the president, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women entrepreneurs.
Bush, an investment banker, was previously president and CEO of Urban Trust Bank and Urban Trust Holdings. From 2002-2006 he was a principal in an Arlington-based investment firm, and prior to that served in various financial and management roles in financial institutions.
Harris has been named to Fortune magazine's list of "The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America," and to the magazine's "Most Influential List." She was named to Black Enterprise magazine's "Top 50 African Americans on Wall Street," and Essence magazine's list "The 50 Women Who Are Shaping the World." She is on Ebony's list of "15 Corporate Women at the Top," the Network Journal's 2005 list of "25 Most Outstanding Women in Business," and was named "Woman of the Year 2004" by the Harvard University Black Men's Forum.
She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University and a master's from Harvard Business School.
Xavier Awarded NASA Grant for STEM Education Initiative
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in support of a pilot regional collaborative project designed to enhance student attainment and success for underrepresented minority students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) during the first two years of undergraduate education.
The New Orleans Regional Collaborative (NORC) for STEM Retention will build on existing collaborations between a diverse group of six institutions to develop a comprehensive research and education initiative that will serve as a national model to improve STEM retention. Xavier is the lead partner in the initiative, which also includes Dillard University, Loyola University, Southern University at New Orleans, Tulane University, and the University of New Orleans.
The goal of the NORC program is to increase the number of underrepresented minority freshman and sophomores actively engaged in collaborative research, to develop new partnerships with NASA centers and industry to provide industrial mentoring to students, and to increase the average graduation rate for underrepresented minority students in STEM fields.
Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya, the Norwood Endowed Professor in Physics and head of the Department of Physics, who is also the principal investigator for NORC, said the program will provide students with comprehensive academic mentoring utilizing the highly successful Timbuktu Academy systemic mentoring model.
"Through this program, 23 NORC student-scholars will be engaged in academic mentoring, tutoring, research experiences, professional development, and graduate school preparation activities beginning in the freshman year," said Sunda-Meya, noting that the students will have the opportunity to participate in collaborative cross-institutional research in the field of nanocomposite materials through a summer research program and a bimonthly multi-institutional seminar series, and have the opportunity to interact directly with industry through summer internships and other industrial mentoring activities.
"As a result of this NASA funding, we will produce a national model for success in increasing underrepresented minority participation and retention in STEM fields, which can be replicated across the country to develop a diverse, highly-trained STEM workforce," he said.
NASA praised the proposal for its "longitudinal methodology for program" evaluation and its "clear commitment" to engaging partnership universities in the program.
Joining Sunda-Meya as co-investigators on the project are Dr. Abdalla Darwish, Professor Professor of Physics and Dean of the College of Arts and Science at Dillard; Dr. Patrick Garrity, an Assistant Professor of Physics at Loyola; Dr. Illya Tietzel, an Associate Professor of Biology at Southern University at New Orleans; Dr. Brent Koplitz, a Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Tulane University; and Dr. Kevin Stokes, a Professor and Chair of Physics at the University of New Orleans.
NCF Leadership Institute Leads Community Reform
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis has answered the call for an education-based noteworthy institute that trains young professionals to be more effective in their civic engagement.
Designed to satisfy the demand for more innovative and qualified people stepping up to address public challenges, the Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute ("NCFLI") opened in January 2013 with a year-long program designed to cultivate the leadership capacities of men and women who have already distinguished themselves in professional and civic life. In its inaugural year, NCFLI selected 25 individuals ("Fellows") from a broad spectrum of professions ranging from a Special Education Teacher to a Chief Executive Officer.
Facilitated by leadership expert and long-time Harvard Kennedy School faculty member Marty Linsky, co-founder of the global leadership consultancy Cambridge Leadership Associates, the Fellows are developing innovative strategies targeted towards consequential civic engagement and purposeful social responsibility with the objective of making tangible progress on the most intractable issues facing their communities.
"I am honored to collaborate with Dr. Francis, the longest sitting University President and the Dean of American University Presidents, as we actualize a program uniquely suited to catapult young professionals to the next level of leadership," observed Linsky.
"We are looking for men and women who have already evidenced skill, professional success and community engagement, but who are frustrated by the lack of progress, who want to close the gap between their aspirations for their community and the current reality," said Linsky. "NCFLI is for people passionate about making progress on the toughest issues facing their community. This initiative is not about networking and individual achievement. We are working on enhancing the skills, adding the tools, and building the courage for smart risk-taking that is essential for exercising leadership on the toughest challenges in civic life."
In partnership with Xavier University and inspired by the life and career of Dr. Francis, NCFLI's core principles are non-partisan and directed toward advancing leadership \that encompass cultural intelligence, spiritual enlightenment, and a steadfast moral compass. For Michael Griffin, the chance to be an inaugural NCFLI Fellow has proven to be an honor and an invaluable, unique experience.
As President and CEO of The Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans, Griffin is responsible for addressing the tough challenge of providing affordable healthcare to traditionally underserved populations. "Making a significant change in healthcare – especially when it comes to community-based systems – is always a challenge. With the skills I've learned at NCFLI, I am more able to push our team to think more strategically and long-term to impact the healthcare of New Orleans and its citizens in a meaningful way," said Griffin.
NCFLI is committed to developing a new generation of leaders and enhancing their capacity and their willingness to become socially active, economically empowered, globally-engaged, policy-educated leaders. It is Dr. Francis' hope that the Institute will "prepare young people to be change-makers in their respective fields, cities, and countries," said Dr. Francis. To accomplish this, the Institute will analyze and synthesize research findings to develop innovative breakthrough strategies that address social and economic policies affecting Louisiana as well as the nation and global markets. "This country is looking for leadership nationally. Many people are not willing to put themselves through the criticism of being on the frontlines or calling for and implementing economic and social changes. So we want to train young people to do that. If there was ever a time for this Institute in our country, it is now" said Dr. Francis.
In partnership with Linsky, NCFLI Fellows will receive year-long extensive education and training that equips them to tackle tough challenges and thrive. Ultimately, the Institute seeks to prepare Fellows for a life of service through two significant analytical approaches: (1) Research and Policy Analysis – where Fellows analyze research findings related to social and economic issues currently facing society; and (2) International Training and Partnership – where Fellows study and visit foreign countries to develop and explore opportunities for global partnership and participation. As a result, NCFLI Fellows will have the ability to initiate substantive progress in their respective businesses and/or communities.
Dr. Francis envisions the future of the Institute and its graduates beyond the year-long Fellowship. "I hope a number of these young people will be in the legislature, city council, filling non-profit leadership roles and other empowering positions to make changes in our society," he said. "There is a bevy of people out there who can be in management roles but you have to give them the confidence to know they can take on these challenges. Someone is going to call our Fellows' names to lead, and we are making sure they can [lead] with confidence."
In the future, the Institute will have many facets for the community including: seminars and workshops targeted towards specific experts in fields; public speaker series profiling national and international leaders; roundtables for participants to explore socio-economic issues of concern and engage in strategic-based discussions with educators and community stakeholders; field experiences where participants engage in a one-to-two-week international trip designed to gain insight into global contemporary issues; and impact studies where participants conduct data analyses and produce impact studies to inform policy change and leadership decision-making.
For more information about the program, visit www.ncfli.org. Visit HERE to see a photo of the inaugural class.
Xavier Shares in BP Funds for Tourism, Seafood Promotion
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the BP Gulf Tourism and Seafood Promotional Fund for the promotion of the University's new Convocation Center and adjacent Annex as a multi-use building for the community activities and tourism.
Officially opened in November 2012, the $25 million facility boasts more than 93,000 square feet of space that can be reconfigured for a variety of purposes, with seating ranging from 3,500 to 4,100 depending on the event. A state-of-the-art scoreboard includes four LED displays providing live and recorded video. A monumental staircase at the entrance leads to a high-end VIP suite, and a dramatic second floor pre-function area that allows views to the outdoor plaza below while providing natural daylight into the facility.
The Convocation Center is unique as there are no other facilities in the Mid-City area capable of hosting mid-level events, such as concerts, conventions, convocations, and sporting events. The Annex provides classroom and meeting room space.
The two buildings, which are anticipated to be LEED Silver Buildings and incorporate community connectivity, water conservation, energy efficiency, recycled and regional materials, and improved indoor air quality, are located across Washington Avenue from the main Xavier campus on a site bounded by Fern, and Stroelitz streets. A pedestrian bridge provides access from the main campus to the new building.
Twenty nonprofit organizations and government entities in Louisiana shared in more than $6.2 million funds awarded by BP to promote Gulf Coast tourism and the seafood industries impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. A total of 60 grants were awarded in four states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi) during this second round of the $57 Million program. Nearly $16 million was awarded during the first round, announced in 2012.
Xavier Names New University Chaplain
New Orleans LA – Fr. Etido Jerome, S.S.J, has been named the new University Chaplain at Xavier University of Louisiana, according to Dr. Loren Blanchard, University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Jerome, who recently earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C, previously served as a Diaconate pastoral intern at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Los Angeles CA.
Prior to that post he had served as a campus minister associate intern at Howard University, and as a pastoral intern at St. Luke Catholic Church and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, all three in Washington D.C.
In addition to his S.T.L., Jerome also holds a Masters of Divinity (M. Div), a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.), and a Bachelor of Art, in Philosophy.
As Chaplain at Xavier, he will be responsible for providing for the sacramental life of the University community and fostering the spiritual development of administrators, faculty, staff, and students of every faith tradition/religion.
XU Gets Nod in in Princeton Review Best Colleges Guide
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana has once again been singled out as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review in the 2014 edition of its annual edition of "The Best 378 Colleges".
In its profile on Xavier the guide praises the school for its academics, faculty, and providing a "thriving underlying foundation upon which students can achieve the very best for themselves."
The New York-based company – which is best known for its test-prep and education services, books, website and other resources for students – showcases only about 15 percent of the 2,500 four-year colleges in the United States in its annual guide.
"Xavier University of Louisiana offers outstanding academics, which is the primary criteria for our choice of schools for the book," said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's Senior VP / Publisher and author of "The Best 378 Colleges". "We base our selections primarily on data we obtain in our annual institutional data surveys. We also take into account input we get from our staff, our 35-member National College Counselor Advisory Board, our personal visits to schools, and the wide range of feedback we get from our surveys of students attending these schools."
For more info, visit HERE.
Xavier University Names New Senior Vice President for Administration
New Orleans LA – Ralph Johnson has been named the new Senior Vice President for Administration at Xavier University of Louisiana, according to President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
Johnson, who holds both an M.B.A. and Certified Public Accountant certification, has more than 25 years of experience in finance, including 14 in higher education. He comes to Xavier from Alabama A&M University, where he was serving as Vice President for Business and Finance.
He replaces Calvin Tregre '69, who retired after more than 44 years of service at Xavier.
His M.B.A. is from Tulane University. He also holds a B.S. in accounting from Bradley University, and several certifications in management from Harvard University, Hampton University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Johnson is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of Black Accountants, the Louisiana CPA Society, the Illinois CPA Society, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers, the National Association of College Auxiliary Services. He also serves as a peer reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Xavier Among Top Louisiana Colleges for Return of Investment
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana was named one of the top colleges and universities in Louisiana for "return on investment."
The list compiled by AffordableCollegesOnline ranks Xavier fifth in the state among colleges that the organization feels "balance cost with long-term earnings potential".
The organization used data from the Carnegie Foundation, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to measure net tuition/fees costs against wages released in PayScale.com's 2013 College Earnings Report.
Heading the list was Louisiana Tech, which had a Return on Investment (ROI) score of $804,000 with a tuition of $6,574. In comparison, Xavier had a ROI score of $535,900 and a tuition of $18,700.
Xavier was the highest rated of the two private schools on the list, which included only the top 13 of the 132 state schools reviewed.
Visit HERE for more details.
Committee Approves Faculty Promotions
New Orleans, La. - The Xavier University of Louisiana Rank and Tenure Committee and President Dr. Norman C. Francis have approved the promotions of 10 faculty members in eight disciplines for the 2013-2014 academic year, according to Dr. Loren Blanchard, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Three were promoted to full professorships: Dr. Galina Goloverda in chemistry, Dr. Elliott Hammer in psychology, and Dr. Joe Ricks in the Division of Business. Five others were promoted to the rank of associate professor: Dr. Amy Bellone-Hite in sociology, Dr. Vladimir Kolesnichenko and Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya in physics, Dr. Robin Vander in English, and Dr. Kun (Karen) Zhang in computer science.
Dr. Rondall Allen '92 and Dr. Joseph LaRochelle were both promoted to the rank of clinical associate professor in the College of Pharmacy's Division of Clinical and Administrative Sciences.
Goloverda, who holds a PhD in physical-organic chemistry from the Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry in Kiev (Ukraine), has been at Xavier for 14 years, teaching such courses as organic chemistry lecture/drill/lab, molecular structure and organic synthesis laboratory and advanced organic chemistry. Her research, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, has focused on the development of suitable organic coating for magnetic nanocrystalline materials to be used as targeted drug carriers, magnetic resonance imaging agents and cell labels.
Hammer teaches research methods, advanced research, cognitive psychology, and the psychology of stereotyping & prejudice. He is a co-Investigator on the Tulane-Xavier MHIRT program which sends students to developing countries to conduct biomedical research, and is a co-Investigator on an NSF-funded collaborative grant investigating psychological barriers to women pursuing STEM careers. He is also researching the social cognitive aspects of stereotypes with an emphasis on the effects on the target of prejudice. At Xavier since 2000, he holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Social Psychology from Tulane University.
Ricks, the J.P. Morgan Chase Professor of Sales and Marketing, also serves as chair of the Division of Business. He has been at Xavier 17 years, during which time he has taught various aspects of marketing, sales, and business management and analysis. He is currently involved in several initiatives for the division, including new programs in business pre-law, engineering management, and MBA. One of the inaugural Fellows for the new Norman C. Francis Leadership Institute, he holds a Ph.D. in business from LSU.
Bellone-Hite, the Times Picayune/Samuel Newhouse Professor of Sociology and the chair of the new Division of Social and Behavorial Sciences, holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University. Since coming to Xavier in 2004, her teaching has been concentrated in global and comparative sociology, inequality and gender. She is currently studying how Katrina inspired demographic change in New Orleans' labor markets and working with two colleagues on a new edition of an edited volume entitled The Globalization and Development Reader.
Kolesnichenko, in his ninth year at Xavier, holds a Ph.D. degree from the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry in Kiev, Ukraine. He teaches General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemistry of Materials. Current research projects focus on chemistry of transition metal cage compounds, studies that can help to develop novel imaging and labeling agents for biomedical applications, and materials for computer hard drive high-density memory.
Sunda-Meya has taught at Xavier since 2007 in the areas of physics, biophysics, quantum mechanics and analytical methods. His active research involves the manipulation of nanoparticles and cells using laser light, which could lead to the ability to manipulate objects down to molecular levels and thus opening up new avenues to exploit biological science and technology. He holds a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University,
Vander, who holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializes in the poetics of anthropology, ethnography, Carribbean and African Diaspora.
Zhang, who holds a Ph.D. from Tulane University, has been at XU since 2007. The junior faculty recipient of the 2010 Norman C. Francis Excellence in Scholarship Award, her current teaching and research interests include data mining, database, computer organization and architecture, bioinformatics, information integration, and knowledge representation and inference. She has served as a PI/Co-PI on research grants totaling approximately $1.5 million from various sources, and she has guided and supported the summer research of more than 20 undergraduate students.
Allen, currently serves as the COP Associate Dean for Student Affairs. He also remains active in the classroom by providing lectures in a Behavioral Pharmacy and Communications course and a Self-Care Therapeutics course. At XU since 2003, he previously served as Director of the Professional Experience Program and the Assistant Dean for Program Assessment. His research interests include student professionalism and factors that impact student performance in the pre-professional and professional curriculum. He holds a Pharm.D degree from Xavier.
LaRochelle teaches the pediatric content in the pharmacy curriculum (nutrition, pharmacokinetics, pathophysiology, disease state management) and the elective course in advanced pediatric pharmacotherapy. He also practices as a Clinical Specialist in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of New Orleans and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the LSU-Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. He holds a Pharm.D from the University of Maryland.
Communication Studies to Host Youth Camp Film Screening
New Orleans, LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Communication Studies will host a screening of short films produced by 2-Cent Summer Session: Media Arts Camp participants Monday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the XU University Center third floor ballroom.
Admission is free and the public invited.
2-Cent Entertainment, a youth education social enterprise, in connection with NOLA for LIFE, hosted 28 students this summer. The participants, ages 15-16, spent five weeks under the direction of 2-cent instructors at Xavier University learning basic concepts for digital media production under the five pillars of the NOLA FOR LIFE plan.
NOLA FOR LIFE is City of New Orleans' comprehensive murder reduction strategy to tackle the city's historically-high murder rate. Through hands-on learning, the students were placed in five teams to create short films that express their voices on how to best tackle the city's crime issues.
Xavier Designates Top Students as Rousseve Scholars
New Orleans LA - Thirty-four upperclassmen have been named Rousseve Scholars for the 2013-14 school year at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Students selected for the University's Rousseve Scholars Program generally represent the top ten (or more) students in the senior, junior and sophomore classes based on their academic performance the preceding two semesters. Each recipient receives a full tuition scholarship and a book allowance.
This year's recipients, grouped by their class, are listed below along with their majors, hometown and high school.
Fiske College Guide Tabs Xavier a 2014 Best Buy
New Orleans LA - The 2014 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges has tabbed Xavier University of Louisiana as among its "Best Buy Schools" for academics and affordability.
The publication has designated 41 such institutions – 20 public and 21 private – as "Best Buys." To qualify for the distinction, the colleges and universities must have a four- or five-star academic rating, be in the inexpensive or moderate price category, and have a good quality of student campus life.
Xavier is the only Louisiana university and one of only two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to make the list.
In its 25th year, the Fiske Guide to Colleges has provided millions of parents, counselors, and college-bound students with an independent perspective on the distinctive personalities of the best and most interesting colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain. The author, Edward B. Fiske, served for 17 years as education editor of the New York Times.
Other schools selected include: (private) Adelphi University, Brigham Young University, California Institute of Technology, Clark University, Cooper Union, Cornell College, Deep Springs College, Elon University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Olin College of Engineering, Rhodes College, Rice University, St. Olaf College, University of the South, Trinity University, Wabash College, Warren Wilson College, and The College of Wooster; (public) University of Edinburgh, The Evergreen State University, University of Florida, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Mary Washington, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, New College of Florida, University of North Carolina Asheville, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Purdue University, University of St. Andrews (UK), SUNY-Binghamton University, SUNY-College at Geneseo, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Xavier Reorganizes the College of Arts and Sciences
New Orleans LA - Effective July 1 the College of Arts and Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana will be reorganized from its present structure with seventeen departments and two divisions into a structure with six divisions, according to Dr. Loren Blanchard, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The six new divisions include Biological and Public Health Sciences (which houses the Department of Biology and the Department of Public Health Sciences); Business; Education and Counseling; Humanities and Fine Arts (which houses the Departments of Art, English, History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, and Theology); Mathematical and Physical Sciences (which includes the Departments of Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics); and Social and Behavioral Sciences (which includes Communication Studies, Mass Communications, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Speech Pathology).
Each division will be led by a Division Chair and an Associate Division Chair, and each department will be led by a Department Head.
"The new arrangement is designed to make operations of the various academic departments more efficient and effective in terms of leadership, interdisciplinary courses and programs, personnel and resources, and budgetary considerations," said Blanchard.
He said several factors went into the formation of the various divisions: similarity of discipline, enrollment balance, faculty balance, University mission and uniqueness of Xavier, the degree of efficiency and effectiveness gained by the reorganization, and the physical proximity of the disciplines.
Blanchard said the restructuring will not have any direct impact on the academic progress of any current students nor on their majors or advisors.
Leadership for the new Divisions will be provided by:
Biological and Public Health Sciences: Dr. Calvin Porter (chair)
Business: Dr. Joe Ricks (chair) and Dr. James Bartkus
Education and Counseling: Dr. Renee Akbar (chair) and Dr. Doug Athey
Humanities and Fine Arts: Dr. David Lanoue (chair) and Dr. Paul Schafer
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: Dr. Maryam Foroozesh (chair) and Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya
Social and Behavioral Sciences: Dr. Amy Bellone-Hite (chair) and Dr. Elliott Hammer.
Three Join Xavier Governing Board
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana added three new members to its Board of Trustees at the June meeting of the governing board. Joining the board were strategic marketing and business operations leader Mark D. Goodman, former university president Dr. Marie V. McDemmond, and civil rights leader Marc H. Morial.
Goodman, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Boyer's Coffee Company, located in Denver Colo., has served as a top executive in leading public and private backed companies that include Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, the McDonald's Corporation, and Goldman Sachs Private Equity. Prior to his current position, he served as Chief Executive Officer for the MG Capital Group.
McDemmond, a 1968 Xavier alumna, is President Emeritus of Norfolk State University, where she actively served as president from 1997 to 2006. Prior to her stint at NSU she served as Vice President for Finance at Florida Atlantic University. Previously she served in several administrative and financial positions at Atlanta University, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Emory University.
Morial, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Urban League since 2003, has compiled a successful career as an entrepreneur, lawyer, professor, legislator, and city administrator. A two-term mayor of the City of New Orleans, he started several successful small businesses, including an apparel wholesale company, a special events company, and a janitorial company. He has served as a state legislator and an adjunct faculty member at Xavier, which awarded him an honorary degree in 2002.
Active carryovers on the governing board, who are serving either their first or second terms, include: Sister Doris Blum, S.B.S. '55, Dwight Bush Sr., Dr. Dale Mason Cochran, Bishop Curtis John Guillory S.V.D. D.D., Carla Harris, Sister Stephanie Henry S.B.S., Dr. Toni Hoover, Gladstone Jones III, James Mitchell Jr., Sister Jane Norton, S.B.S., Sonia Perez, Sister Marianne Poole S.B.S., Sister Rita Radloff S.B.S., Mark Romig, Michael Rue (chair), Leo Sam, Jr. '52, Sister Barbara Specker S.B.S., Sister Patricia Suchalski S.B.S., Phyllis Taylor, and Janice F. Wilkins '67. XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis '52 is an ex-officio member on the Board.
Xavier Cited for Affordability, Starting Salaries Among Catholic Colleges
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is ranked number 13 in the Affordable CollegesOnline.org (ACO) website's list of the Top 36 Most Affordable Roman Catholic Colleges with High Starting Salaries.
XULA is the only predominantly Black and the only Louisiana college to make the list.
XULA, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is a historically Black Catholic institution of higher learning. The University aims to prepare its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society to bring about a more just and humane society. Xavier prides itself on offering a unique experience that relies on its rich Catholic heritage to provide a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates academics, research and community service.
Because of the its focus on St. Katharine's Catholic mission and ministry, the University has instituted the St. Katharine Drexel Scholarship program that offers free tuition to any valedictorian or salutatorian graduating from any Catholic High School in the United States.
"This recognition is exciting news and provides yet another wonderful example of the benefits of choosing Xavier University of Louisiana," said XULA President Dr. Norman C. Francis. "We remain committed to ensuring that students receive a great education and that upon completion, are able to successfully enter the workforce in their chosen career and receive a competitive starting salary. In these days when students and parents have a great deal of choice in selecting a particular college or university, the return on investment for the tuition paid is a critical factor and we are delighted to have been recognized as a leader in this area."
To compile its list, ACO reviewed four-year, fully-accredited private institutions with average
starting salaries for graduates of more than $30,000 per year. The website also looked at mid-career salary averages as well as the overall return on investment for the degree.
"In this climate of soaring higher education costs, prospective students should know that it's quite possible to obtain a great education that lands them a well-paying job" says ACO founder Dan Schuessler. "These Catholic schools leave with the skills and education needed to earn high starting salaries in great careers."
Felician College, a Franciscan college located in Lodi, N.J., took the top spot, with an estimated starting salary of $52,600 and a tuition of $18,237. Comparatively, Xavier's starting salary is $42,300 and tuition is $18,127.
One reason for the high starting salary may be attributed to the number of XULA students who graduate in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum, which typically pay higher than average for entry level positions.
As a matter of fact, The American Academy of Medical Colleges recognized XULA as one of the top schools that graduates the most African-American students who go on to earn their medical degrees; The National Science Foundation ranks XULA as fifth on its list in the nation in producing African American graduates who go on to receive science and engineering PhDs, first in the nation in producing African American graduates who go on to receive life sciences PhDs., and seventh in the nation in producing African-American graduates who go on to receive physical sciences PhDs; more than 45 percent of XULA students go on to graduate or professional school; XULA is one of the top producers of African Americans with Doctor of Pharmacy Degrees; and 100 percent of its education majors pass the National Teachers' Exam before graduation.
In compiling their list, AC Online analyzed and leveraged authoritative data sets from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Carnegie Classification and Payscale.com. Visit HERE to view the entire list.
Xavier Connects to the Louisiana Optical Network
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana has joined to the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI), the state-of-the-art, fiber optics network that connects Louisiana and Mississippi research universities to one another as well as national networks.
A ceremonial ribbon-cutting will be held Friday, June 7, at 5:30 p.m. in front of the NCF Science Complex, marking the official switch over to the LONI network.
The LONI connection, funded through a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation in collaboration with the Louisiana Board of Regents, has doubled bandwidth at the University and significantly ratcheted up internet speeds on campus, providing faculty and students with increased potential for collaboration through video conferencing and distance learning opportunities. Additionally, faculty will be able to conduct research via LONI providing them with grid computing capabilities, increased data storage and transfer, and modeling/simulation and visualization capabilities.
"This represents a significant upgrade to Xavier's technology base and will be a boon to our ongoing efforts to increase the number of underrepresented minority students engaged in high performance computing activities in the state," said Xavier President Norman C. Francis. "This project will continue to build on Xavier's national reputation for sending students to graduate and professional schools, thereby creating a pipeline of well-qualified underrepresented minority students interested in computational science in Louisiana."
In addition to providing funding to support fiber construction for Xavier's physical connection to LONI, NSF funding is supporting research and educational programming to develop high performance computing expertise for Xavier's faculty and students. Over the past two years, Xavier faculty and students have forged active research relationships with computational researchers throughout the state in bioinformatics, physics, mathematics, and materials science research.
Xavier has increased the number of computer science courses and additional existing courses will be modified and enhanced by computational content. The project has supported over 23 undergraduate student research projects in the fields of computer science, chemistry, and physics. In addition, over 30 of Xavier's faculty and students have attended on-campus seminars on computational topics and two faculty members have attended national and regional HPC computing training sessions.
LONI connects Louisiana's major research universities – including LSU, Louisiana Tech, the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Southern, Tulane, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and the University of New Orleans - allowing greater collaboration on research that produces results faster and with greater accuracy. LONI provides Louisiana researchers with one of the most advanced optical networks in the country and the most powerful distributed supercomputer resources available to any academic community with over 85 teraflops of computational capacity.
LONI connects Louisiana to the National LambdaRail, allowing the state's researchers to collaborate with scientists around the country and the world on major initiatives. Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco committed $40 million throughout a 10-year period to fund and advance LONI.
LONI connects supercomputers at the participating universities and other computing resources throughout Louisiana, and centers around a 50-teraflops supercomputer called Queen Bee. Located in the state Information Systems Building in downtown Baton Rouge, Queen Bee is the core cluster of LONI and one of the Top 50 supercomputers in the world. The supercomputer's name comes from a nickname of former Governor Blanco, and it was named to honor her commitment to building LONI during her administration.
624 Scholars Make Spring 2013 Dean's List
New Orleans LA - A total of 624 student scholars made the Dean's List at Xavier University of Louisiana during the spring 2013 semester, according to XU Registrar Avis Stuard.
Students merited a spot on the honor roll by earning a semester grade point average of 3.3 or above while taking at least 12 semester hours. The honor students listed below are grouped by major and include their classifications, high schools and/or (hometowns). Unless otherwise noted, the latter is New Orleans.
The complete lists are available at College of Arts & Sciences / College of Pharmacy.
National Science Foundation Report Confirms
XU Science Success
New Orleans LA - A report released by the National Science Foundation confirms Xavier University of Louisiana's success in educating science graduates.
According to the report Xavier is ranked 5th in the nation in producing African American graduates who go on to receive science and engineering PhDs, 1st in the nation in producing African American graduates who go on to receive life sciences PhDs., and 7th in the nation in producing African American graduates who go on to receive physical sciences PhDs.
Visit HERE to view the entire report.
ACBSP Reaffirms Business Accreditation
(New Orleans LA) - The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Business has received reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
The accreditation reaffirmation confirms the division has met or exceeds the ACBSP's standards in six critical areas: leadership, strategic planning, student and stakeholder focus, measurement and analysis of student learning and performance, faculty and staff focus, and educational and business process management. The affirmation is effective through 2023.
"Going through the entire three-year process from self-study to site visit was a really great experience; we learned a great deal about ourselves as a division," said Dr. Joe Ricks, chair of the Division of Business, which first received accreditation in 2003. The site visit was held this past spring.
522 Receive Degrees at Xavier Commencement
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana's first commencement on campus since 1983 saw 522 graduates receive their degrees in the University's new Convocation Center.
During the previous 29 years Xavier had held its commencement in various city venues – most recently the Kiefer Lakefront Arena and the New Orleans Arena – following a torrential rainstorm that marred the then traditional outdoor ceremony in 1983. Until construction of the CC, there was no facility on campus large enough to hold the anticipated crowds.
At the commencement, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, a 1979 Xavier graduate, delivered a stirring commencement address and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Science.
Three students – Krista Burton, a physics major from Jonesboro GA; Megan Haynes, a political science major from New Orleans; and Duy Nguyen. a pharmacy student from Lafayette LA – headed this year's group of summa cum laude graduates with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
Twenty others also graduated with summa cum laude honors, including: (BA) Megan Haynes and Uchenna Onwuegbusi; (BS) Peter Baham, Krista Burton, Nnenia Clark, Jessica Cooper, Danny Giang, LaTasha Henderson, Tuyet-Trinh Nguyen, Kaylise Trahan, Mia Ward, and Schulyer Williams; and (PhD) Jonn Bailey, Stefani Breaux, Breannie Charles, Queenet Ibekweh, Courtney Jason, Duy Nguyen, Jennifer Pellittieri, Danielle Ricks, Deann Vessel, Leigh Vidrine, and Demetria White.
Another nine earned graduate degree honors, including: (MA) Jawan Alexander, Reginald Browhow, Diana Marshall, Emily McAveeney, Evonne Mitchell, and Christopher Perriatt; and (MAT): Jessica Baker, Aaron Harrison, and Michelle White.
Visit HERE for the complete list of 2013 graduates.
Seniors Presented Top University Service Awards at XU Baccalaureate
New Orleans LA – Kaylise Trahan and Sharae Celestine were named recipients of Xavier University of Louisiana's two most coveted senior service awards at the 2013 Baccalaureate Mass and Honors Convocation.
Trahan, a biology/pre-med major from Lafayette LA (Comeaux High), was presented the St. Katharine Drexel Award; while Celestine, a biology/premed major from Opelousas LA (Opelousas High), was presented the Mother Agatha Ryan Award.
They topped a list of graduating seniors receiving awards at the Baccalaureate ceremony and the College of Pharmacy banquet, including:
General University Awards and Honors:
The Victor H. Labat Award – Nnenia Clark
The National Knights of Peter Claver Awards – (the Gilbert Faustina Award) Endia Blunt, (the Louis Isreal Award) Vanencia Lynch, and (the Alphonse Pierre Auguste Award) Chioma Obih.
The Sister Thea Bowman Award – DeriAnne Meilleur
The Sister Beatrice Jeffries Student Life Leadership and Service Award – Felice Gaddis.
The William H. Mitchell Christian Leadership Award – Jarvis Lewis
The Walter J. Barker, Sr. Award – Shenitria Lewis-Myles.
Music Awards – (the St. Cecilia Award) Dedrian Hogan and (the Sister Elise Sisson Award) Crystal Morris.
University Service Keys – Peter Baham, Blake Grey, Denitra Harris, Lawrence Jackson, Taylor Martin, Skyler Quintero, Jonathan Shaw, Jennifer Smith, Marvin Stewart, Terrance Thompson, Ashley Trussell, and Gerard Williams.
Pharmacy Award for Academic Excellence – Duy Nguyen.
Pharmacy Award for Outstanding Leadership – Chioma Obih.
Pharmacy Award for Patient Care Communication – Derrick Bradley.
Pharmacy Award for Excellence in Research – Brittany Singleton.
Outstanding Faculty Recognized at XU Graduation
New Orleans LA – Six Xavier University of Louisiana faculty members were honored during commencement for their extraordinary performance in the areas of teaching, service, and scholarship.
The winners of the 2013 Norman C. Francis Faculty Excellence Awards were: Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching: (junior faculty) Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya in physics and (senior faculty) Dr. Susan Fitch Spillman in languages.
Faculty Excellence Award in Service: (junior faculty) Dr. John Okogbaa in pharmacy and (senior faculty) Dr. Rosalind Hale in education.
Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarship: (junior faculty) Dr. Harris McFerrin, Jr. in biology and (senior faculty) Dr. Guangdi Wang in chemistry.
Initiated in 2009, the Faculty Excellence Awards are designed to honor both the "junior" faculty members (those who have served as XU for seven years or less) and "senior" faculty members (more than seven years of service. The award includes a monetary gift of $5,000 – which is split evenly between the award recipient and his/her academic department/division/college – and a medallion.
Out the Door in Four Program Hits the Mark
New Orleans LA - An academic enrichment and support program designed to increase the number of Xavier University of Louisiana students who not only successfully earn degrees but do so in as close as possible to the traditional standard of four years, has apparently hit the mark.
Initiated in 2009, the University's "Out the Door in 4" program began with 24 students recruited from that year's Freshman Seminar classes. This month, when Xavier holds its annual commencement, seven of those students will walk across the stage right on target (four years), while another six are on track to graduate either this December or in May 2014. Five others are either currently enrolled in the College of Pharmacy or have been accepted for next fall.
The program's 75% retention rate and anticipated 70% graduation rate are both significantly higher than the University's overall five-year retention (53%) and five-year graduation rates (43%). The percentages might have been even higher had not six students withdrawn from the University for personal reasons – more often than not for financial considerations.
"We are very proud of all of these students," said Pearl Algere-Lonian, assistant vice president for scholarship and special programs, who along with Dr. Pamela Franco, an executive associate in the Office of Academic Affairs, oversees the program. "This is in no sense a program for elite students; the students represent a good cross section of that freshman class in variety of disciplines and varying academic backgrounds, including some who required developmental courses."
Those on target to graduate this May include: Chelsea Conrad, a biology/premed major from Baton Rouge LA (Baton Rouge Magnet); Nichelle Cox, a psychology major from Pomona CA (Bonita High); Sunseray Joseph, a political science major from Charenton LA (West St. Mary High); Bryan Lucky-Heard, a business/management major from Hackensack NJ (Hackensack High); Nikki Odofin, a psychology/premed major from Romulus MI (Romulus High); Ashley Trussell, a chemistry/premed major from Jackson MS (Murrah High); and Sharonda Washington, a biology/premed from Opelousas LA (Opelousas LA).
While most of the programs key elements – careful monitoring and charting of each student's academic progress, a full arsenal of educational support techniques including, study skills, time management, and the utilization of labs and tutorial services – are geared to academics, the overall Xavier "experience" is not overlooked.
"Our message to the students is that all of the desired extra and co-curricular experiences can be had in four years," said Algere-Lonian. "The students in this inaugural cohort have had summer research opportunities, internships, and study abroad experiences, all while being mindful of the benefits of staying focused on the ultimate goal of graduation."
During the course of four years, the students are exposed to successful professionals and speakers, attend plays and concerts, and participate in other various other cultural events.
That aspect of the program was not lost on the participants themselves, including Odofin (the current Miss Xavier) and Trussel (the current Student Government Association president), both of whom aspired to and where elected to key leadership roles on campus.
"There was always someone there for us whenever we needed anything and they made sure we stayed on track academically," said Odofin. "But it was the social and cultural outings that I really appreciated. I've had so many experiences that I never would have sought out on my own."
Trussell agrees.
"The support and encouragement we have received for the past four years has been amazing," she said. "Plus I think our little group of randomly-selected freshmen has developed into a rather closely-knit group of friends over the years."
Another basic premise of the program that is not lost on the participants are the financial considerations.
"While the ultimate goal is to graduate, the financial advantages of graduating in four or five years cannot be overstressed," said Algere-Lonian. "Many of these students will pursue professional and graduate studies, and by not extending their undergraduate studies, they will end up with much less student loan debt."
Case in point, all seven May graduates have committed to pursuing advanced degrees in health professional or graduate schools.
Now that inaugural trial has proven successful, the future of the program is in flux. Franco said she and Algere-Lonian are considering whether to continue the program as is with a new group from next fall's freshman class, or to limit the program to the first two years of college in order to service more students.
"Once the students have become acclimated to college life and established good study habits, we feel confident they can handle whatever challenges lie ahead," she said. "The first two years are the most critical ones."
U.S. Surgeon General, XU Alum to Address 2013 Xavier Graduates
New Orleans LA - U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin will deliver the commencement address at Xavier University of Louisiana's 86th annual graduation ceremony Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Convocation Center. It will be the University's first commencement on campus since 1983.
Benjamin, a 1979 Xavier graduate, is expected to address more than 550 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional students and their families at the commencement ceremony. She will receive an honorary degree.
For the past 29 years Xavier has held its commencement in various city venues, most recently the Kiefer Lakefront Arena and the New Orleans Arena. Earlier commencements, traditionally, had been held outdoors in the campus Quad. However, torrential rains in 1983 prompted the decision to hold all future events indoors even though there was no facility on campus large enough to hold the anticipated crowds. The new Convocation Center has addressed that problem.
"Commencement is always an extraordinary time for Xavier, and bringing the exercises back to campus will certainly make very special," said XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
The annual Baccalaureate Mass and Honors Convocation will be held the preceding evening, Friday (May 10), at 6:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center. The Very Rev. James Pawlicki SVD will be the homilist at the Baccalaureate, while former XU trustee and retired Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon SVD will be the celebrant.
Xavier Students Off to Summer Camp in China
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana, through its Confucius Institute – the first such institute in the State of Louisiana and the nation's HBCUs – will send a group of 10 undergraduate, graduate, and College of Pharmacy students to China May 14-29.
The students, who all studied the Mandarin language during the regular spring semester at Xavier, will receive further intensive Chinese language training in China, while gaining exposure to Chinese culture and history, such as attending seminars on folk music, painting, history, culture, calligraphy, and paper cutting.
The student group includes six undergraduates (Ahmeena Anderson, Avion Bailey, Leonard Clay Jr., Ajhia Ellis, A'Vanti Glenn, and Sheldon Maurice), two graduate students (Joseph Hicks and Sheridon Trepagnier IV), and two pharmacy students (Adina Ewing and Jazmine Thompson). The students will be accompanied during the trip by Shu Peng, administrative specialist at the Confucius Institute at Xavier, as well as Dr. Lori Crawford from the XU College of Pharmacy.
While in China, the students will visit Beijing and Baoding, the city where Xavier's partner school Hebei University is located. In addition, they will visit the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, Confucius Institute Headquarters, and the Great Wall in or near Beijing, and a famous stone tomb of the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE) and the governor's mansion of the Qing dynasty (19th dynasty) in Baoding.
Students will also have the opportunity to interact with students of Hebei University, and enjoy Chinese food, learn Taichi, and view theatrical art.
All costs for food, lodging, cultural excursions, and transportation in China will be covered by Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing. Most students will also receive substantial financial aid to cover their international travel.
For more information on the Confucius Institute at Xavier visit www.xula.edu/confucius, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 504-520-7237.
XU Confucius Institute Hosts Colloquium; Presents at Local Events
New Orleans LA – The Confucius Institute at Xavier University of Louisiana will host a colloquium "Enjoying Chinese and African Art" May 9 in the University Center Room 201.
Top experts on Chinese and African art in the New Orleans region will discuss innovative strategies and approaches in presenting such art in museums so that visitors will not only both learn and enjoy viewing African and Chinese works.
It's the beginning of a busy month for the Confucius Institute, which will also represent China at the World's Fair at Louisiana Children's Museum May 11 and present at the Audubon Zoo's Asian Heritage Festival May 25.
The colloquium includes formal presentations, starting at 9:00 a.m., by Dr. Yu Jiang, Director of the Confucius Institute; Dr. Mora Beauchamp-Byrd, XU assistant professor of Art History; MaPo Kinnord-Payton, XU associate professor of Art at Xavier University; Lisa Rodondo-McCord, deputy director for Curatorial Affairs & Curator of Asian Art; Bill Fagaly, emeritus curator of African Art New Orleans Museum of Art; Dr. David Riep, SUNO assistant professor of Museum Studies; and Adwale Adenle, Texas Tech visiting assistant professor of Drawing and Painting.
In the afternoon, participants will be invited to tour the New Orleans Museum of Art, with both admission fees paid, and an opportunity to listen to Chinese and African art experts talking about the collection in the museum.
World's Fair
The Confucius Institute will collaborate with Sandra Pierre-Kazi, President & CEO of New Orleans Worldwide Concepts Vacations, to represent China at the World's Fair at Louisiana Children's Museum.
Four Great Inventions of China, including compass, paper making, print making, and gun power, will be presented in line with this year's STEM (Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics) theme of the World's Fair.
In addition to text, illustrations, and interactive sessions on these four inventions, there will be demonstrations on Chinese calligraphy and painting, and paper making. A Chinese abacus training and contest (as well as prizes) will be held during the event, as will food tasting.
There will be lanterns, bookmarks, dragon masks, zodiac wheel, quizzes, and balloons to enrich the various activities, while Chinese dancing, instrumental art, and vocal art will be performed.
Asian Heritage Festival
The Confucius Institute will present the achievements of Xavier students in learning Mandarin Chinese, and multiple aspects of Chinese culture and language at the Asian Heritage Festival. The presentation will include posters about Xavier, the Mandarin program on campus, Chinese history and culture, and a Chinese calligraphy demonstration. There will also be interactive activities. Confucius Institute will also manage the Children's tent at the festival.
For more information on the Confucius Institute at Xavier or to learn more about the future events, visit www.xula.edu/confucius, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 504-520-7237.
Local High School Students Win XU Business Idea Competition
New Orleans, LA – Three area students took home top honors in The Entrepreneurship Institute of Xavier University of Louisiana's 2nd Annual Business Idea Competition.
Andreanna Atkins, a junior at Lusher Charter School, was declared the winner for her business concept entitled Educate the World. Runners-up were Jordan Harris and Daren Scioneaux of St. Augustine High School with their idea of UNICO/UTV, and Brandon LeBlanc of St. Augustine High School for Ultimate Cuts. The winner received $400 and the runners-up each received $150.
"We've seen a 70 percent increase in applications, and students from more high schools participated in the competition this year," says Mark Quinn, Director of Xavier's Entrepreneurship Institute. "We're hoping to see even more students participate next year."
The goal of the competition is to expose New Orleans area high school students to entrepreneurship as a viable career option, and to inform them about the support that is available to them.
Sponsors of the competition are the Xavier University Entrepreneurship Institute; Xavier's Enactus Team; Capital One Bank; and the Louisiana Small Business Development Centers. The applications were judged by Xavier students and faculty, as well as representatives of the Small Business Administration, Capital One Bank and the Louisiana Small Business Development Centers.
Plans are under way for next year's competition. Teachers, high school students, parents and interested parties are encouraged to contact Xavier's Entrepreneurship Institute at firstname.lastname@example.com for information on how to participate.
Xavier to Host Presentation on Transition to Entrepreneur
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Business will host a presentation, entitled "Making Bold Moves – Moving from Employee to Entrepreneur" on Wednesday, April 24, in the Convocation Center Annex. The presentation starts at 6:00 p.m.
The discussion will provide insight into the opportunity and transition from employee to entrepreneur, specifically from the perceptive of an established entrepreneur. The featured speaker is William S. Parrish, author of Making Bold Moves: Creating Multimillion-Dollar Success in 500 Days or Less! and the President/CEO of NobleStrategy LLC.
"The idea of transitioning from an employee to an entrepreneur is a common thought. Students today constantly want to take charge, and they are the future. Therefore, 'Making Bold Moves' could ignite a fire in students that they didn't see in themselves before" said Mark Quinn, Entrepreneur professor at Xavier University of Louisiana.
This event is free and open to the public. Interested people should RSVP by viewing the invitation HERE.
Xavier Celebrates National Library Week
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Library Resource Center will celebrate National Library Week April 15-19 with a series of events with the theme "Community Matters @ Your Library".
Two key events scheduled are a public reading of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail – commemorating the 50th Anniversary – at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (April 15), and an Open House on Thursday (April 18) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Xavier's Art Gallery and Library.
Library tours and database training will compliment the event schedule, which includes:
Monday April 15
Book Read Out, Jim Thiebaud
Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American
Library 400F 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 16
50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail
Public Reading by Library faculty/staff: Marilyn Lee (coordinator), Phyllis Calvin, Elizabeth Elmwood, Esperanda Johnson, Eric Joseph, Johnanna White, and Michele Woods.
Library 400F 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Wednesday April 17
Lavon Williams, Head of Special Collections New Orleans Main Public Library Book Read Out and Inaugural Book Club collaboration Michele Woods
Library 1st Floor 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Book Read Out Marilyn Lee and Michele Woods
My Story, My Song: Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith by Lucimarian Roberts with reflections by Robin Roberts
Library 400F 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Thursday April 18
Library Open House
Library & Art Gallery 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Program 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Alice Roy (prayer), Phyllis Calvin (poetry), Dr. Mark Gstohl "Free Libraries", Irwin Lachoff (reading passage - Centennial by James A. Michener), and Michele Woods, (poetry reading- "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson).
Friday April 19
National Library Week Closing event Cultural and Literary Evening featuring Book Read Out with Sandra Monroe and Karma Williams Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation, plus poetry, spoken word, and music
Art Gallery 12:45 to 3:45 p.m.
For more info, contact Michelle Woods at email@example.com or (504) 520-7584.
Louisiana "Chinese Bridge" Contest Held at Xavier
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Confucius Institute hosted a local screening for the 6th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students March 27.
With tremendous support from their families, five students from three schools, including Metairie Park Country Day School, Ben Franklin High School, and International High School of New Orleans, participated in the contest. The competition had three parts: self-selected topic speech, Chinese cultural knowledge, and talent show. The students showcased their language and music talent as well as their knowledge about Chinese culture through these steps.
Georgia Bourderionnet from Ben Franklin High School won the first place and will represent Louisiana in the Chinese Houston Consulate District on April 21. Xavier's own student Briana Edwards, who is studying Mandarin through the Confucius Institute, will participate in the 12th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Houston. The costs of travel for the students are covered by the Houston Consulate. Professor Rongyao Wen, Associate Director of Xavier's Confucius Institute, will lead the two students for the Houston trip.
The 1st prize winner (college level) will represent Houston Consulate District (including eight U.S. Southern states and Porto Rico) to go to China and take the quarter finals of the 12th "Chinese Bridge" contest; the 2nd prize winners will travel to China to watch the contest. Similarly, the 1st prize winner (secondary school level) will represent Houston Consulate District to take the quarter finals of the 6th "Chinese Bridge" competition, while the 2nd and 3rd prize winners may have the opportunities to watch the contest in China.
Xavier to Host a Top Performance Team from China April 19
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana will host the Three Tours Chinese music and dancing team from Nanchang University in a joint concert with its own Department of Music April 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the University Center's Mary & William McCaffrey Ballroom.
The concert is free and the public is invited.
Entitled "Joy, Fun, and Inspiration: Chinese Folk Performance and New Orleans Music", the concert will feature traditional Chinese instruments, vocals, operas, and dancing. Among the selections to be performed by the 20-member Nanchang team will be a flute solo Skylark, a Erhu solo The Harvest of Grapes, a cucurbit flute solo Marriage Vows, the dances Years of Affluence, Jasmine, and Flowers, the Jiangxi Martial Opera Uproar in Heaven, and the vastly popular Facemask Changing.
Individual students, faculty, and musical ensembles from the XU Department of Music will also perform.
"This concert will showcase the talents of both Xavier and Nanchang University students and faculty, as well as illustrate the beautiful diversity and wonder that different cultures can bring to the world," said Dr. Yu Jiang, Director of the Confucius Institute at Xavier. He said that the Institute plans to host additional cultural activities in the future as part of its mission to contribute to an increased understanding between the peoples of the United States and China.
About Three Tours
The Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing (China) organizes domestic colleges and universities to visit Confucius Institutes during major festivals and celebrations to carry out the "Three Tours" activities, including performance tour, teaching material exhibition tour, and culture lecture tour.
The Three Tours activity from Nanchang University falls into the performance tour category, which is very popular worldwide because of its excellent performing acts.
The process of choosing the team to participate in Three Tours activities is quite rigorous. Typically, a university organizes members of its own performances, or integrates several institutions into one composite team, and submits video, images, and text materials to Confucius Institute Headquarters for review by external experts. Site visits and endorsements by foreign partner schools may be necessary for ensuring that a school team is chosen for participating in Three Tours.
During each tour, a performance team will visit several Confucius Institutes. Xavier is among four U.S. Confucius Institutes which will host the team from Nanchang University in 2013.
About Nanchange University
Nanchang University is a national, comprehensive university in China. It is located south of the Yangtze River and in the provincial capital of Jiangxi Province that is reputed to be capital of porcelain (china). The University has over 80,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
About Xavier
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, co-educational institution offering a comprehensive liberal arts program and professional programs, including 38 undergraduate majors, five master's degree programs and a doctor of pharmacy program. Xavier is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the United States and draws students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, the Virgin Islands and 7 foreign countries.
For more information contact Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans LA 70125, Phone: 504-520-7568, Fax 504-520-7933.
U.S. Surgeon General, XU Alum to Address 2013 Xavier Graduates
New Orleans LA – U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin will deliver the commencement address at Xavier University of Louisiana's 86th annual graduation ceremony Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Convocation Center. It will be the University's first commencement on campus since 1983.
Benjamin, a 1979 Xavier graduate, is expected to address more than 550 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional students and their families at the commencement ceremony. She will receive an honorary degree.
For the past 29 years Xavier has held its commencement in various city venues, most recently the Kiefer Lakefront Arena and the New Orleans Arena. Earlier commencements, traditionally, had been held outdoors in the campus Quad. However, torrential rains in 1983 prompted the decision to hold all future events indoors even though there was no facility on campus large enough to hold the anticipated crowds. The new Convocation Center has addressed that problem.
"Commencement is always an extraordinary time for Xavier, and bringing the exercises back to campus will certainly make very special," said XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
The annual Baccalaureate Mass and Honors Convocation will be held the preceding evening, Friday (May 10), at 6:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
Dr. Regina Benjamin
Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, a 1979 graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America's Doctor, she promotes good health and disease prevention based on up-to-date information and scientific research. Her care and concern reaches beyond individuals and the public health of the nation to the operational command of 6,500 uniformed public health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote and protect the health of the American People.
From her commitment as the founder of a rural health clinic in Alabama – which she kept in operation despite damage and destruction inflicted by hurricanes Georges (1998) and Katrina (2005) and a devastating fire (2006) – to her worldwide advancement of preventive health care, Benjamin has forged a career that has been recognized by a broad spectrum of organizations and publications.
In addition to her B.S. in chemistry from Xavier, she holds an M.D. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an MBA from Tulane University. She attended Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency in Macon, Ga. Dr. Benjamin is the recipient of 18 honorary degrees.
A former associate dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile and past chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Benjamin was the first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She served as president of the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation and chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. In 2002, she became the first African-American female president of a state medical society in the United States when she assumed leadership of the Medical Association State of Alabama.
A member of the Institute of Medicine (the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences) and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, she was chosen as a Kellogg National Fellow and a Rockefeller Next Generation Leader. Past board memberships include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the Catholic Health Association, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.
She was named by Time magazine as one of the "Nation's 50 Future Leaders Age 40 and Under." She was featured in the 1995 New York Times article, "Angel in a White Coat;" the December 1999 cover of Clarity magazine; in the 2002 People magazine's article, "Always on Call;" and was featured on the January 2003 cover of Reader's Digest as one of the national publication's"Everyday Heroes." She was also named "Person of the Week" on ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and "Woman of the Year' by CBS This Morning.
Xavier Jazz Festival to Hold Court at the Old Mint
New Orleans LA - The Xavier University of Louisiana 'Department of Music's annual Jazz Festival, a three-day event which highlights various genres of the Jazz art form through performances, clinics, workshops and lectures, will have an exciting new venue this year: the Old U.S. Mint in the historic French Quarter.
Scheduled for April 16-18, this year's festival will feature three evening concerts and a day devoted to various clinics, workshops and lectures by various local and national Jazz artists. Among the artists participating are Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Brass Band, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and his group, and the internationally recognized saxophonist Donald Harrison.
All night events will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Old U.S. Mint. Clinics/Workshops begin at noon, 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, in the Xavier Music Recital Hall. All events are free and open to the Public.
The purpose of the Xavier Jazz Festival is expose the News Orleans community to a varied range of jazz related concerts and clinics/workshops and provide them with a more sophisticated insight into the artistry and effort which goes into the creation of the music and the making of Jazz Greats. The programing and presentations are structured with a broad audience in mind, ranging from local junior/senior high school musicians to college students, to professionals.
The schedule of events follows:
April 16
Traditional Jazz: Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Brass Band
Old Mint, 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Michael White, a New Orleans born traditional Jazz musician and historian, is recognized internationally as a lecturer, historian and musician presenting the music and history of original New Orleans Traditional Jazz. He is a graduate of Xavier University and is currently a professor of Spanish. The Original Liberty Brass Band has received numerous performance awards and has traveled the globe presenting New Orleans Traditional Jazz in most of the world's leading jazz festivals.
April 17
Contemporary Jazz: Delfeayo Marsalis
Old Mint, 7:00 p.m.
New Orlean's own, jazz trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, has toured internationally with legendary jazz artists Art Blakey, Abdullah Ibrahim, Elvin Jones, Slide Hampton and Max Roach, as well as touring with his own modern jazz ensemble. During a tour with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, he was filmed as part of the Ken Burns documentary on Jazz. A mainstay on the New Orleans modern jazz scene, he has released three solo albums to critical acclaim.
April 18 (day)
Clinic/Workshop/Guest Lectures
Xavier Music Recital Hall, Noon, 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
(Noon) Dr. Michael White discusses various aspects and nuances performed in Traditional New Orleans Jazz; (1:00 p.m.); Delfeayo Marsalis discusses various aspects of modern jazz improvisation, focusing on theoretical concepts and ear training; and (2:00 p.m.) Donald Harrison discusses theoretical devices and techniques used in approaching advanced jazz improvisation.
April 18 (evening)
Xavier University Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Donald Harrison
Old Mint, 7:00 p.m.
Xavier Offers Session on New State Educational Standards
New Orleans LA - The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Education & Counseling and the Departments of Mathematics and English will host a Parent Informational Session about the new state education standards and assessments Saturday, April 20, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Room 111 of the Convocation Annex (corner of Washington Ave. and Fern St.).
At the session, which is free and open to the public, parents will hear from content specialists about the expectations of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that will replace the GLEs and the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum, as well as the new assessments that will replace LEAP and ILeap. A special education expert will also be available to advise parents with special needs children.
The Common Core is a set of educational benchmarks developed by leaders in education and the National Governors Association which have been adopted in 45 states, including Louisiana. Rather than impose curriculum on schools, the Common Core sets student performance standards that slowly build upon themselves year after year. As early as Kindergarten, students will begin developing the basic skills that will make them college and career ready.
Each state has leeway to redraft the standards as it sees fit, but as a whole, national Common Core implementation will establish a relatively uniform set of standards across the country, making it easier for families to move their children between schools and creating new opportunities for collaboration between educators all over the country.
All public schools in Louisiana are required to use curricula aligned with state standards. Most public schools and districts use curricula developed by the Louisiana Department of Education. The Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum (LCC) includes 75 courses in the core areas of English, math, science and social studies.
Louisiana administers state assessments in the four core content areas in grades 3-8 and End-of-Course tests in high school. The state participates in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a 24-state consortium working together to develop next-generation K-12 assessments in English and math. The state is committed to administering the PARCC assessments in 2014-2015.
The state has developed an implementation plan to prepare students and teachers and to ease the transition to the more rigorous new standards and assessments. The implementation plan outlined in the paragraphs below includes one year of preparation followed by two years of implementation of transitional curriculum and assessments before full implementation of the new standards and PARCC assessments in 2014-2015.
For more information contact Dr. Renee Akbar, XU Division of Education at 504-52-7536.
Team Xavier Heads for Honda Campus All-Star Challenge
New Orleans LA – If their performance in the preliminaries is any indication, look for Xavier University of Louisiana's Quiz Bowl team to make waves at the 2013 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge when it convenes in Torrance CA April 7-8.
Team Xavier is coming off a big win in the Texas Invitational Tournament at Prairie View A&M, where they defeated five fellow HBCU's (Historically black Colleges and Universities – including Alcorn State, Grambling State, Langston College, Mississippi Valley State, and Prairie View A&M. Honda allows all teams planning to compete in the national challenge to participate in a pre-tournament (regional) event.
The team, coached Darryl Keller, Jr., includes Javon Bracy, McKenzie Moses, Kirkland Penro, Jessica Piernas, Skyler Quintero, and Meggan Simien. Nekita Bannister-Lee serves as XU's institutional representative.
Xavier has participated in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge – an intense academic competition among the best and brightest students from Historically Black Colleges ad Universities (HBCUs) – 21 out of 24 years starting in 1992-93 season. Through the years, the University has been awarded more than $75,000 in grants during the competition. In addition, Xavier was presented the 2012 Community Service for partnering with Lafayette Charter Academy to tutor kids with after school program.
This year's tournament is expected to draw 48 schools from 18 states.
For more about the Honda Campus Quiz Bowl, visit http://www.hcasc.com.
Xavier, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Forge Partnership
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) have signed a formal agreement of inter-institutional collaboration in the field of mental health education.
The agreement formalizes continued discussions and strategic planning to explore opportunities for future academic and educational collaborations in graduate professional psychology, including, but not limited to: doctoral and/or masters programs in clinical psychology, school psychology, forensic psychology, applied behavior analysis, and business psychology.
The nonbinding memorandum was officially ratified by XU President Norman C. Francis and TCSPP President Dr. Michelle Nealon-Woods during a campus ceremony
"It is no secret that the mental health service needs in the New Orleans area are great, as they are throughout this country," said Dr. Francis. "Through this joint effort we hope to address some of those needs by providing new, young professionals with the finest undergraduate and graduate psychology training experience possible."
"We foresee this collaboration as being one of mutual benefit to both institutions, as well as to our respective communities," he added.
"We are excited to partner with an outstanding institution such as Xavier, and the prospect of making available to these students and others in the new Orleans area, opportunities for graduate education in professional psychology," stated Dr. Nealon-Woods. "As higher learning institutions, we embrace the values of diversity and inclusion as well as a commitment to work with communities to increase the number of mental health experts."
TCSPP is very familiar with the quality of Xavier students. In the past two years seven Xavier graduates have entered graduate programs at TCSPP across its three campuses, and already this year at least two more students have applied and are awaiting acceptance for Fall 2013.
Xavier to Host Presentation on Doing Business in China
New Orleans, LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Business and the Confucius Institute will cohost a presentation, "Road to Beijing – Key Lessons on Doing Business With China" Wednesday, March 20, in the Convocation Center Annex.
The reception starts at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation at 6:30 p.m. The event is part of Spring Business Week at Xavier University, an annual event during which business topics are profiled.
"China is a major economic force and market and we believe that it is important for the New Orleans business community to be informed about how to approach it successfully" said Joe Ricks, Chair of the Division of Business.
"We are excited about our partnership with the Division of Business in offering this presentation and sharing China's rich culture with the business community," added Yu Jiang, Director of the Confucius Institute at Xavier.
The discussion will provide insight into how China's economic development will bring potential marketing opportunities for American business, such as pharmaceutical products. The featured speaker is Karl Turner, President of A La Carte Specialty Foods, LLC, a Westwego company that exports to China.
The event is free and open to the public. Reservations may be made online HERE or calling (504) 520-7505. Seating is limited so reservations are strongly recommended.
Xavier Earns CNCS President's Community Service Award
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana was among 690 colleges and universities nationwide named to the Corporation for National and Community Service's (CNCS) 2013 President's Community Service Honor Roll, which recognizes outstanding commitment volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.
The XU Center for Student Leadership and Service is directed by Typhanie Jasper-Butler.
Team Xavier Scores in Quiz Bowl Invitational
New Orleans LA – If their performance in the preliminaries is any indication, look for Xavier University of Louisiana's Quiz Bowl team to make waves at the 2013 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge when it convenes in Los Angeles CA next month.
Team Xavier is coming off a big win in the Texas Invitational Tournament at Prairie View A&M, where they defeated five fellow HBCU's (Historically black Colleges and Universities – including Alcorn State, Grambling State, Langston College, Mississippi Valley State, and Prairie View A&M. Honda allows all teams planning to compete in the national challenge to participate in a pre-tournament (regional) event.
The team, coached Darryl Keller, Jr., includes Javon Bracy, McKenzie Moses, Kirkland Penro, Jessica Piernas, Skyler Quintero, and Meggan Simien. Nekita Bannister-Lee serves as XU's institutional representative.
Xavier has participated in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge – a trivia competition for HBCU's – 21 out of 24 years starting in 1992-93 season. Through the years, the University has been awarded more than $75,000 in grants during the competition. In addition, Xavier was presented the 2012 Community Service for partnering with Lafayette Charter Academy to tutor kids with after school program.
This year's tournament will be held in April 6-10.
For more about the Honda Campus Quiz Bowl, visit http://www.hcasc.com.
Turner Nominated for Educator Grammy
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana music chair, professor, and director of bands Dr. Tim Turner has been nominated for the GRAMMY's Music Educator Award.
The Recording Academy, in partnership with the GRAMMY Foundation, has launched this award to bring attention and recognition to the teaching profession, particularly those it music. The winner, to be announced next year, will receive a $10,000 honorarium and be presented the award at the Special Merits Award Ceremony during GRAMMY Week 2014 in Los Angeles LA.
Turner, who has been at Xavier since 2004, conducts the University's Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble. He also teaches music theory, composition, orchestration, musicianship, conducting, and music appreciation. Previously he served a stint as director of bands at Xavier from 1987-93, and in a similar position at Morehouse College from 1996-2004.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts/Music Education from the University of Memphis.
Xavier Summer Programs Expect Big Increase in Applicants
New Orleans LA - Students who will attend Xavier University of Louisiana's diverse array of pre-college and collegiate summer programs can count on learning analytical reasoning and verbal skills that will help them with their future studies, in some cases college credits.
Applications for the pre-college student programs are being accepted now, and the University is encouraging the community to enroll students soon, expecting the programs to be filled to capacity. Space is limited. New this year is an online, common application that should make applying easier and convenient.
In addition to those special programs, the summer schedule also includes regular college degree-credit courses available in two five-week sessions, and an additional eight-week session. Some new and exciting online and hybrid courses will be offered, too. All three sessions, offered at low tuition rates, are open to currently enrolled, new and returning Xavier students, as well as students enrolled at other universities. Registration for Session I and II are May 27 and June 28, respectively. Session III registration is June 7.
"Xavier's campus during the summer months is jumping with local and non-local high school and college students because of the diverse set of course offerings," said Summer Programs Associate Dean Dr. Kenneth Boutte, Sr. "It also shows the desire of young people to want to improve their skills and get a jump on their future studies. This summer we are expanding our evening and online courses for students with responsibilities that prevent them from taking courses during the day."
Interesting and informative pre-college programs beginning in May and June include:
While the pre-college programs give the campus a different feel during the summer, XU's regular collegiate summer school sessions, offered at low tuition rates, and several special college-level programs also attract a brisk enrollment. Special program offerings include the following:
In addition, the Math and Science Teacher Institute (MSTI) and Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) are expected to draw higher enrollment numbers as well.
Xavier University Names New Director of Library Resource Center
New Orleans LA – Dr. Lynette Ralph has been named the new Director of the University Library Resource Center at Xavier University of Louisiana, according to Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Loren Blanchard.
Ralph, who holds both a MS and a Ph.D. degree in Library and Information Science, has more than 30 years of experience as a librarian, including 25 as an administrator and manager in a university setting. Most recently she served as assistant university library director at the Sims Memorial Library at Southeastern Louisiana University.
She replaces Robert Skinner, who retired after more than 25 years in the position at Xavier.
"Xavier is very pleased that a librarian with Dr. Ralph's impressive credentials, years of experience, and wealth of expertise will join Xavier's faculty," said Blanchard. "As the role of the library continues to evolve on college campuses, we are confident that Dr. Ralph will bring leadership and vision that will enhance the library's current services to Xavier faculty, students, and staff, as well as to the local community."
Xavier Explores African American and Diaspora Studies
New Orleans LA - The Xavier University of Louisiana African American and Diaspora Studies Program (AADS) will offer the community an extensive look into the discipline Feb. 18-22 with a weeklong program, "AADS: Identity/Image/Representation."
Faculty affiliated with the program will conduct master classes, public lectures, workshops and exhibits on various topics during the week. Visit HERE for the schedule of events.
New Xavier XU Arena Adds to City's Arsenal of Convention/Event Spaces
New Orleans LA – Since its official christening in November 2012, the newly-constructed Convocation Center and Annex at Xavier University of Louisiana has been a very busy venue.
The new center boasts more than 93,000 square feet of space with more than 4,100 seats that can be reconfigured for a variety of purposes. Because of its smaller size compared to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and other large spaces in New Orleans, the Convocation Center is providing the city with an alternative space for small to mid-size events, concerts, galas and more.
During Super Bowl XLVII, a number of groups took advantage of the space and state-of-the art capabilities the center has to offer. The night before Super Bowl, the Annual Gridiron Celebrity Hoops All-Star Basketball Game marked its 15th year at the Convocation Center. The star-studded event drew sports fans from across the country and more than three dozen pro-athletes and celebrities took center court to play.
"This mid-size athletic event proves our Convocation Center has the capacity to draw big crowds for important functions. We have end and center stage arrangements that allows for flexibility and our state-of-the-art scoreboard system is top of the line. We are pleased we had the opportunity to participate in the City's Super Bowl activities and hope to be an active participant in more events to come," said XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
Other Super Bowl-related events included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce job fair Hiring Our Heroes – a chance for veteran job seekers, active duty military, Guard and Reserve members, active military and veteran spouses to apply for work at 60 participating, prospective employers. Also, Feed the Children, an organization that provides food to needy families, used the Convocation Center as home base for distribution.
The first public event held in the Convocation Center was a Liberty Bank Christmas Concert featured the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra, which was held in December 2012. Upcoming events include XU's inaugural commencement in May, giving the university the chance to bring its students back home for graduation. Until the construction of the Convocation Center, graduation was held at the Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena.
The Convocation Center includes weight rooms, an elegant, monumental staircase at the entrance leading to a high-end VIP suite, and a dramatic second floor pre-function area that allows views to the outdoor plaza below while providing natural daylight into the facility. Supporting the Convocation Center is the Annex that houses classrooms, meeting spaces, offices as well as a "green" parking lot with pervious paving and solar panels.
Manning Architects served as architects for both the Convocation Center and Annex, which are anticipated to be LEED Silver Buildings and incorporate community connectivity, water conservation, energy efficiency, recycled and regional materials, and improved indoor air quality. The Convocation Center is across Washington Avenue from the main campus on a site bounded by Short, Palm and Stroelitz streets. A pedestrian bridge will be constructed across Washington Avenue to give the XULA community better access to the new building.
Blanchard Named Xavier University of Louisiana's First Provost
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Dr. Loren Blanchard to serve as the University's first Provost effective July 1, 2013.
Blanchard, who will continue to serve as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, will now also act as University President Norman C. Francis' chief advisor, providing leadership in establishing priorities and in collaborating with all organizational units to advance the mission and the continuing success of the institution. In the Provost's role, Blanchard will become the ranking Vice President who coordinates the work of the other University Vice Presidents.
In the new dual role, Blanchard will not only hold primary responsibility for implementing academic policy and coordinating academic programs and activities but will now assume a more active role with Dr. Francis in expanding the economic, social and cultural impacts of Xavier by strengthening partnerships within the local, state, national and global arenas.
Michael Rue, President of Xavier's Board of Trustees, stated that "with the increasing pressures facing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Xavier, I can think of no better time for Dr. Blanchard to step into this critical administrative role to work strategically with Dr. Francis to ensure the University's continuing growth and competitiveness."
Over the past five years, Blanchard has been Xavier's chief academic officer after previously serving in similar posts at the University of Louisiana System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans for nearly seven years, total.
"As an alumnus, it is clear to me that the success of faculty, students and Xavier as a whole runs vibrantly through Blanchard's bloodstream", said Dr. Norman Francis, who has served as President of Xavier University for almost 45 years. "He works hard to ensure that Xavier stands at the forefront of excellence in all aspects of our work. We are glad and fortunate to have Blanchard now serve in this inaugural role of Provost at his alma mater."
Blanchard holds a B.S. from Xavier in Speech Pathology; a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana; and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. His professional expertise centers on assessment and accreditation planning. Blanchard was largely instrumental in co-creating an electronic-based assessment system used by nearly every teacher education program in Louisiana for accreditation purposes. This system was later sold and is now commercially marketed.
625 Xavier Scholars Make Fall 2012 Dean's List
New Orleans LA - A total of 625 student scholars made the Dean's List at Xavier University of Louisiana during the fall 2012 semester, according to XU Registrar Avis Stuard.
Students merited a spot on the honor roll by earning a semester grade point average of 3.3 or above while taking at least 12 semester hours. The honor students listed below are grouped by major and include their classifications, high schools and/or (hometowns). Unless otherwise noted, the latter is New Orleans.
The complete lists are available HERE (Arts & Sciences) and HERE (Pharmacy).
Xavier Host Site for Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XV
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana's new Convocation Center will be the host site for the Super Bowl-affiliated Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XV Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
The annual NFL-sanctioned charity celebrity basketball game and fan-favorite interactive experience features professional football and basketball stars. Tickets range from $20 to $300. Visit HERE for more info or call (301) 868-8856.
Xavier University Spring Registration Jan. 10-11
New Orleans LA – Registration for the 2013 Spring Semester at Xavier University of Louisiana will be held Jan. 10-11, with classes beginning Jan. 14. Visit HERE for more details. HERE for the latest updates on both teams.
Xavier Delegation Visits China, Hebei University
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana University officials visited their Confucius Institute partner school, Hebei University in Baoding (China), to plan future initiatives and attended the 7th Global Confucius Institute Conference Representatives in Beijing.
The delegation, led by Dr. Marguerite Giguette, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, also included Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, Dean of the College of Pharmacy; and Dr. Yu Jiang and professor Rongyao Wen, the XU Confucius Institute directors.
During the visit, a variety of topics were explored with administrators, faculty, and students from Hebei, including summer trips to China for XU students, rotation opportunities for pharmacy students; faculty and student exchange programs in education, art, music, and business, and visiting Hebei faculty experts.
More than 300 Confucius Institutes worldwide attended the conference.
Explore Xavier Open House Jan. 31
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana will host its annual open house for prospective students Jan. 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The "Explore Xavier" event gives students and their parents the opportunity to meet individually with representatives from academic departments, Admissions, Financial Aid, Fiscal Services, and the various programs under Student Services (Health Service, GradStar, Career Services, Housing and Residence Life, Student Government, sororities and fraternities, to name a few) to learn about their offerings.
Campus tours are also given throughout the evening. Free tickets will be available to that night's women's basketball game. Attendees should go to the University Center to begin open house.
Visit HERE for more info or call 1-877-XavierU.
Panel Discussion on Affirmative Action Highlights MLK Week Celebration
New Orleans LA – A panel discussion on affirmative action featuring several prominent national and local leaders highlights the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week for Peace, Jan. 21-26, 2013.
The theme for this year's event – a joint collaboration between Xavier University of Louisiana, Tulane University, Loyola University and Dillard University – is "Keep Calm and D.R.E.A.M."
The headliner event of the week-long celebration – the annual MLK Convocation on Jan. 22 – will be hosted this year by Dillard University. The panel discussion, "The Continuing Need for Affirmative Action in a Diverse America" will be moderated by MSNBC host and Tulane University professor Melissa Harris-Perry. Panel members will include Dillard University President Dr. Walter Kimbrough, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, Spelman College professor Dr. William Jelani Cobb, Loyola University law professor Bill Quigley, and Xavier University professor and political pollster Silas Lee.
Lifetime achievement and student community service awards will also be presented at the opening event. Students from all four universities will also be honored.
In addition to the convocation, other MLK week activities include inauguration watch parties at the respective schools, an interfaith service, an Expressions of Unity celebration, a special student event, and a community day of service. All events are free and the public is invited to participate. The complete calendar of MLK events follows:
Monday, Jan. 21
- Inauguration Watch Party
Contact each school for their respective time and location.
Tuesday, Jan. 22
- MLK Convocation
Panel Discussion: The Continuing Need for Affirmative Action in a Diverse America
Reception 5:30 p.m.; Convocation 6:30 p.m.
George's Auditorium, Dillard University
Wednesday, Jan. 23
- Interfaith Service
6:00 p.m.
St. Katherine Drexel Chapel, Xavier University
Friday, Jan. 25
- Expressions of Unity and Step Off for the Dream
7:00 p.m.
Roussell Hall, Loyola University
- MLK Student Event, 9:30 p.m.
Danna Center, Loyola University
Saturday, Jan. 26
- MLK Community Day of Service
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Staging area: McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University
For more information call 520-5450.
Xavier Posts Undergraduate Research Journal Online
New Orleans LA – The lastest issue of XULAneXUS, Xavier University of Louisiana's online undergraduate research journal, is now available ONLINE. Volume 10/Issue 1 of the peer-reviewed academic journal, includes articles from students in Biology, Communications, English, and Psychology.
Presbytere Exhibit Features Book by XU Professor
New Orleans LA – A book release and signing by XU associate dean and author Dr. Kim Vaz is one of the highlights the Jan. 18 opening celebration of the New Orleans' Presbytere's newest exhibit, "They Call Me Baby Doll: A Mardi Gras Tradition."
The exhibit, which will be on display through December 2013, features the preservation and resurgence of 100 years of the "Baby Doll" masking, song and dance traditions of New Orleans.
Vaz's book, The Baby Dolls: Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition, tells the story of the first women's street masking practices in the United States.
It is available from the LSU Press. Vaz is associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of education.
Visit HERE for more info on the event.