Spring/Summer 2016 Southeastern Louisiana University Magazine
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Transcript of Spring/Summer 2016 Southeastern Louisiana University Magazine
S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S I A N A U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6
SOUTHEASTERNROTC ReturnsSoutheastern brings Army ROTC
back to campus, pg. 22
PANAMA
Southeastern’s partnerships in Panama continue
to grow, pg. 17
Southeastern’s CSIForensics classes teach the science
of solving mysteries, pg. 36
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITYS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 M A G A Z I N E
Letters: Southeastern Magazine welcomes letters of 300 or fewer words. Letters may be used for publication unless the author states that it is not to be published. Letters may be edited for publication. Send submissions to Editor, Southeastern Magazine, Office of University Advancement, SLU 10293, Hammond, LA 70402 or [email protected].
Printing and distribution for the Southeastern Magazine provided by the Southeastern Foundation – southeasternfoundation.org.
COVER PHOTO:
Members of the latest class of Panamá Bilingüe donned native dress and demonstrated native dances as part of the entertainment.
PRESIDENT
Dr. John L. Crain
PROVOST & VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Dr. Tammy Bourg
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
Sam Domiano
VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE
VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
Dr. Marvin Yates
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC & GOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS
Erin Moore CowserDIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Mike RivaultDIRECTOR, PUBLIC INFORMATION
Rene AbadiePHOTOGRAPHY
Randy BergeronCONTRIBUTORS
Tonya Lowentritt, Kemmler ChappleKandace Formaggio
Camry Boudy
Busting Myths article, pg. 33
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 1
table of contents
10 TOP 5 RANKING
The Sport Management program has been ranked in the top 5 nationally.
14 GATES FOUNDATION GRANT
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gives College of Education grant to aid in teacher preparation.
17 PANAMA
Southeastern’s partnerships in Panama continue to grow.
22 ROTC RETURNS TO SOUTHEASTERN
After decades of absence, Southeastern brings Army ROTC back to campus.
30 REAL-WORLD READY ACADEMICS
The Office of Experiential Learning takes hold of getting students real-world learning opportunities.
33 BUSTING MYTHS
Professor Rhett Allain has been a regular consultant on the hit TV show, Mythbusters.
36 SOUTHEASTERN’S CSI
Southeastern’s Forensics program and classes teach the science of solving mysteries.
52 F IRST GENERATION
STUDENTS SUCCEED
First Generation Scholarships are helping students build a strong future.
3322 36
2 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
In my three plus decades at Southeastern as a student, faculty
member and administrator, I have seen many changes to our
beloved institution. The overall story has been one of growth
and advancement, while always maintaining our primary goal
of remaining a student-centered institution with a small-college
friendliness and caring atmosphere. This has been made possible
due to effective support, strategy, leadership, and strong student
bodies through the years.
There are many areas I could point to regarding our growth as an
institution – increasing enrollment from a few thousand students
when I started here to 15,000 today; the expanding physical
footprint of our campus to fulfill the needs of our students and the
region; the introduction and expansion of academic programs for
these same reasons – and many others. One area of which I am
particularly proud is our international orientation.
When Southeastern started as a small regional junior college,
international involvement was not a primary focus of the
institution. However, as the world has changed and become more
interconnected with a more global economy, Southeastern has
evolved with it.
Through our international students, as well as some of our faculty
and staff, our campus is rich in cultural diversity. Thousands of our
students have studied abroad, gaining knowledge and a sense of
cultures that only can be understood through direct experience.
Southeastern has also engaged with other nations and their
universities and institutions to provide unique learning, exchange
and research opportunities for students.
As you will read in these pages, one of our strongest international
efforts focuses on South and Central America. This is a region
that in the coming decades will be a significant economic partner
with the United States and specifically the Gulf of Mexico states.
We hope to position Southeastern as an important participant
in those endeavors through programs, both large and small, that
provide our region and our students with ample resources to
participate in the global economy.
As I noted, it is amazing how far we have come. Please enjoy this
magazine and share it. As always, you are our greatest asset in
spreading the word about our University.
Alumni, Friends & Supporters,
president’s MESSAGE
John L. CrainPRESIDENT
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 3
Sophomore // Communication
How Southeastern changed me I don’t know that Southeastern necessarily changed me, but it provided the perfect place to become a better version of myself, to grow personally and academically, to make new friends and give me another home in my hometown.
Favorite spot on campus Strawberry Stadium holds a special place in my heart. Cheering on the Lions, win or lose, will always be an essential part of my college experience.
Dream job I’d love to work in PR on a political campaign.
What do you think of Southeastern’s faculty and staff ? SLU is often compared to a family, and the care and pride that our faculty and staff have in the students continues to prove that.
Current involvement on campus
Phi Mu Fraternity, Public Relations Student Society of America, the ExCel
Scholar Program, Auxiliary Services Student Advisory Board
In 15 words or less, what is great about
Southeastern? Simply put, I’m a person not a
number. I matter here. Everyone does.
OUT&ABOUT
MadisonCHAUVIN
Favorite thing about my major
I love the independence that comes with being a communication major. Our field is so broad that we have free reign over how to concentrate our education to personally benefit ourselves now and
in our future careers.
4 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
SOCIAL MEDIA
“Wishing you all the best of luck! I know you all
are going to kill it!” – Micque Bouza Voges
COMMENTING ON THE LION SPIRIT SQUADS’ PHOTO BEFORE COLLEGE DANCE
AND CHEER NATIONALS
“Defeating USM & Baylor today!#lionup”@peytonlaine
“Job Well Done! Lion Up! Lions Win!”
– Eric Brown // COMMENTING ON ATHLETICS POST BEFORE TULANE BASEBALL GAME
“LET’S GO LIONS! I’ve been looking for my pics in the Homecoming parade ‘85. #lionup”
@charleanmilton
POSTINGS & COMMENTS FROM YOU
"The sunset last night over #ThePat. 3 days people!!”
– Taylor Marceaux // ON SUNSET PIC OF BASEBALL FIELD
“ Southeastern is my future home and
I couldn’t be more excited and honored to
go there. #lionup.” @dylanMD16
“ #LIONUP for higher education. The wind ain’t got nothin on the H.E.A.T.”
@sugar_maddy
COMMENT ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION DAY AT THE CAPITOL
“ There is power in
numbers!!”-Belinda Niswonger
FACEBOOK // ON “RESULTS OVER
RHETORIC” AT THE CAPITAL
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 5
“Loved attending SLU & living in Hammond Class of 79”
-Brenda Van Alphen
“Still in shock that this field is my future home
#LionUp.”– Camryn Kate
INCOMING FRESHMAN ON GETTING SIGNED TO THE SOFTBALL TEAM
“Watch out the next few years. Ladner knows what he is doing.”
– Duane Gougler
“Congrats Ashton Henderson that was an awesome play!”
- Nathan Ford
“Homecoming week at SLU with my BFF”
-Abby Brennan
“ A UNIVERSITY THAT CARES - I attended Southeastern as a starting point for my college career. After my freshman year I
quickly realized this was the location where I wanted to complete my education. Why? Because the faculty cared about my education, my growth and my career path. I am grateful for the opportunity that I
had professionally and personally at this university. Geaux Lions!!!”-Catherine McClemens LINKEDIN // REGIONAL VICE
PRESIDENT AT CARNEGIE LEARNING
“IT’S HOMECOMING Y’ALL!! #LIONUP #BROADWAY”
@SoutheasternOSE
“Congratulations to @slugreeks for raising $400 for the Southeastern Food Pantry! #SLUgreekweek16
#slugreeklife”
@slugreeks
"I am personally taking a few online courses
and have previously taken online courses.
I can easily say that I have learned a lot from
these classes and having the option of taking
them online really helped me a lot!"
– Jacob Michael
FACEBOOK // ON “RANKED #1 IN THE STATE
FOR ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS” POST
6 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
NEWS in LEARNING
SOUTHEASTERN EXPERIENCED
INCREASES IN NEW FRESHMEN, NEW
TRANSFER STUDENTS, AS WELL AS
OVERALL ENROLLMENT THIS PAST FALL.
This year’s class of new freshmen increased
by 122 students. Transfer students also
increased by 15.3 percent.
“Our recent recruitment efforts emphasize
the exceptional academic programs
Southeastern offers,” said President John
L. Crain.
Overall enrollment of all types grew by
nearly one percent as well.
Computer science, information technology,
engineering technology, as well as strong
programs in communication, education,
nursing, accounting and new media and
animation, continue to attract new students,
he said.
In addition, Crain said, Southeastern’s
new initiative, Real-World Ready – which
emphasizes internships, service-learning
courses, research and other hands-on
experiences – demonstrates the university’s
commitment to fully prepare students for
the workforce and is having an impact on
attracting new students.
The Connect to Success program – a
partnership between Southeastern and
Northshore Technical Community College
—provides post-secondary educational
opportunities for students in the region who
are seeking admission to the university but
don’t yet meet admission criteria. NTCC
students participating in the program take
their courses on the Southeastern campus
and have access to its library, Student Union
and other facilities. The program showed
additional enrollment growth this fall,
reaching 569 students, the highest in the
program’s three-year history.
“We are continually seeking ways to meet
the needs of students in the region and
beyond by offering unique and purposeful
options to succeed,” Crain said.
New freshmen enrollment
Record Set
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 7
Foundation being laid
With the demolished remnants of a former dormitory and office
building in the background, Southeastern officials and other guests
broke ground Friday, November 20, to initiate construction of a new
science and technology building.
The 70,000 square foot building is being built on the southeast
corner of the campus at North Oak and Dakota streets. The $24.4
million facility is being funded through state Capital Outlay funds; no
university operating funds will be used in construction.
The building is being constructed on the site of Southeastern Hall, a
former dormitory and office building that was built in 1948, and an
adjacent parking lot.
“This is a transformational project for Southeastern for a number
of reasons, including workforce development, as we continue to
evolve the university to fulfill our mission of serving our region,”
said Southeastern President John L. Crain. “This is a well-planned
facility that will be staffed by highly specialized faculty teaching and
mentoring a growing number of students in these technical areas.”
He added that the new structure, along with the park area being
developed across the street and a new parking lot, will create an
inviting and impressive new visual entrance to the university along a
highly traversed route from the interstate to campus.
“Occupational forecasts indicate there are thousands and thousands
of STEM-related jobs that need to be filled right here in Louisiana,”
said Rep. Chris Broadwater, who was instrumental in shepherding the
building project through the state’s Capital Outlay process.
“If we don’t have the capacity to train these workers to fill these jobs,
these students will leave the state.”
He added that the building will be important as well for Northshore
Community and Technical College. Through partnerships, NTCC
students will have access to the excellent programs and facilities
should they chose to transfer to Southeastern.
Randy Moffett, former president of Southeastern and the University
of Louisiana System, said the new building is the result of a long-term
vision developed by a lot of people over a number of years.
“It has the potential to be the cornerstone of Louisiana higher education on the Northshore,” he added.
The project has been in the development stages since 2007. Total
construction time is estimated at 17 months, making the facility
possibly ready for the fall 2017 semester. The three-story facility will
house components of several programs, including computer science,
information technology, engineering technology, industrial technology,
and the occupational, safety, health and environment program.
In addition to faculty offices and technology-rich classrooms, the
building will have specialty labs for computer science, engineering
and industrial technology, material testing, machine and
manufacturing, automation and robotics, industrial hygiene and fire
protection, and electronics and drafting.
Architects for the project are Holly and Smith Architects of
Hammond; general contractor is Percy Matherne Contractors, Inc.
of Baton Rouge.
UNDER WAYNew Science & Technology Building Construction
8 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Southeastern has been recognized with a Student Actions Award by
the organization Purposeful Networks.
Purposeful Networks honors undergraduate schools for
demonstrated student leadership, momentum and engagement
in activities that positively impact communities and the planet.
Southeastern is the only public university in Louisiana among the 125
schools in the nation being recognized for excellence this semester.
“It is truly an honor to be listed alongside other top universities for
the actions of our students,” said President John Crain. “Service to
others and engagement with our communities are basic values we
try to instill in all of our students. The activities cultivate a sense of
partnership among the students and help strengthen their leadership
and organizational skills, which are vital to success in the workplace.”
Crain noted that student organizations are heavily involved in
fund-raising for non-profit organizations and in community service
events, such as “The Big Event” held every year, where hundreds
of students gather on a specific day to carry out service projects
throughout the region.
For their efforts, Southeastern also has earned a position on the
President’s Higher Education Honor Roll for Community Service for
the past four years.
Additionally, the university is expanding student-engagement
opportunities this year by increasing the number of experiential-
learning opportunities through its Real-World Ready initiative. This
plan involves merging classroom instruction with hands-on activities
to achieve a more intensive learning experience.
“The power of student leaders to build community and inspire action
for causes and programs they support is tremendous. We are proud
to spotlight the individual and collective impact of undergraduate
students across the country,” said Kristine Sturgeon, president of
Purposeful Networks. “From encouraging positive everyday activities
like donating blood or volunteering to organize campus-wide
events and fund-raising, our next generation of leaders is making a
measurable impact.”
For more information on the network, go online to
purposefulnetworks.com.
Southeastern recognized by national groups for student leadership, engagement & impact on communities
NEWS in LEARNING
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 9
Southeastern’s honor society Phi Kappa Phi was recently
recognized as a Chapter of Excellence, the highest commendation
a chapter can receive from the organization.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate
honor society for all academic disciplines. The award is given
to chapters that excel in recognizing and promoting academic
excellence in all of higher education and engaging the community of
scholars in service to others.
Southeastern was one of only 29 chapters nationwide to be
recognized as a Chapter of Excellence.
Chapter President Cindy Elliott, head of the Department of Teaching
and Learning, said the honor recognizes the chapter’s recruitment
efforts and programs designed to promote academic excellence.
The chapter presents scholarships to students, obtains national
grants from Phi Kappa Phi to support literacy efforts in area schools
and libraries and holds its annual Student-Faculty Quiz Bowl during
Homecoming Week.
She also recognized the efforts of last year’s president, Associate
Professor of Mathematics Danny Acosta.
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi has chapters on more than 300
select colleges and universities in North America.
Phi Kappa Phi Chapter
HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE
Above: Annual Faculty-Student Quiz Bowl held during Homecoming Week.
Below: New Phi Kapa Phi inductees.
10 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
The sport management program at Southeastern was named No. 5
among the 50 Most Affordable Urban Schools for the profession
in 2015.
SMG, an international sport marketing and venue management
corporation, created the listing based on a review of 158 U.S.
institutions that offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in sport and/or
fitness administration/management and located in an urban or
city setting.
Criteria for the selection included internship
opportunities, such as professional football,
basketball or baseball teams and other
opportunities, and net price for attending
the institution. Southeastern was cited for
its proximity to New Orleans and its robust
internship opportunities, as well as the
employment of its graduates in a variety of
sport and recreational settings.
“We are honored to receive this
recognition for offering a strong program that
provides a variety of real-world ready opportunities
for students in our growing sport management
academic program,” said Eddie Hebert, head of the
Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies.
Hebert said Southeastern in 2008 was the first university in
Louisiana to offer a program in sport management and currently has
100 students pursuing the degree. Southeastern is the only program
in Louisiana included in the SMG listing.
The degree, he said, combines foundational coursework in business
areas, such as accounting, marketing and management, with
kinesiology. “The focus is to apply business principles in the sport,
recreation and fitness industry,” he said.
“We are in a geographical location that’s
ideal for a student looking to go into the
field,” he said. “Located close to New
Orleans and Baton Rouge, Southeastern
has been able to develop partnerships with
organizations such as the New Orleans
Saints, the Pelicans and the New Orleans
Sports Foundation, all of which have given
our students opportunities to learn from
professionals in the field.”
Likewise, he said, Baton Rouge offers a
variety of recreational and sport businesses where students can gain
valuable experience, including the BR Recreation Department, youth
and adult soccer leagues, fitness centers and other opportunities.
Other partnerships have been developed with the Louisiana High
School Athletic Association, Louisiana Special Olympics, the
Mandeville Sports Complex, New Orleans Superdome and Smoothie
King Arena and the Sun Belt Conference Headquarters.
SOUTHEASTERN SPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM LISTED AS
No. 5 in nation
NEWS in LEARNING
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 11
Southeastern’s application for reaffirmation of accreditation by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges (SACSCOC) was approved in December at the SACSCOC
annual meeting in Houston, university officials announced.
President John L. Crain said the SACS Board of Trustees voted to
reaffirm the university’s accreditation for another 10 years with no
stipulations. Southeastern has been accredited by SACSCOC since
1946.
“This is the capstone accreditation for the university,” Crain said, “and
I am proud of the strong efforts of our faculty and staff who worked
so hard to ensure a successful outcome.”
Crain said Southeastern has been preparing its application for the last
several years. The application demonstrates how Southeastern meets
high standards that cover every aspect of the university, including
its mission and governance, financial and physical resources,
institutional effectiveness, student services, faculty qualifications,
athletics, quality of educational programs and library resources.
Following a review by an off-site committee, an on-site Reaffirmation
Committee evaluated various documents, conducted inspections
and interviewed faculty, staff and students during a three-day visit
last spring.
“The university is held responsible for clearly demonstrating and
documenting that we meet all standards and have the highest
commitment to institutional integrity, accountability and quality
improvement,” Crain added.
The current review process requires completion of a self-study
compliance audit that addresses approximately 100 standards with
significant documentation that each standard is being met.
The review process also requires development of a quality
enhancement plan (QEP) that addresses an area designed to
enhance student learning at the university. Southeastern selected
a Real-World Ready campaign designed to enhance opportunities
for students to practice skills in a setting authentic to their intended
careers. Internships and partnerships with businesses and agencies,
service-learning courses, field experiences, undergraduate
research and other opportunities are all part of the experiential
learning process.
“These learning opportunities are current, pertinent, performance-
based, and practical applications of knowledge and skills experienced
within the curriculum,” Crain said. “The Real-World Ready campaign
represents an exciting opportunity to enhance student learning while
also helping increase the university’s retention and graduation rates,
key factors in how universities are now being evaluated.”
Two graduate students in Southeastern’s communication
sciences and disorders program have earned awards based on
their achievements.
Caprice Lee of Monroe was selected to be a participant in the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Minority Student
Leadership Program (MSLP), while Megan McMillin of Shorewood,
Ill., received a $1,500 graduate scholarship from SPALS, the Speech
Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools. Both are
graduates of Southeastern’s bachelor’s program in communication
sciences and disorders.
Lee was one of only 40 students nationwide to be selected to
participate in leadership training at the 2015 Convention in Denver
in November. As an MSLP participant, she took part in leadership-
focused educational programs and activities at the convention
designed to help build and enhance leadership skills and gain an
understanding of how the association works.
McMillin is a former player for the Southeastern Lions volleyball
team, who was named a winner of the President’s Award for
Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences
when she graduated last year. She also was named to the Southland
Conference’s All-Academic Team and received the conference’s F.L.
McDonald Postgraduate Scholarship. She intends to work in a school
setting after she earns her master’s degree.
Southeastern’s accreditation reaffirmed by
Southeastern students earn speech-language-hearing awards
Megan McMillin
Caprice Lee
12 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Southeastern’s graduate program in biological sciences was ranked
sixth in the nation in the fall Biology Grad Rankings posted by the
website graduateprograms.com.
Southeastern was the only institution from Louisiana included in the
listing of the top 25 biology graduate programs in the country.
Among the 15 categories reviewed were academic competitiveness,
affordability of living, campus safety, career support, education
quality and faculty accessibility and support. Southeastern’s ranking
is above Yale and Harvard, putting it in good company with Duke,
Carnegie Mellon and Tufts University to round out the top tier of
rated schools.
“This is a testimony to the quality and commitment of our faculty,
many of whom are internationally celebrated biologists,” said Dean of
the College of Science and Technology Dan McCarthy. “The master’s
program in biology draws graduate students from throughout the
country, and when they graduate from here, they are typically placed
in some of the strongest doctoral programs for further study.”
The rankings were based on ratings and reviews from current or
recent graduate students with a requirement that a minimum
threshold of student surveys are completed. More than 75,000
students in 1,600 programs participated in the review process.
A sample of student comments from the Southeastern review
included:
“There are great people present in the program and staff members that sincerely want to see you succeed.”
“I believe SLU offers a great mix of diverse faculty and some excellent mentors who truly seek to help students succeed in what they do.”
“Our graduate students receive outstanding and individualized
training,” said Chris Beachy, head of the Department of Biological
Sciences. “Our graduate faculty have outstanding publishing success
in professional journals, they obtain external funding from nationally
competitive sources like the National Science Foundation, and they
are recognized and honored for their career work by various specialist
organizations.”
SOUTHEASTERN GRADUATE BIOLOGY PROGRAM
ranked 6th in nation
NEWS in LEARNING
Southeastern and Nunez Community College in Chalmette have
reached an agreement facilitating the transfer of Nunez business
administration students into Southeastern’s business bachelor’s
degree programs.
The agreement provides an easy transition for students graduating
with an Associate of General Studies in business administration
concentration from Nunez who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree
program in business.
The agreement – known as a 2+2 articulation agreement – is a
cooperative endeavor between a two-year community college
program that offers associate degrees and a four-year institution
that provides students with an easy transition through the sharing of
application and admissions information, transcripts and other records.
The agreement was signed by Southeastern President John L. Crain
and Nunez Chancellor Thomas R. Warner.
“Our agreement with Nunez Community College opens the door for
qualified students with two-year degrees to further their education
in a seamless manner,” Crain said. “Southeastern collaborates with
institutions in the Louisiana Community and Technical College
System (LCTCS) as we work cooperatively to advance the success of
higher education students. Doing so addresses important workforce
development needs for the state and is in the best interest of
students.”
“Our partnership with Nunez provides more avenues for community college students to achieve their dreams of furthering their education. It also provides opportunities for students who may not have otherwise considered completing a bachelor’s degree,” said Antoinette Phillips, interim dean of the Southeastern College of Business.
She said students will take 60 credit hours at Nunez, which include
most of their general education coursework, including math, English,
science, social studies, humanities and basic business administration.
Their remaining 60 hours at Southeastern will focus primarily
on business coursework under one of the college’s departmental
programs. Southeastern offers business degrees in the departments
of accounting and finance, management and business administration,
and marketing and supply chain management.
Southeastern, Nunez sign agreement on business programs
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 13
a [ somewhat ] scientificYOU SAID IT
POLLING o f ALUMNI
67.5% YES 32.5% NO
Do you use it regularly?
41.5% YES, but only when it’s really cold
25.7% NO, too much trouble
22.8% YES, whenever it is even a little chilly
9.4% NO, I like it cold
0.6% YES, I’ll turn down the A/C to make it cold inside and light a fire
THE TYPE OF VEHICLE I DRIVE:
DO YOU HAVE A FIREPLACE in your house?
35.2% SUV
32.4% SEDAN
20% TRUCK
7% SPORTS CAR
4.9% VAN
0.4% MOTORCYCLE
34.4% SUV
21.9% SPORTS
20.8% TRUCK
17.5% SEDAN
3.3% VAN
2.1% MOTORCYCLE
66.4% GO TO A NICE RESTAURANT
33.6% MAKE A GOURMET MEAL AT HOME
57.7% LIVING/MAIN ROOM
16.7% BEDROOM
12.9% KITCHEN
10.5% FRONT PORCH
1.6% BATHROOM
0.7% DINING ROOM
42.2% YES
57.8% NO
THE TYPE OF VEHICLE I Wish I DROVE
DO YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN?
I WOULD RATHER:
FAVORITE ROOM of the house
14 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION RECEIVES GRANT FROM
Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation
S outheastern recently received a grant from the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation as part of being named to one of five Teacher
Preparation Transformation Centers. These centers are designed
to bring together higher education institutions, teacher-
preparation providers and K-12 school systems to share data,
knowledge and best practices with the intended outcome of
preparing highly qualified teachers.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 15
Southeastern is the only teacher preparation program in Louisiana
invited to participate.
Funding for the projects amounts to a total of $34.7 million over
three years. Each center is expected to test different approaches in
various contexts to better understand teacher-preparation practices
that are most effective. The Transformation Centers will be
guided by a common set of indicators and outcomes while testing
different approaches.
Each center includes several universities. Southeastern’s College of
Education will be part of the University-School Partnerships for the
Renewal of Educator Preparation (U.S.PREP) National Center based
at Texas Tech University.
Southeastern will receive approximately $534,000 over the three-
year period, explained Shirley Jacob, interim dean of the College of
Education. Other universities participating in U.S.PREP are Jackson
State University, Southern Methodist University, the University of
Houston and the University of Memphis.
“We know through years of experience that one of the main impacts on students’ learning is the presence of a highly-effective, qualified teacher,” Jacob said. “This project is intended to help all teacher preparation programs better prepare our teacher candidates to be successful in the classroom.”
The overall goal of U.S.Prep is to produce exemplary new teachers for
their partner school districts who outperform new teachers prepared
in other teacher preparation programs. The districts partnering
with Southeastern are the St. Charles Parish School District and the
Ascension Parish Public School District.
“We have worked closely and very cooperatively with both these
districts for years now. They have served as sites for our teacher
candidates to practice their student teaching under the supervision
of one or more of their own highly competent teachers,” Jacobs
said. “They are fully committed to the goal of improving their own
instructors, as well as helping us develop a high quality generation of
new teachers.”
“We welcome the opportunity for our district to be engaged in
the development and implementation of a transformative teacher
preparation program,” said Patrice Pujol, former superintendent of
Ascension Public Schools. “We look forward to our district, school
and teacher leaders collaborating with university faculty to assure
that teacher education candidates are strategically placed with
strong mentors in the schools.”
Felecia Gomez-Walker, superintendent of St. Charles Parish Public
Schools, noted that the district and Southeastern have collaborated
over many years to develop an excellent student teaching experience
for future teachers. This has led to development of a one-year
apprenticeship model now in effect.
“District personnel will interact with university faculty to strategically
coordinate teacher education candidate field placements and
residencies in our school district,” she added. “This collaboration has
the potential to positively impact the work we are doing to prepare
teachers for the 21st Century classrooms.”
U.S.PREP and its coalition members are expected to achieve several
specific quality objectives, including preparing new teachers
who possess exceptional content knowledge and teaching skills;
developing a program culture focused on continuous improvement
using outcome and design-based research data; ensuring teacher
educator effectiveness is elevated through professional develop
programs based on solid research; enhancing the common school
and university vision of preparation of teacher candidates through
collaborative implementation; and developing an effective peer-to-
peer university model that helps jumpstart a revolution of improved
teacher preparation programs.
“We are looking forward to working cooperatively with Ascension
Public Schools and St. Charles Public School System next fall
on this project” Jacob added. “Their leaders are dedicated to
continuous quality improvement among their own teachers and in
assisting Southeastern create a new generation of highly skilled and
competent teachers.”
Southeastern maintains one of the largest teacher preparation
programs in Louisiana. Currently approximately 800 students are
enrolled in the teacher preparation program.
16 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
22 international institutions Southeastern partnerships for
cooperative exchanges, projects and research - hailing from
DID you KNOW?
NUMBERSA Global Institution
By the
44
50
15012
nations international students come from
nations alumni
currently reside in
average number of students
participating in study abroad per year
average number of study abroad programs per year
over
14 nations
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 17
feature STORY
PANAMASoutheastern grows relationship with
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE GROWS
Central and South America have been strong trade and economic
partners with the United States for generations, but in the past
decade that relationship has become increasingly important – and
Southeastern has launched initiatives that help that relationship.
According to the American Association of Port Authorities, since
2005, the tonnage of trade between Central and South America
and the United States has almost tripled. The tonnage of trade
with Panamá alone has more than tripled. This growth is expected
to accelerate with the opening of the expanded Panamá Canal
this summer. The expansion will shorten significant trade routes
between Asia and the United States with ports along the Gulf Coast
standing to take in a significant portion of this trade.
Four of the top 10 ports in the United States are in South Louisiana.
The Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans and Port of Baton
Rouge, numbers one, six and eight respectively, are all within a
one hour driving distance from Southeastern. Because of this, the
university is well positioned to serve as a resource.
by Tonya Lowentritt and Rene Abadie
18 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
SOUTHEASTERN PANAMÁ CONNECTION
When Southeastern began a working relationship with the
Republic of Panamá in the 1990s, the goal was to help Panamánian
businesses in the areas of management, marketing and the use of
technology. It was part of a long history of friendship with Latin
American nations instituted by the university’s Latin America
Business and Development Initiative. From this friendship,
Southeastern has developed multiple programs with Panamá.
For more than 10 years, Southeastern’s College of Business has
maintained a 10-day study abroad program, which allows U.S.
students the opportunity to visit the Latin American country and
to learn more about its culture and businesses. The program
receives strong support from the Universidad Latina de Panamá’s
Dr. José Barrios Ng, 2015 recipient of an honorary doctorate from
Southeastern. Through this program, present-day students have
reconnected with Panamánian graduates of Southeastern, such
as Juan Diego de Obaldia, commercial director for Del Monte of
Panamá, and Irma Zambrano, New Product Development and
Innovations, Cervecería Nacional.
The College of Business also began a 2+2 Cooperative Transfer
program with Universidad Latina de Panamá in 2010, in which
students can take their first two years’ of courses at Latina and
then enroll in Southeastern to complete the last two years of their
education.
One of the most innovative programs that has developed from
Southeastern’s relationship with Panamá is the current Panamá
Bilingue program, an outgrowth of a pilot program started in 2009.
PROGRAM GROWS FROM 2009 PILOT
“Southeastern is proud that the seeds for this program were
planted years earlier in the form of the English for Life pilot program
developed by the Latin America Business Initiative,” said Aristides
Baraya, director of the initiative, who has a long history of developing
educational relationships with Latin America. “Because of the
success of this pilot, Southeastern was one of the first universities
contacted in 2015 by the administration of President Juan Carlos
Varela to participate in the Panamá Bilingüe program,” said Baraya.
“The government of Panamá recognizes that their high school
graduates who are fluent in English have much greater employment
opportunities than citizens who are limited by only their native
language of Spanish,” Baraya explained.
GRADUATION DAY – Panamanian students who participated in Panamá Bilingüe at Southeastern pose for a group photo following their graduation.
BUILDING LANGUAGE SKILLS – Students use Southeastern’s language lab in order to build their skills in English.
FIELD TRIP – Students get the opportunity to participate in field trips in order to use their English language skills in everyday settings. Included among the field trips was a visit to a plantation in the area.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 19
During his campaign for president, Varela promised to grow
Panamá into a fully bilingual country, said Tará Burnthorne Lopez,
Southeastern’s Dorcas and H.N. Capron Jr. Endowed Professor of
Marketing, who directs the program.
“To fulfill his promise, he offered a multi-faceted plan and branded
Panamá Bilingüe, which included making English classes more
accessible to school-aged children, English training for workforce
development, and finally teacher training,” she added.
Southeastern hosts Panamánian teachers for the teacher training
portion of the program. When the Panamánian teachers come
to Southeastern, they switch roles and become students for one
semester, taking classes and participating in everyday life at the
university, Lopez said. The experience provides the Panamá visitors
with a valuable opportunity to become immersed in the language
and culture of the United States.
“President Varela’s plan for teacher training involves training
1,000 teachers per year for the next five years in English-speaking
countries,” said Lopez. “The first 500 teachers began classes at
universities across the United States and in England in January of
2015. This program is a top priority of the Varela administration.”
Over 100 Panamánian teachers have completed the program
on Southeastern’s campus since it began in January of 2015. A
Hammond-based campaign by area clubs and organizations
collected more than 50 used bicycles that the students – who
reside in a nearby apartment complex – use to traverse the campus
and Hammond.
“The primary goal of the Panamá Bilingue program at Southeastern
is to improve participants’ English language skills in the areas of
speaking, listening, pronunciation, conversation, vocabulary and
reading,” said Lopez.
“The program is rich in opportunities for participants to immerse themselves in the English language, both inside and outside of the classroom,” she added. “Classroom instruction offers targeted and intensive English training, while extra-curricular activities and excursions allow for more informal practice in native settings.”
feature STORY
Ongoing Panama Canal expansion.
20 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Because the participants in the program are certified teachers,
Lopez added, the program also offers content in the area of teaching.
Classroom visits to area schools allow the teachers to observe
best practices in education, teaching methodology, and classroom
management. Instruction addresses topics such as classroom
management, writing lesson plans, setting course objectives,
assessment, and leadership/mentoring, all while continuing to
expose the students to the English language.
Monthly excursions and weekly cultural seminars give students the
opportunity to explore the American culture in a relaxed and open
atmosphere, Lopez said. The students have enjoyed excursions to
locations such as the Baton Rouge State Capitol, Gonzales shopping
outlets, Rosedown Plantation, New Orleans, Pass Christian, Miss.,
and Southeastern’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station.
On their own, the students developed a Spanish language tutoring
service and designed a flyer to promote it to all Southeastern
students. The students have also hosted events in which
they perform traditional dances and serve traditional food for
Southeastern students.
Beyond the classroom, she said, the Panamánian teachers have
participated in a variety of activities. They participate in school
observation field trips at area elementary schools, such as
Southeastern Lab School, Tucker Elementary, Holy Ghost,
Hammond High and Hammond Westside Elementary Montessori.
They have also had opportunities to participate in classes and
workshops with the College of Education and Communication and
Languages Department.
JOINING THE FUN – Members of the latest class of Panamá Bilingüe donned native dress and participated in Southeastern’s annual Fais Do Do crawfish boil this spring. The group also demonstrated native dances as part of the entertainment.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 21
LONG HISTORY WITH LATIN AMERICA
Southeastern has a long-time relationship with nations such as
Panamá, as well as other Latin American countries.
The university was the first U.S. institution to enter an agreement
with the Free Trade Zone of Colon, Panamá, making Southeastern
the zone’s educational partner. The agreement was signed by the
College of Business and Luis G. Gomez, president of the Free Trade
Association of Colon, and will provide opportunities for executive
and professional development for the zone’s more than 3,000
international companies, their executives and 33,000 workers.
Other opportunities include exchange programs, international
internships and trade missions with the second largest free trade
zone in the world.
The agreement opens the door for greater opportunities for
Southeastern students and faculty, especially those interested in
international business, said Baraya, who serves as the international
adviser and a member of the board of directors of SME Observatory
of Costa Rica. The Observatory is a joint effort of four Costa Rican
public universities and is intended to generate competition and
economic development of small and medium businesses through
information collection and policy development.
Because of its role in international educational initiatives,
Southeastern was the first U.S. public university to receive the
prestigious Ibero-American Council for Excellence in Education
Award. The award was presented by a consortium of 18 agencies
in Latin America for excellence in educational programs and
relationships with Latin American nations.
feature STORY
22 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
After an absence of more than 20 years, Southeastern has reinstituted
its on-campus U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC).
The program, originally started at Southeastern in 1969 during the
Vietnam War, was closed in 1995 due in large part to declining
numbers and retrenchment by the military as a result of budget
constraints. More than a thousand students are estimated to have
gone through the program during those years.
After the Southeastern ROTC classes were no longer offered on
campus, the program became affiliated with the Army ROTC
program at Southern University in Baton Rouge in order to provide
some option for students still wishing to pursue ROTC.
“We are pleased to re-introduce our students to ROTC military
science classes on the Southeastern campus. Increasingly, students
are looking for options that include military service, either for several
years or as a career,” said President John L. Crain. “Southeastern’s
previous experience with ROTC was successful in helping to prepare
future military leaders. We wanted to make this an easier option for
those students seeking to become officers.”
During the break in operations, Crain said Southeastern students
were still able to participate in ROTC, but had to take their military
courses through Southern University’s Army program or LSU’s
Army and Air Force programs. Participating Southeastern students,
however, had to travel to Baton Rouge in order to participate. This
move brings the Army program back to Southeastern’s campus.
Southern Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Brian Bissonnette is
filling the same role at Southeastern and leads the overall program as
RETURNS
Sergeant First Class Rob Dunn leading physical training
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 23
it gets established. Currently 12 students at Southeastern – both male
and female – are taking military science classes at Southeastern.
“A lot of our students are in the National Guard, and they want
to work on getting commissioned as an officer,” said Bissonnette.
“They met the criteria that we look for: good quality candidates who
see military service as an option, either for a career or to gain the
knowledge and leadership skills.”
Bissonnette has served in the Army for 25 years, mostly in military
intelligence. Prior to joining the Southern University ROTC program in
2003, he completed the Army’s Command and General Staff College
and served in various capacities in two tours in South Korea, as well
as serving in Iraq and at the NATO Headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal.
He has a great deal of experience to offer as he leads the program.
Any student can take the military science classes as an elective, but
students seeking scholarship funds from the military must make
an additional commitment. Enrollment in the program at this level
carries with it an eight-year commitment – four years of active
service and four in the Ready Reserve – with varying degrees of
scholarship support depending upon options selected. First Class
Sergeant Rob Dunn explained, “There is a great deal of support
for those students wishing to make the active duty commitment.
Scholarships can be a significant benefit for most students.”
Gary Sandifer of Hammond, who entered the ROTC program in
1971 and is a founding member of Southeastern’s ROTC Alumni
Chapter has been working with other members of the chapter to
help Southeastern put the pieces of the puzzle together to bring
Southeastern ROTC cadets prepare for inspection in this 1976 photo.
24 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
back ROTC. Sandifer said he was excited to learn the university was
adding the program to its curriculum.
“Dr. Crain deserves a lot of credit for this; when he was convinced of
the value of ROTC, he put this project on the fast track,” Sandifer said.
ROTC Alumni Chapter President Steve Worth of Hammond also
expressed his happiness about the reinstatement decision.
“It was a great experience, and I’m glad to see Southeastern students
will have this option once again,” said Worth, who served 13 years
in the Army as a Black Hawk test pilot. “ROTC taught me a lot in the
areas of leadership and how to work with people.”
The chapter has approximately 35 members and raises funds to
provide scholarships for ROTC participants.
The original concept of obtaining an ROTC unit at Southeastern
dates back to 1939, according to a history prepared by retired Lt. Col.
Preston C. Rodrigue, a member of the Southeastern class of 1973.
The first official application was filed in 1941, and subsequent re-
applications were made over the years. With strong political support
from the late Sen. Allen Ellender and other Louisiana congressmen,
Southeastern was approved in 1969 to receive an ROTC unit to
address troop and military leadership demands for the Vietnam War.
Interest in Southeastern’s ROTC program was steady with about 100
students enrolled per year. The ROTC building, now Range Hall, was
completed in 1970 and dedicated by Gen. William Westmoreland,
who commanded U.S. forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968.
Southeastern has been named a “Military Friendly School” by
Victory Media four times in the last several years for demonstrating
its commitment to assisting active and reserve military service
members in a wide range of areas. In addition, Southeastern was
included in the first listing of the Louisiana Governor’s Military
and Veteran Friendly Campuses. With the addition of ROTC,
Southeastern intends to play a leading role in supporting the needs of
both veterans and future military leaders.
TOP: Southeastern ROTC graduates have served in the armed forces
throughout the world. Showing their Lion pride while standing in front of
one of Sadam Hussein’s many palaces in Baghdad, Iraq, are, from left, Lt. Col.
Vincent Tallo (’90), Ralph Dykes (’91) and former Southeastern student Lt.
Col. David Dancer.
BOTTOM: First Lt. Roger P. Williams, a member of the military faculty
at Southeastern, teaches a class in military science on campus to a group
of SLU cadets who are part of the newly instituted ROTC program.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 25
ABOVE: ROTC cadets pose for a group photo in 1980 in front of the rappelling
tower that was used on campus as part of their
training.
RIGHT: Gary Sandifer of Hammond (’76), center, one
of the original founders of the Southeastern Alumni
Association’s ROTC Chapter, talks with other
graduates of the program at the Association’s annual
Awards Banquet. Shown are Lt. Col. Scott Adams
(‘90), left, and Col. Ralph Harris (‘83), who are both
now retired.
26 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
BreakwaterIt is not recovery: No way to lure coastlineback into place, recall siltalready gone to Gulf.
More like conception,as helicopterslift piles of christmas trees
into air, drop themin bundles along the marsh line.Reeds will grow
in soil trapped here. Shrimp will hideas these ponds fill in,
Ducks will land in flocks to feed. All new giftsagainst the water’s need.
ost writers work with a “sense of space,” basing their work naturally on
what they know. For Southeastern English Professor Jack Bedell – author of
several volumes of poetry – that “space” is the southeast Acadiana region,
specifically the city of Houma and its surrounding rural area. His latest work,
Elliptic, again taps into his knowledge of the geography, culture, and people
of that unique part of Louisiana.
“Many of the poems in this new collection deal with coastal erosion and wetlands loss
along the Gulf Coast, particularly on the coast of southeast Louisiana where I was born
and raised,” said Bedell, a three-time nominee for the position of Louisiana’s
poet laureate.
“The effects of the rapid loss of wetlands, aided in part by the hurricanes we’ve suffered
in recent years, and disasters like the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, played a large role in
the composition of this book,” he added.
Elliptic is the second installment of the Louisiana Series of Cajun and Creole Poetry (La
Série de Louisiane de Poésie des Acadiens et Créoles) by publisher Yellow Flag Press of
Lafayette. The series was initiated to highlight the work done by exceptional poets of
Franco-American descent.
A graduate of Northwestern State University, Bedell earned his master of fine arts
degree in creative writing from the University of Arkansas, then took a job teaching at
the University of Missouri. He later earned a doctorate at the University of Louisiana-
Lafayette.
The discomfort of living in what was to him a foreign environment led Bedell to return to
Louisiana and to Southeastern, where he now serves as coordinator of creative writing
and editor-in-chief of the university’s literary journal, Louisiana Literature, or La Lit as
it is generally known. He is a 1997 recipient of Southeastern’s President’s Award for
Excellence in Artistic Activity and in 2007 received a Louisiana Governor’s Art Award.
North Carolina poet Heather Ross Miller said of Bedell’s work: “Jack Bedell is an artist
who means business. He does not live in an ivory tower, but in Louisiana, a real place. His
words bring the history, beauty and power of his native place to life. He seeks to reflect
Louisiana and the existence of its people, tragic, funny, heartbreaking, crazy
and magnificent.”
Elliptic is available through the publisher. Bedell is the author of several other volumes of
poetry, including At the Bonehouse, What Passes for Love, and Come Rain, Come Shine, all
published by Texas Review Press and available through Amazon.
Bedell RELEASES NEW POETRY COLLECTIONby Tonya Lowentritt
Jack Bedell
media SHELF
M
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 27
ecently-retired Southeastern English Professor
Norman German likes to observe people that many
would call “misfits.” And it permeates much of
his writing.
Dead Dog Lying, a series of his short stories, was
published recently by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press.
Placed along the I-10 corridor from New Orleans to Texas, Dead
Dog Lying shines a light on society’s misfits and is largely based
on events and characters the author has experienced, dreamed
or witnessed over his life. Many of the characters in the stories
take their names from towns
along the corridor, such as
Elton, Jennings, Iota, Cecilia and
Henderson.
Norman said he dreamed about
a boy with antlers and made him
the protagonist of “Deerboy,”
whose title character gains
the gift of athletic prowess.
The story “Controlled Burn”
uses a prescribed ecological
fire as the metaphor for a
female game warden’s barely
controllable rage at her abusive
father, on whom she exacts
revenge in a unique way at the
story’s end. “The Girl and the
Green Gas Can” is based on a
relative’s childhood predilection
for sniffing gasoline until she
passed out.
The tale “Ditchboy” is based on
the real-life English girl Hayley
Okines, who died of progeria,
the disease that prematurely
ages its victims eight years for
each year they live. “She was
17 – or in ‘progeria years’ and
thanks to new life-extending
drugs – 136 years old when she
died,” he said.
“Norman German’s stories are filled with clever wordplay and
witty turns of plot. His expert use of description and metaphor
demonstrates his longtime experience as writer and teacher,” said
Tim Gautreaux, Southeastern writer-in-residence and author of The
Missing and several other novels.
“In Norman German’s mesmerizing stories of south Louisiana, the
ordinary is the fantastic, and the fantastic becomes the everyday,”
adds Gerald Duff, author of Dirty Rice and Blue Sabine. “Horror and
wonder live side by side in these powerful tales of haunted states
of mind. Dead Dog Lying takes hold and will not let go.”
A native of Lake Charles who
earned his doctorate from the
University of Southwestern
Louisiana (now ULL), German
is the author of several
other works, including A
Savage Wisdom,
an imaginative
reconstruction of the
life of Toni Jo Henry,
the only woman
executed in Louisiana’s
electric chair; and the
baseball novel Switch-
Pitchers, copies of which
reside by special request
in the Major League
Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown, N.Y.
Dead Dog Lying is available
through the publisher,
Amazon and other outlets.
short story collectionby Rene Abadie
GERMAN AUTHORS
Norman German
R
30 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Real-World
“What should I be when I grow up?” It’s a common question most
college students ask themselves. Choosing a career path and finding
a good fit can be a daunting task. However, Southeastern’s Real-
World Ready initiative is helping students answer this question well
before they walk across the graduation stage.
Every 10 years, Southeastern creates a Quality Enhancement Plan
(QEP) to use as its platform while undergoing reaccreditation.
Southeastern’s newest QEP, the Real-World Ready (RWR) initiative,
is helping students prepare for “real world” employment after
graduation.
RWR emerged and developed from a multi-year conversation
(2011-2014) with students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, and
community partners on how to improve student learning. The groups
recognized the need to expand the classroom beyond its four walls
and help students connect what they are learning in the classroom to
actual career-specific experiences.
“Our goal is to create new course-driven experiential learning
opportunities, as well as coordinate and expand existing
experiences,” says Dr. Jayetta Slawson, Director of the Office of
Experiential Learning.
The university currently offers experiential learning activities,
including service-learning, civic engagement, internships, study
abroad, research, and creative activity, in many of its degree
programs. One of the program’s ultimate goals is for every
undergraduate degree program to offer experiential learning courses
by Summer 2019.
Slawson says feedback from current RWR courses has been
positive. These experiences have re-energized students, increased
participation and discussion in the classroom, and are allowing
students to see in action what they are learning in books and the
classroom.
RWR is being implemented and supported in a number of different
ways, she noted. The Experiential Learning (EL) Team, which consists
of various faculty and staff members, promotes Real-World Ready
activities, mentors faculty and students, and presents training
workshops.
Professor of Social Work Dr. Lolita Boykin serves on the EL Team as
the liaison for the Department of Health and Human Sciences.
“The EL Team helps train faculty in ways to incorporate a RWR
component in their courses; we also help them with the process of
applying for RWR grants,” says Boykin.
Getting Ready for the
by Kandace Formaggio
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 31
Faculty members are encouraged to apply for grants to add or
enhance a RWR component in their courses. There are 36 official
RWR courses currently being offered. Twenty-five of those were
available to students this spring. As more RWR courses become
available, more students will have the option to choose courses with
these experiential learning components.
Marketing Instructor April Kemp teaches Social Media and Digital
Marketing, one of the newest RWR courses being offered. In this
course, students work in groups and develop marketing plans for
partner businesses. Students are getting a chance to take what
they learn in the classroom and then present professional marketing
proposals in front of executives at companies such as Copeland’s,
Eddie’s Frozen Custard, and the Louisiana Children’s
Discovery Center.
Of the students in Kemp’s class, English major and recent graduate
Kirsten Mixon believes experiences in Real-World Ready courses are
invaluable in helping students succeed post-graduation. Business
administration major Reginald Huff feels a student can only learn so
much in a classroom. Real experiences with real situations, he said,
give students a competitive advantage when looking for a job.
“Students’ creativity and confidence levels are soaring the more
and more they work with their clients. They are learning industry
knowledge through interaction and collaboration with each other
and their clients,” says Kemp. “The RWR initiative is more than
just a class. It is offering students a robust, hands-on opportunity
to take what they are learning in the classroom into an authentic,
professional setting while reflecting back on what they are learning.”
“Critical thinking and self-reflection are two elements that are helping
better prepare students for careers in education,” says teaching and
learning Instructor Stacy Jemison. The College of Education has
always been at the forefront with RWR, utilizing field experiences
and student teaching as specific forms of experiential learning,
building foundational skills in students step-by-step. Students begin
by observing in the classroom, then they move to organizing lessons,
teaching in short time blocks under a supervisory teacher, and finally
spending an entire semester as a teacher candidate, logging 280
hours of face-to-face instruction in a classroom under a mentoring,
experienced instructor.
“In the real world, teachers have to go through an evaluation process
to determine what their students are thinking and how they are
learning,” says Jemison. “The RWR component in our classes has
added a more reflective element to field experience. Now not only do
students question how they did something, but they reflect on why.
This allows students to develop into better practitioners by reflecting
on their own effectiveness as teachers.”
Students are also getting behind the RWR initiative. Five student
ambassadors, one from each academic college, serve on the RWR
Advisory Council and promote the importance of experiential
learning among their peers.
32 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
“Our role is to encourage students to go beyond the requirement of their courses and become involved in their future careers through professional and student organizations, service learning, professional development and workshops, and networking, “ said Caroline Pixberg, RWR student ambassador for the College of Education.
Nursing and Health Sciences student ambassador and athletic
training major Anthony “Tony” Miller promotes the initiative
among his peers, presents the program to first-year students, and
encourages instructors to apply for grants to make their courses
“Real-World Ready certified.” “RWR is a great program with great
potential just waiting to be tapped,” Miller said.
The RWR initiative is not replacing theories or concepts students
learn in the traditional classroom; instead, through experiential
learning students will be able to put those theories and concepts to
work. They are given opportunities to gain career-specific knowledge,
to develop into professionals by improving communication skills and
cultivating professional behaviors, and to reflect and think critically
about their work identifying strengths and weaknesses that will help
them make better decisions in their future careers.
Soon, students in every major will have the opportunity to not just
learn about the work they will be doing after graduation, but to
actually do the work.
“Our RWR team is working hard to improve the culture and
environment of learning. We have chosen to adopt proven learning
strategies to get our students workforce-ready,” Slawson said. “The
Real-World Ready initiative is here to promote student growth and
development and help them gain meaningful experiences which will
help them flourish in the real world.”
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 33
W
after OFFICE HOURS
Southeastern's Mythbuster
hen the popular TV show Mythbusters completed its final season
this year, one Southeastern professor certainly misses the
questioning curiosity and exciting experiments the hosts have
broadcast over the past 14 years.
Physics Professor Rhett Allain is a strong advocate of sharing
scientific views with the general public and breaking the science
down to a more easily understandable form by lay people. So the
Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters was a natural draw for him.
In 2011, the hosts of Mythbusters – special effects specialists
Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman – tried to include the scientific
explanation for one of their episodes on auto collisions. Some errors
in that episode caught Allain’s attention.
“My first rule for science advising says that you don’t have to be
100 percent correct, but you can be 100 percent wrong,” said Allain,
who has been writing a physics blog, “Dot Physics,” since 2008.
Southeastern Associate Professor of Physics Rhett Allain assists elementary education major Christina Klein of Ponchatoula in a class.
by Rene Abadie
34 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Allain criticized the segment in a blog post; the producers and
hosts read the blog, then got in touch with him about serving as
a physics adviser.
“They have had science advisers in the past, but not one
specifically focused on physics,” explained Allain, who has worked
on approximately 20 episodes. “My job is to take something
complicated and make it short and easy to understand. They
generally accepted my explanations, and I also helped select some of
the myths to be featured.”
Allain generally works with the producers, but has met the hosts via
Skype. Among his favorite episodes are the floating lead balloon, the
train tanker collapse, and the analysis of the classic question “will a
bullet fired from a gun hit the ground at the same time as one that
is dropped?”
“Neither host is a scientist; they both come from a movie special
effects background,” he said. “That’s what makes the show appealing.
These are just normal guys, not scientists, who are willing to tackle
various questions. Basically they do science fair projects, but on a
much larger scale. There’s value there because it does get people
excited about science.”
Allain makes his own efforts to get people thinking about science. In
addition to his blog, he writes a regular column for Wired Magazine
and for their online website. He is also the author of several books,
including Just Enough Physics, which goes over the basic science in
a first semester college or high school physics course; Geek Physics
– Surprising Answers to the Planet’s Most Interesting Questions, which
draws questions from movies, TV shows and viral videos; and the
National Geographic book Angry Birds Furious Forces: The Physics at
Play in the World’s Most Popular Game.
Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel Professor Allain consulted on the tanker episode.
TANKER CRUSHED -- It worked. But only after Jamie and Adam dropped a concrete block on it to dent it.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 35
Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel.
For Superbowl 50 earlier this year, he wrote an article for Sports
Illustrated that examined the physics behind the building of a “better”
football. While the game itself has undergone changes over the
years, he said, the football itself has changed little.
In his article, Allain explains the physics involved in changing the
shape of the football: could it be thrown further or with greater
velocity, and what impact would it have on the game?
The online piece was turned into a video by Sports Illustrated for use
on its website. Filming was conducted at Southeastern using several
SLU players, including one of Allain’s own students. The article and
accompanying video can be found at wired.com/2015/10/how-to-
use-physics-to-build-a-better-football/.
Is Allain concerned he will ever run out of questions?
“My ideas just come from being alive. I see stuff all the time that can
relate to physics in some way,” he said. “Sometimes this will come
from a movie I’ve seen or a cool YouTube video. Other times, I find
stuff just in everyday life, like looking at the differing prices of LEGO
pieces or wondering why different batteries cost different amounts.
I take lots of pictures of stuff – you never know when you’re going to
need them; and I keep a list of blog ideas which come faster than I
can write about them. So I have a huge list of ideas that I can
always do.”
Allain didn’t always want to be a teacher. “I wanted to be a super-
cool physicist. But once I ended up teaching labs in graduate school,
I was hooked. Teaching and learning physics attracted me in a way
that made it more interesting than playing video games.” Above: Applying physics to football Allain observes as a Sports Illustrated cameraman films Lion running back Rasheed Harrell for a video on the magazine’s website. Allain reviewed the impact that changing the shape of the football could have on the game.Bottom Left: IN ANOTHER GREAT MYTHBUSTERS MOMENT, Adam
and Jamie managed to lift a car with a vacuum cleaner.
36 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Student Skylar Erickson prepares a carcass with clothing to be placed for long term decomposition observation.
by Rene Abadie
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 37
On a cool fall day, Erin Watson-Horzelski sifts through the leaf litter surrounding a decomposing
beaver and comes up with a handful of wriggling bugs feasting on the carcass.
“This is what you are looking for at a crime scene,” said the Southeastern forensic
entomologist to a group of officers and deputies associated with the Hammond Police
Department and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. “You have to think like an insect; the
bugs are hiding in the leaf litter and surrounding area.”
Watson-Horzelski is the state’s only doctoral-level forensic entomologist and one of only
about 20 in the nation; as such she is frequently called upon to testify in homicide cases
regarding the time and other factors associated with the death of a victim. And, since police
are frequently gathering data at crime scenes, proper collection of specimens are important
clues that enable officials to piece the details together. She works to ensure the officers collect
information in a way that will stand up in a court of law.
Her forensics teaching in the Department of Biological Sciences, in tandem with courses in
chemistry and biochemistry, are providing students with the opportunity to apply scientific
principles to crime scenes. The university also offers a degree in Criminal Justice that can
supplement the scientific knowledge and prepare students for work in law enforcement.
Forensics is a growing field in crime detection, aided largely by advances in biology,
microbiology and biochemistry. Television shows such as CSI have popularized forensics as an
exciting potential career, and students are increasingly attracted to it, Watson-Horzelski said.
“Students are definitely highly motivated to investigate the field because of TV shows such
as CSI,” adds Chemistry Instructor Tino Ladogana, who teaches forensics in chemistry. “That
gives the field an initial interest by students, who soon learn, for the most part, this is basic
chemistry only applied to a crime scene or investigation.”
Watson-Horzelski has the experience of having testified in a wide range of cases in Louisiana
and other states. She knows first-hand what prosecutors and defense attorneys will be asking
as they explore crime scene investigation and reliability of the data collected.
38 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
She holds these programs for law enforcement officials periodically,
teaching the participants about the life stages of flies, beetles
and their cannibalistic predictors that surround a decomposing
carcass and how to collect live and preserved samples. The crime
investigators learn the impact of weather conditions, such as
ambient temperature, humidity, ground conditions and other factors.
“You have to be flexible in the field,” she explains. “If you’re trying
to preserve live specimens, such as maggots, you need to feed
them.” She recommends carrying small frozen meatballs to keep the
bugs alive, and she recalls how one investigator ran to a fast food
restaurant to pick up a raw burger patty in an emergency.
The majority of students interested in forensics take Watson-
Horzelski’s course and are also benefiting from her real-world
experience and knowledge. In the field, she emphasizes the
importance of collecting data and samples at least daily,
photographing the specimen, and measuring ambient temperature
and the temperature of the maggot mass at the site.
And for live specimens, she emphasizes, “These are your babies. Take
care of them. The first arrivals are very important.”
Senior Leslie Halstead of Prairieville took Watson-Horzelski’s
forensics class last year along with Amanda Bergeron. Now both
are completing undergraduate independent research for the spring
and summer semesters to further their learning by conducting
independent entomology research using a large adult pig carcass.
Watson-Horzelski has mentored more than 30 undergraduate
students in forensics research.
“This research experience is critical to our students’ readiness for the
real world,” she added.
Halstead noted there is much to learn if you’re willing to put in
the work.
“I had always been interested in forensics; I mean who wouldn’t be with all the cool crime scene shows on TV these days,” Halstead said. “After taking this class, I realized that there is a lot more to forensics. I never thought I would like the entomology side of forensics, but the bugs are starting to grow on me, so to speak. It’s something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life and being happy while doing it.”
Casey Schibler, left, and Heather McGettigan place samples to be tested in a centrifuge in one of Southeastern’s chemistry labs. Students have access to modern equipment that can be found in most professional forensics labs.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 39
DeAnn Lemus of Belle Chasse is looking to combine her
undergraduate degree in criminal justice with a graduate degree
in biological sciences that will include doing research work under
Watson-Horzelski.
“This class is a basis of what I aspire to do in the future,” said Lemus,
who worked with a team of three other students in her class to plant
their own crime scene. Each team was responsible for placing a
carcass – a large bird, armadillo, rabbit, and nutria – complete with
clothing to simulate a real crime scene. The students surrounded
their “decomposition islands” with wire fencing to keep them
undisturbed by humans or animals.
“I always wanted a criminal investigation career,” Lemus added. “To
work in forensics in criminal investigation, a hard science background
is necessary. Everything we’ve learned in this class is going to come
to good use in my career in the future. And having Dr. Watson as my
guide the next couple of years, I couldn’t have it better. She’s got one
heck of a resume.”
“This class has been a real eye-opener for me,” said Skylar Erickson
of Slidell as she dressed her armadillo carcass for her group project.
“Dr. Watson provides us with amazing examples from her personal
experiences and cases, and you truly get a feel for what you could be
doing in the forensics field. You get ample opportunity to get hands-
on, real-time projects to understand this field of science.”
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 41
Ladogana said Southeastern offers a forensics concentration in
chemistry, and more than 25 students have been drawn to the field.
The concentration is supplemented with several courses in criminal
justice so students can learn the applications of science to
law enforcement.
In recent years, employment in forensics has expanded considerably,
he explained. Whereas the local medical examiners office and FBI
have traditionally had opportunities for graduates, that field now
includes agencies such as Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Wildlife
and Fisheries and Homeland Security.
“Our forensics course and other chemistry courses provide a very
general overview for the student, including details on what they may
encounter at a crime scene,” he explained. “We teach them some
field experiences, such as collecting blood samples and DNA.”
He emphasized the importance of learning how to preserve evidence
through backup and redundancy.
“We stress the importance of trying to get whatever specimens or
data at the scene as possible,” he said. “If you have to go back to the
scene, you may have to get a warrant, which is time consuming.”
He said students at Southeastern are learning on the same chemical
analysis machines and using the same processes in the university
labs that they would be using in a forensics laboratory.
“Chemistry is good for this,” he added. “It’s fairly easy now to screen
for drugs, alcohol and DNA. But costs are nearly always a factor,
especially at the state and local levels, so it’s important the students
learn to be cost-effective. You can’t send everything to the lab to
be analyzed.
“Unlike the TV shows, though, you’re not going to have access to
the very high tech equipment that is portrayed, simply because the
shows tend to exaggerate what can actually be done,” Ladogana said.
“For example, photo enhancement software is not nearly as accurate
an identification tool as it is portrayed in the television shows.”
Both scientists agree that much of the collection work is not done
by forensics experts in the field. That frequently is left up to the
chemists, biologists and technicians working in the lab.
“Forensics is the application of basic scientific principles for a
specific purpose,” Watson-Horzelski said. “Here we are applying
scientific information to the biological and ecological characteristics
of the deceased or the crime scene. It’s a lot of fun, but by the end of
the day, it’s still science.”
42 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
SOUTHEASTERN IS THE PROUD HOME OF
SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THE REGION, ITS
OWN STUDENT-FOCUSED BROADCAST
What started as a radio club run by students
evolved into a broadcast station, launching in 1974.
From its humble beginnings to today, the station
serves as a training ground for communication
students who can receive a hands-on education
and learn radio from the inside out. The station
has gone from operating only a few hours a day
from funds dedicated by the Student Government
Association and self-assessed from the student
body, to a 24-hour, publically funded radio station.
FM radio station - KSLU 90.9 FM
OUT there
by Camry Boudy
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 43
When it initially launched,
the station operated on
only 10 watts of power and
could be heard by the local
Southeastern community
area only. With multiple
investments by the university,
the wattage has grown and,
with it, the audience. The
station now operates at over
3,000 watts and can be heard
in Denham Springs, Covington,
and Kentwood. As growth
continued, so did innovation.
In 1988, the station ushered in
computer-based broadcasting
by installing a digital touch
screen operating system, the
first of its kind in the South.
The transformative moments
at the station continued when
KSLU became an early adopter
of web broadcasting and
became a global entity via the
Internet in 1996.
KSLU has given hundreds of
students the exposure and
experience needed to flourish
in the broadcast industry.
Many alumni are currently
working in the broadcast field.
One of the best known is Good Morning America host Robin Roberts,
who took her turn as a station announcer while a student.
General manager Todd Delaney is committed to giving students the
most comprehensive and advanced experience possible. From script
writing, to digital production work, to broadcasting live on the air,
each student receives the training necessary to broadcast on the
radio and land a job in the field from day one. “We know that our
students can jump right in the control room seat after graduation.
They are job-ready,” said Delaney.
The station broadcasts a wide array of content to satisfy audiences
both at Southeastern and throughout the region. KSLU is the only
local station that serves as a testing ground for new and regional
artists. There are also specialty programs, such as “Rock School,”
which takes on specific topics regarding rock; “Café Italia,” which
gives a nod to the region’s Italian American heritage by featuring
music of that culture; “Local Static,” which features music of the
nearby region; “Rincon Hispano,” that features music from around
the Hispanic world, and other topical talk programs and specialty
music programs.
“It’s important for us to focus on creating unique programs that
attract the university audience and the population at large as well.
We hope to be a resource for both populations,” added Delaney. The
station also produces newscasts that serve the community.
With a recently launched new website – kslu.org – streaming is even
easier, and the station now has audiences in well over 60 different
nations. It truly has a global reach, as it is now in its fifth decade.
KSLU has been recognized repeatedly for its work and quality. It is
now home to many awards including the Marcom Gold Award, many
Communicator of Excellence awards, and the Collegiate Broadcasters
Award. It was also recently named as the No. 2 college radio station
in the south by the Southeast Journalism Conference
What’s next for KSLU? With the station’s effort to increase its
levels of public financial support, new doors can open to allow it
to maintain the newest technologies and innovations. In the future
KSLU would like to begin archiving all programs online and launch
innovative projects with new digital platforms.
KSLU has served Southeastern students in information, music and
hands-on experience and the community with unique programming
for over 40 years. Delaney is confident that its best days are still
ahead.
44 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
International
Student-Athletes
Thrive at SoutheasternBy Kemmler Chapple
STAR ON THE COURT & CLASSROOM: Senior captain of the Southeastern tennis team Renee Villarreal has been named to the All-Southland Conference team every season. She has also maintained a 4.0 GPA as a finance major and at graduation earned the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence. She is a native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 45
Sathletics
ince Southeastern joined the Southland
Conference prior to the 1997-98 season, the
Lions and Lady Lions have won 28 conference
championships. The Southeastern soccer and
tennis teams have combined for 15 of those
league titles.
While other sports may have a greater following
in the United States, tennis and soccer are two
of the most played games around the world.
Southeastern head tennis coach Jason Hayes
and head soccer coach Blake Hornbuckle have
capitalized on their respective sports’ worldwide
popularity by bringing in international student-
athletes to build championship foundations in
their respective sports.
Hayes’ teams have been almost exclusively
comprised of international players. From 2005-
08, the Lions tennis teams won 48 consecutive
Southland Conference matches, three Southland
Conference Tournament championships,
three Southland Conference regular season
championships and made three trips to the
NCAA Tournament.
46 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
Hands full of Southland Conference championship rings and
unprecedented success were not all that the players on those teams
had in common. All of those championship players were from
outside of the United States. The top player on that team was Emilija
Arnaudovska, who was named the Southland Conference Player of
the Year in each of her final two seasons. The Skopje, Macedonia,
native was inducted into the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame
in 2014.
To Hayes, both the university and the student-athletes benefit
from the international student-athletes’ membership in the tennis
program.
“As an American, it’s sometimes hard for us to look objectively at
our own country,” Hayes commented. “Our international student-
athletes view playing sports and studying in the United States as
a privilege and an opportunity to enhance their lives. A lot of them
come over here and never leave, while the ones that do go back to
their home countries with a degree from Southeastern benefit greatly
in their chosen professions.
“Our international student-athletes are given an opportunity to thrive
here,” Hayes continued. “As a tennis program, we don’t just benefit
from their successes on the court. Our student-athletes from outside
the United States come here and excel in the classroom, while
becoming immersed in the Southeastern community.”
Hayes continues to provide international student-athletes with
opportunities to this day. This year’s Lions’ roster features players
from Mexico, Ecuador, Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay and Russia.
In addition to having a winning record on the court, all eight have a
cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or above with three carrying
a 4.0 GPA.
“Sometimes people will ask me if our players speak English,” Hayes
said. “I always laugh and tell them that not only do they speak
English, but most of them speak three or four languages fluently. For
our student-athletes to come here and be so successful academically
is remarkable.”
Southeastern’s tennis team is made up entirely of international student-athletes. Pictured from left are Natalie Duran, sophomore, Cancun Mexico; Dany Raygadas, sophomore, Queretaro, Mexico; Lucia Bustamente, sophomore, Guayaquil, Ecuador; Dalina Dahlmans, sophomore, Selfkant Hil-lensberg, Germany; Renee Villarreal, senior, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Ceci Mercier, sophomore, Montevideo, Uruguay; Madina Vorotnikova, sophomore, Moscow, Russia; and Margaux Kaltenbacher, junior, Lausanne Switzerland.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 47
athletics
TOP RIGHT: International players
on Southeastern’s soccer team include freshman
Sophia Olsson of Lysekil, Sweden, and
senior Gisenia Utreras of Brompton, Ontario
Canada.
RIGHT: Southeastern junior goalkeeper Hope
Sabadash of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has twice been named the
Southland Conference Tournament Most
Valuable Player.
48 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
“Our Canadians
have been a big
part of their
program and have
proved
that they come here
and thrive in any
situation.”
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 49
The current standout of the group is senior Renee Villarreal, a native
of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Villarreal has taken full advantage
of the athletic and academic opportunities she’s been given as a
Lion. On court, she has been named All-Southland Conference every
season and ranks fourth in school history in career singles victories.
The president of the Southeastern Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC), Villarreal has maintained a 4.0 GPA as a
finance major and has multiple Academic All-District and Southland
Conference All-Academic honors to her credit.
“Renee is the ideal student-athlete, international or otherwise,”
Hayes commented. “There is no one single superlative that I can
use to accurately describe her, because she excels at everything she
does. She’s the captain of our team, our best player, the president of
SAAC, a 4.0 student and involved in the community.
“I guess the best word to describe her is complete,” Hayes added.
“Because there’s nothing she does that she does not dedicate herself
to completely. She’s the type of person, athlete and student that
you’re fortunate to coach maybe once or twice in a lifetime.”
While Hayes’ teams have featured student-athletes from all
continents with the exception of Antarctica, Hornbuckle has taken a
more focused approach to bringing in student-athletes from outside
the country.
In total, the Southeastern soccer program has had over 30 student-
athletes from Canada under Hornbuckle’s tutelage. Among those are
Southeastern Athletics Hall of Famers Kim McNally and Courtney
Coutu Martin.
“The Canadian student-athletes have been great for our program,”
Hornbuckle commented. “What sets them apart is their work rate
in everything they do, whether it be on the field or in the classroom.
Our Canadians have been a big part of the program and have proved
that they come here and thrive in any situation.”
Like Hayes, Hornbuckle has a current once-in-a-lifetime student-
athlete from outside of the United States on his current roster. As a
junior in 2015, goalkeeper Hope Sabadash became the first All-
American in program history. In her three seasons in Hammond,
the Mississauga, Ontario, Canada native has twice been named
Southland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player and led the
Lady Lions to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
“Hope elevates the level of the team,” Hornbuckle said. “She’s very
organized and provides a calmness that benefits the whole team. At
the same time, she displays a competitive drive and will to win that
her teammates are motivated to match.”
Sabadash and Villarreal are shining examples of the opportunities
afforded to international student-athletes as members of the
Southeastern athletics family. Villarreal has been named the
Southeastern Female Athlete of the Year each of the past two
seasons. In 2013-14, she could not claim it by herself, however.
She shared the honor with her fellow international student-
athlete Sabadash.
Tennis Coach Jason HayesSoccer Coach Blake Hornbuckle
athletics
50 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
CLASS notes
’52 | A.J. BODKER of Ponchatoula, former teacher and principal of Ponchatoula High School for 35 years
and supervisor of Southeastern’s student teachers from 1988 to 2003, recently retired from the Board of
Commissioners of North Oaks Health System, where he has served for 12 years.
’67 | CARROLL NOX DEVANE of New Orleans has published a memoir of her world travels over several
years. Sleeping between the Rails: A Woman’s Odyssey chronicles her five-and-a half years of travels that started
shortly after her graduation by hopping a Spanish freighter to Barcelona and working her way through 32
countries. The book traces two parallel journeys: the external and physically challenging one of world-wide travel
and the spiritually challenging one of self-discovery. The book is available on Amazon.
’71 | COL. JOHN D. KENNEDY of Houston was reappointed to the Port Commission of the Port of
Houston Authority. Originally appointed to the Port Commission in 2012, he previously served as City Manager
of the City of Nassau Bay, Texas. He retired from the U.S. Army after 27 years of military service.
’76, 13 | PATRICE PUJOL of Gonzales retired this year as superintendent of Ascension Parish Public School
System to assume the position of president of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). A teacher
and administrator for 39 years and last year’s College of Education Alumna of the Year, Pujol will work with the
institute to provide educator effectiveness solutions in teacher leadership.
’83 | ROBIN ROBERTS , co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, was one of three individuals honored in
May by the V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research funding organizations.
She was recognized for bravely sharing her personal battle with the rare blood disorder myelodysplastic
syndrome shortly after defeating breast cancer. She is a member of the V Foundation’s Board of Directors.
’84 | LISA FAUCHEUX BACALA has been named the new director of secondary education for Ascension
Public Schools. She began her career in education in Ascension Parish in 1986 and most recently served as
supervisor of secondary education, where she worked in all four high schools and the system’s alternative
school.
’89 | NANETTE MCANN of Baton Rouge was recognized by Baton Rouge Business Report as one of the
2015 Influential Women in Business. She serves as principal of both Baton Rouge Magnet High School and Lee
High School.
‘93 | PAM CALI BANKSTON was recognized in February by Holy Ghost Catholic School in Hammond as
the school’s Distinguished Graduate. She is a registered nurse and the author of the recently published children’s
book Frizzy Frieda’s Gymtastrophe and the Sicilian American cookbook La Famiglia.
‘94 | HART BORDELON of Hammond has been named market president for Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Co.
He has nearly 15 years of experience in the financial industry.
KEEPING in touchCLASS notes
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 51
’94 | RUSTY ROBBINS of New Orleans, a business development manager at industrial contractor Topcor,
was one of several single parents cooking with chef Jeff Henderson on the television show, Flip My Food. He
competed in the “$10 Dinner” episode.
’95 | SHERMAN MACK of Albany, state representative of District 95, has been named chairman of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Committee in the Louisiana Legislature. The committee addresses all criminal
legislation dealing with crimes, sentencing, probation and parole, drug enforcement and other areas.
’96, 99 | LAVANTA WILLIAMS has been named Elementary School Principal of the Year for the Fort Bend
Independent School District in Houston. After teaching several years in Baton Rouge, he moved to Houston,
where he has held administrative positions at several schools.
‘98 | BRANDON FRIMAN has been appointed by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry to serve as the
criminal division director for the Louisiana Department of Justice. He previously served as an assistant U.S.
attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, where he prosecuted drug trafficking, crimes of violence and
immigration matters.
’12 | KAITLYNN JONES (also known as Kaitlynn Aisling) of Baton Rouge is currently working in information
technology at the FMOL Health System. She recently completed her third novel, Die by Night. She also writes a
regular blog, “Pure Dream.”
‘08 | LESLIE BALLARD has been named program director of North Oaks Medical System’s new dietetic
internship program. She has worked at North Oaks as a community health educator.
‘12 | DANIEL HUGGETT of Baton Rouge has been appointed to a position as a NASA Pathways Engineering
Student at the Kennedy Space Center. He has worked with both the John C. Stennis Space Center and the
Marshall Space Flight Center and is currently a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at LSU.
‘13 | REBECCA LORINO POND of Ponchatoula in 2013 released her book, Theron Destiny, the first novel in
a series. She has published 10 other books since then in the science fiction / romance genre.
‘11 | MATTHEW SAUCIER , director of property management with Gulf States Real Estate Services in
Covington, was listed as “One to Watch in Real Estate” in New Orleans CityBusiness. He currently manages over
650,000 square feet of office and retail properties.
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 53
Access = SuccessSoutheastern’s First Generation Scholarships Create Success
Southeastern was conceived by Linus Sims over 90 years ago in
order to provide residents of a growing region access to education
beyond high school. He foresaw that in order for the Northshore
region to continue to develop, grow and prosper, its population
must be educated. From those earliest days, Southeastern has been
passionate about providing an increasing number of individuals
with the opportunity to attain a college degree. In addition to its
educational contributions, in many ways it has become a central
cultural and economic feature of the region, too. It helped create a
middle class in the area.
That mission continues to this day.
Today, access, or lack thereof, is about more than geographical
location. As the costs of obtaining a college degree have increased
significantly, many have found access more and more difficult. As
well, families that do not yet have college graduates among their
members do not always have the ingrained support mechanisms
that automatically focus their younger generations on college.
In order to help alleviate some financial strain and continue its
missionary path to provide access, Southeastern has launched
several first generation scholarships with the help of very
committed and generous donors.
The current first generation scholarships include the AT&T First-
Generation Endowed Scholarship, the Cameron and Marcia Barr
First-Generation Endowed Scholarship, the Clausen Family First-
Generation Endowed Scholarship, the Hammond Jaycees First-
Generation Endowed Scholarship, the James Ernest, May Hemby,
and Holman Hemby Morgan First-Generation Endowment, the Myra
LaRue First-Generation Scholarship and the Steve Cosse/Murphy
Oil First-Generation Scholarship.
These scholarships are created to blend access and success. They
are to aid in the financing of a degree for those who will represent
the first generation in their family to complete a college degree.
With this help, their success will inspire future generations who also
desire to obtain university degrees.
by Mike Rivault
54 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?My immediate career goal is to work overseas with athletes and travel to
different countries doing what I love. My long-term career goal is to one day
own a sports medicine clinic back home in Sugar Land, Texas, to become
closer with my community.
HAS THE SCHOLARSHIP HELPED YOU?This scholarship has helped me and my family tremendously. It has motivated
me to work diligently in school. My family is not only proud that I’m attending
college, but they are proud that I am motivated and focused on completing
my degree.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE DONORS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP?I greatly appreciate the opportunity and the financial support to better my
education. Being blessed with this scholarship has opened many doors and
many opportunities that may have not been there otherwise. I am thankful
to the former president of Murphy Oil Corporation, Steve Cosse, who started
the scholarship, and Murphy Oil as well. It’s a phenomenal and a unique thing
to see others still being active in the community and giving back to students
who want an education.
WILL THIS INSPIRE YOU TO HELP OTHERS IN THE FUTURE?Receiving this scholarship inspires me to help and support students like
myself who have the motivation and the determination to work hard in
college but aren’t financially able to attend. Just because you’re not financially
capable of funding your college career shouldn’t mean that dream should be
dead. Everyone who works hard enough for it deserves the chance.
HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT?If I can help others in any way possible, I would give back to my school,
communities in New Orleans and here at Southeastern. Giving back money
and giving your time are valuable and remembered by the ones you support.
I hope to be involved with schools and students to share the importance of
positivity and leadership that enable success.
HAS THIS SCHOLARSHIP MADE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF AND SUCCESS AT SOUTHEASTERN BETTER?Attending Southeastern has been a great opportunity and stepping stone to
start a new chapter in my life. I was involved in high school but being involved
in college is a completely different atmosphere. I have had the chance to meet
many different people. Most importantly, I’ve started evolving into a strong
person and confident leader.
Freshman // Kinesiology - Athletic Training
Currently considering a double major in Sport Management.
Steve Cosse/Murphy Oil First-Generation Scholarship
Tia Ja’NeecHARRIS
giving BACK
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 55
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?After graduation, my goal is to become a pediatric nurse. I have always loved working with children and have a passion for the medical field; a career in pediatric nursing is a perfect combination of the two. I am very excited about
the future and cannot wait to begin my career.
HAS THE SCHOLARSHIP HELPED YOU?The scholarship I received has helped me tremendously. Nursing school takes up a substantial portion of my time and can be very overwhelming. The scholarship has allowed me to take a semester off from work so I am able to focus more on my studies, while still having money to cover tuition and other things I need for school. Without it, I am not sure what I would have done this past year.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE DONORS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP?I will always be grateful for the significant help. This scholarship came to me at a perfect time- it could not have worked out better for me and my
current situation.
WILL THIS INSPIRE YOU TO HELP OTHERS IN THE FUTURE?If I am able to, I would love to pay it forward by helping others in the future.
HAS THIS SCHOLARSHIP MADE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF AND SUCCESS AT SOUTHEASTERN BETTER?This scholarship has increased my enjoyment and ensured my success. I am not sure how I would have made it through this last year of school without it. I know that my grades may have suffered if I would have had to take a
semester off of work.
HAS YOUR ATTENDANCE AT SOUTHEASTERN INSPIRED OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE?My little sister is graduating this year and has every intention of going to college. She has told me multiple times that she wants to follow in my footsteps. She understands the importance of a college education and I fully support her in getting one.
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?I love children and would like to become an elementary school teacher. I hope
to teach first or second grade students.
HAS THE SCHOLARSHIP HELPED YOU?Yes! Going to college is expensive, so I am grateful for receiving the Clausen
Family Scholarship. The funds enabled me to be sure I could complete
my degree.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE DONORS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP?Thank you for your generous donation! Because of it, I can continue to use the
talents that God has given me and continue on the path where he leads me to
seek and pursue a rewarding career in teaching.
WILL THIS INSPIRE YOU TO HELP OTHERS IN THE FUTURE?Yes, I would like to one day help others in the same situation as I am and
donate to college scholarship programs.
HAS THIS SCHOLARSHIP MADE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF AND SUCCESS AT SOUTHEASTERN BETTER?Yes! This scholarship has taken some financial burden off of me, which by
itself has increased my overall enjoyment of my time here at Southeastern.
HAS YOUR ATTENDANCE AT SOUTHEASTERN INSPIRED OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE? My presence at Southeastern has inspired my two younger cousins to attend.
I took them on a walk around campus, and they loved the atmosphere of
Southeastern. They look forward to continuing their education here after they
graduate from high school.
KayliePINKERTONJunior // Nursing
James Ernest, May Hemby & Holman Hemby Morgan
First Generation Endowment
PaigeIMBRAGUGLIOSenior // Early Childhood Education
Clausen Family First Generation Scholarship
56 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E
India
Republic of Korea
NepalHonduras
Over 80% of Southeastern’s international students come from 20 nations represented
by their home nation flag.
An International
Reach
30%
5%
4%
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 57
ChinaCanada
Germany
The Bahamas
Mexico
Colombia
United Kingdom
Moldova
Ukraine
France Italy
Jamaica
Vietnam
El Salvador
Philippines
Nigeria
2%
1%
3%