NATCHITOCHES –  Bill Brent, who spent a career mentoring young musicians, particularly those who intended to teach music, announced a planned gift to benefit students with a desire to positively impact a new generation of musicians.  Brent, longtime director of Northwestern State University’s Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts, created the William Erwin Brent Endowed Director’s Fund and the Edna Mae and Erwin Jessie Brent Endowed Scholarship in Music Education through a bequest to the NSU Foundation.

            Seventy-five percent of the planned gift will go towards the scholarship that honors his parents, Edna Mae and Erwin Jessie Brent.  The scholarship will be awarded to a music education major with a grade point average of 3.0 or better who has passed the Praxis exam and is engaged in student teaching.

            “Currently, these students lose their performance scholarships because they can not participate in music ensembles while student teaching.  So, this will be a way to help make-up the difference for them,” Brent said.

            Twenty-five percent of the planned gift will go towards the William Erwin Brent Endowed Director’s Fund, to be used at the discretion of the CAPA director to support faculty and students as needed.

            Brent served NSU for 30 years as director of bands and as director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts. He was the inaugural inductee into the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame, one of many accomplishments he earned during his long career.  He retired from administrative duties and band in 2013 but continues to be involved in special projects as needed in CAPA.

            Brent’s first memory of music was in the church where he grew up where his mother played piano and his father was a vocalist and involved in the music program. He began studying piano in second grade, started band in the fifth grade and choir in the sixth grade, which he continued throughout his high school career, in addition to studying organ in high school.

            “I absolutely loved being in band and, in the 8th grade I wanted to stop taking piano lessons.  My dad told me I could do that but I would have to stop being in band.  So, I continued to take piano lessons and it was possibly the best thing my dad ever did for me.  It wasn't until I got into college that I realized how much further along I was than many of my peers who were having to learn piano from scratch.  Many of them struggled.  I had no problems placing out of piano studies and continued to study piano for a while in college,” Brent said.

            Brent said the ideal recipient of the Edna Mae and Erwin Jessie Brent Endowed Scholarship in Music Education would be one who has worked hard to achieve goals both musically and academically.

            “The student would have participated in numerous ensembles and been supportive of their fellow students,” Brent said.  “It would be a person who tries to ‘lead by example,’ which is a phrase I used often with the band students.” 

            Brent said he feels blessed to work with outstanding CAPA faculty, staff and students as well as serve on committees across campus with numerous outstanding faculty and staff.

            “I was fortunate to have four different presidents, several academic vice presidents and numerous deans who realized the importance of the arts and a well-rounded arts programs,” Brent said. “I also have to thank Ladell Conley, office administrator, who worked with me for nearly 30 years, keeping me on task and on time with so many aspects of the band and CAPA.”

            Brent said both CAPA and the NSU bands are stronger than ever due to the new leadership of his successors, Dr. Greg Handel, CAPA director, and Dr. Jeff Mathews, director of bands.   

            “These endowments are a small effort on my part to say ‘thank you’ to NSU and Natchitoches and to encourage others to remember to ‘give back’ so that we can ‘give forward’ in the future,” Brent said.

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health will hold an informational meeting for high school students interested in nursing careers.  The informational will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 at NSU’s Cenla campus at the Learning Center for Rapides Parish.

            “Nurses are going to be in high demand now and they will be in the future, so the career opportunities are endless,” said Carolyn Hartt, assistant professor of nursing and nursing coordinator for the NSU Cenla campus. “NSU has an excellent faculty, students receive individual attention and our healthcare facilities offer excellent learning experience.”  

            The Learning Center for Rapides Parish is located at 1410 Neel Kearby Blvd. in Alexandria. To learn more about the informational meeting, contact Hartt at hartt@nsul.edu or (318) 769-7992.

NATCHITOCHES –  Students starting the Spring 2016 semester at Northwestern State University’s Nursing Education Center will notice several improvements to the Shreveport campus.  New lighting and surveillance cameras have been installed in the parking lot at the Shreveport campus, thanks to the generosity of several donors.  

            NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health will hold a ribbon cutting to thank donors who contributed to the project beginning at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15 at the Nursing Education Center, 1800 Line Ave, Shreveport.  A light reception will follow.

            “We are grateful to all those who demonstrate how important facilities are to learning by supporting these improvements,” said Dr. Dana Clawson, dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.  “We want to acknowledge how meaningful it is to our students that our campus is safe, convenient and attractive.  We are very proud of our campus.”

           Improvements were made possible through donations from the Alta and John Franks Foundation, Willis-Knighton Health System and CEO James K. Elrod, The Committee of 100 and President Patrick Harrison, Roy Griggs, John George, Glenn Kinsey, George Fritze and Steve Skrivanos.

            NSU’s Shreveport Nursing Education Center provides the educational environment for approximately 1,000 nursing and radiologic sciences majors enrolled in general academic or clinical courses.  The Center consists of the Line Avenue School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Library Building, Faculty Tower and Warrington Building.

            The Library Building houses the library, computer center, multimedia center, nursing skills lab, classrooms and a large lecture hall used for workshops, seminars and conferences. The four-story Faculty Tower houses offices for faculty, administrators and student organizations. One block west, at 1800 Warrington, is a two-story building that houses radiologic sciences classes and labs, computer labs and the NSU Child and Family Network offices.

            “These upgrades are part of a larger initiative to improve the visibility of our historic campus” Clawson said.  “Students and visitors have already noticed improved signage and cosmetic work that make our campus stand out.”

            Healthcare agencies in Caddo and Bossier parishes estimate that 75-80 percent of the RN workforce are graduates of one or more of NSU’s nursing programs. According to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing’s Annual report the nearly 5,000 RNs who are employed in Caddo and Bossier parishes have an economic impact of about $223.8 million.

            For information on the Jan. 15 ribbon cutting, contact Clawson at (318) 677-3100.  For information on NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, visit nursing.nsula.edu. 

NATCHITOCHES –  Northwestern State University will offer three new post-baccalaureate programs targeted to meeting regional workforce needs.  NSU will offer a graduate certificate in writing for business, industry and technology; a post-baccalaureate certification in project management and a post baccalaureate certification in quality control.

            The PBC in writing for business, industry and technology will train students who plan to work as writers in technological, scientific and commercial fields as well as those who regularly communicate technical information to non-experts such as clients, business partners and the general public.  The 18-hour credit certificate will be offered online through NSU’s Department of English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies and can be completed in one calendar year, according to Dr. Thomas Reynolds, writing program administrator.  Earned credit can also be applied to NSU’s Master of Arts in English in writing and linguistics.

            “The certificate program focuses on writing as it occurs in professional settings,” Reynolds said.  “The need for strong writers in technological and scientific fields is growing as we continue to evolve into an information economy, particularly in our region with Shreveport/Bossier developing into a center of industry and e-business.”

            According to Reynolds, employment growth will be driven by the continuing expansion of scientific and technical products and by growth in web-based product support.  

            “Job opportunities, especially for applicants with technical skills, are expected to be good,” he added.  “Our program is designed for those who currently work in positions where strong communication of technical information is essential and for writers who wish to develop the special skills necessary to move into technical writing positions.”

            The post-baccalaureate certificates in project management and quality control focus on effective decision-making in technical, manufacturing, and service providing industries, according to Dr. Ali Ahmad, head of NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology.  

            “The programs will allow students with baccalaureate degree in any discipline to gain pertinent knowledge to apply project management or quality control techniques and principles to products, processes or services in industrial environment thereby enabling them work as a project manager or a quality supervisor,” Ahmad said.

            Each certificate is an 18-hour program, which will be delivered online and face to face to fulfill workforce needs which have grown as Louisiana has attracted many technical, manufacturing and service providing industries over the past five years, he added.

            “Courses for the certificate programs come from the College of Business and Technology,” Ahmad said.  “Together with the post-baccalaureate program in business analytics approved in December, we now offer a suite of focused, highly relevant certificates.”

            “Northwestern State designed these offerings specifically for 21st century professionals,” said NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson.  “Lifelong learning is essential for advancement, but traditional graduate education is inaccessible to most working adults. These certificate programs will allow you to bring new value to your current employer or organization, or give you a competitive advantage in the job market."

            For information on the graduate certificate for in writing for business, industry and technology, contact Reynolds at reynoldst@nsula.edu.  For information on the post-baccalaureate certifications in project management and quality control, contact Ahmad at ahmada@nsula.edu. 

The L.P. Vaughn School of Fine Arts announces that Ashley Logan will teach violin at this year’s school. According to Danny Von Kanel, the school’s director, “Logan came highly recommended by Dr. Greg Handel, director of the School of Performing Arts at Northwestern State University.” Logan is a junior at NSU and is working to earn her bachelors’ degree in instrumental music education. She is a violin student studying under Dr. AndreJ Kurti. Logan is a Baton Rouge resident, having played violin for 10 years.  

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            NATCHITOCHES –  Northwestern State University’s chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest, most selective and most prestigious all-discipline honor society held an induction ceremony for new initiates.  Selection criteria for Phi Kappa Phi are based on high academic standard.  Membership is open to the top 7.5 percent of second term juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, as well as faculty and professional staff who achieved scholarly distinction.

            Faculty/staff inducted into Phi Kappa Phi were NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, Dr. Terrie Poehl, assistant professor in the Department of Teaching, Leadership and Counseling, and Dr. Ali Ahmad, head of the Department of Engineering Technology.

            Student initiates listed by hometowns are as follows.

Alexandria – Carol C. Kelly;

Anacoco – Rachel Reischling;

Arlington, Texas -- Amber L. Lamers;

Ball – Rosalie Griffin

Baton Rouge – Kayla Ashford, Shakia Davis, Jordan N. Morris, Christian N. Smith;

Belle Chasse – Megan Jenkins;

Belmont – Savanna D. Eaves;

Benton – Nicholas Clay;

Blanchard – Carolyn Hale;

Bossier City – Taylor M. Freeman, Connie Miller, Kimberly E. Mossier, Isabella M. Vazquez;

Bunkie -- Danyelle Coco;

Campti – Rosalind P. Lowe;

Carencro – Julia A. Barry;

Castor – Mary E. Corley;

Chalmette – Kaylyn M. Martin;

Colfax – Ann-Elizabeth Brown;

Coushatta – Jennifer Ann Morgan;

Covington – Danielle P. Tyrney;

Dallas, Texas – Leah S. Middlebrook;

Daphne, Alabama – Lesley S. Dykes;

Denham Springs – Katherine Eileen Danna;

DeRidder – Morgan Wisby;

DeVille – Audrey D. Carter;

Diana, Texas – Cody Ryan Wager;

Florien – Marilyn K. Anderson, Michael C. Williams;

Frierson – Jordan R. White;

Gladewater, Texas – Sarah Odom;

Grayson – Amy E. Poole;

Greenwell Springs – Mercedes Wiles;

Hammond -- Laine Blazevich;

Harvey – Jessica A. Love;

Haynesville – Austin McCurry;

Hessmer – Micalee Jeansonne

Houma – Amanda M. Boudreaux, Chelsea Thibodeaux;

Katy, Texas – Jocelyn Cummons;

Keithville – Kelsey I. Whitfield;

Kingwood, Texas – Eric Lopez;

Lafayette – Frances Attenhofer, Crystal M. Dunning, Jacqueline M. Judice;

Lake Charles -- Paula S. DeJean;

Lexington, Kentucky – Reid Van Bussum;

Lufkin, Texas – Brittany Amerson;

Lutcher – Rebekah L. Taylor;

Mabank, Texas – Alison R. Mitchell;

Many – Lincoln E. Pearce;

Marthaville – Ashleigh E. Daniels;

Maurice – Marie Hebert;

Melville – Blake Babin;

Metairie – Christy Aymami;

Monroe – Sarah Gandy, Conn T. McCandlish;

Morse – Rebekah M. Broussard;

Nacogdoches, Texas – Lauren E. Anderson;

Natchitoches – Amber N. Babin, Meghan Cross, Qyxiaan Elliott, Tommie G. Espy, Kaycie N. Fontenot, Kirsten A. Fontenot, Linda Ingridson Gamo Gougue, Natalie G. Jaeger, Daniel James, Caleb J. Killer, Emilie King, Natalya Krutova, Anne Marie Lamintina, Leon Latino III, Temberlee Mallet, Sara L. O’Neill, Amber Raggio, Anna C. Rogers, Savanna N. Whitten, Ashley E. Wolf, Tyler Zieske;

New Orleans – Gabrielle D. Gonzales, Meisha Landry;

Noble – James Curtis;

Oakdale – Kari Graham;

Olla – Danielle Veuleman;

Opelousas – Natasha N. Edwards;

Panama City Beach, Florida – Margaret L. Hochstedler;

Pelican – Emily A. Myers;

Piedmont, South Carolina – James L. Huss;

Pineville – Dylan P. Carter, Chad Worthy;

Ponchatoula – Angela Beecher, Raley A. Pellittieri;

Ruston – Caren E. S. Wood;

Scott – Adria Champagne;

Seneca, South Carolina – Jennifer B. Keaton;

Shreveport – Ezra Bess, Julie Gayle, Anna E. Gould, James H. Lake, Carolyne A. Redding, Danna Spires, Patricia Strickland, Michael S. Thrower, Logan A. Webb;

Sikes – Chelsey M. McBroom;

Slidell – Jessica L. Fletschinger;

Temple, Texas – Weston J. Scholten;

Vacherie – Jake G. Cazenave;

West Monroe – Cara E. Crawford;

Wilton, New York – Theresa Felton;

Winnfield – Maddaline Dempsey, Caitlin James;

Zachary – Bria J. Williams;

Zwolle – Kaitlin R. Lewing;

NATCHITOCHES –  Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology will host their first Robotics Competition (NSU-RC1) on Feb. 17. All middle schools within a 100-mile radius of Natchitoches are invited to participate.  There is no registration fee for the competition, but participants must register by Monday, Feb. 8 by submitting a letter of intent. 

            Participants will be able to test their computer programming skills and compete with other Louisiana students for prizes during a fun environment with educational experiences, food and social activities.  The top three teams will receive cash prizes to be used to purchase technology for the classroom.

            For a complete list of rules and regulations, contact Dr. Jafar F. Al Sharab at jafar@nsula.edu or call (318) 357-4359.  Documents can also be viewed and downloaded at http://engrtech.nsula.edu/industry-and-community-relations/. 

By Doug Ireland

ABILENE, Texas – After halftime Tuesday night at Abilene Christian, Northwestern State again showed flashes of the team coach Mike McConathy thinks is slowly emerging. But the third straight shaky first half outing left the visiting Demons trying to climb out of a hole they couldn’t escape as the Wildcats posted an 87-72 Southland Conference basketball victory.

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NATCHITOCHES –  Three Northwestern State University students are spending their spring semester abroad at Université D’Angers in France where they hope the experience of living abroad will enhance their coursework in hospitality management and tourism. University D’Angers is the third second largest hospitality school in the world.

            Alexander Anderson of Pineville, Hannah Haigh of Robeline and Savanah Meredith of Haughton will begin classes later this month.  The classes will be taught in English, but all three hope to improve their French language skills and learn to adapt to a different culture through immersion.

            Anderson, a senior, hopes to gain a better view of different cultures, history, language and cuisine.

            “Language and communication, tourism and culture studies are the classes that I will be taking,” he said.  “This will be a whole new world with different people and way of life.”

            “I hope to gain more knowledge about the culture, learn how to adapt in a completely different environment, hopefully learn a few things about myself, learn some French, and -- fingers crossed -- figure out what I want to do for a career,” said Meredith, a junior.   “I have never travelled outside of the country, which is why I have always been intrigued by the idea of studying abroad. I have always wanted to travel as I was never able to growing up. I believe traveling is an experience needed in order to become a more well-rounded individual.”  

            “I hope to learn much about the French culture and how they live,” said Haigh, a sophomore.  “My goal in life has always been to travel and broaden my horizons because life is short and there is so much to learn.  I will be taking courses in French culture and language, Loire Valley Castles, Food Culture Management, marketing wine and related products, and tourism destination.”

            Haigh was born in England and has visited that country many times as well as visiting Paris.

            “My family and I have always traveled, and I absolutely love it,” she said.  “I have always known that traveling the world is what I want to do, and knew hospitality management and tourism was the perfect major for me. I have always been told that talk is cheap, and if you want to do it then do it. If you get the opportunity to go somewhere to learn something new, never hesitate because you will regret it in the long run. I know that this Study Abroad Program will be very rewarding in every aspect of my life, and I am really looking forward to it.”

            “We couldn't be more excited about the opportunity these students are

taking advantage of,” said Valerie Salter, HMT instructor. “I am planning for them to Skype with my study tour prep class on a weekly basis and also plan on creating a blog so that they can update and provide vlogs throughout their experience there.”

            Travel experiences available to students through the HMT program are invaluable in training them for the industry, Salter said.

            “Students will be immersed in French culture, study European tourism, travel on field trips to Loire Valley destinations and take French language courses,” Salter said.  “In addition, they will be centrally located in France and able to explore major tourism destinations on their own. This immersion and coursework provide our students with real world and first hand tourism knowledge that will give them a marketable advantage upon graduation.”

            Salter said HMT faculty plan to continuing their partnership with Université d’Angers to receive French students and send NSU students to France again in Spring 2017.  She has worked with colleagues in NSU’s Department of English, Foreign Language and Cultural Studies to create more study abroad opportunities for students.

            “We are certainly interested in any study abroad opportunities that enrich our students' college careers and their marketability,” Salter said.  “I am aware of agreements that are already in place between NSU and the University of Valencia in Spain, and I plan to start checking into placing students there. We hope to add more study abroad destinations in the near future.”

NATCHITOCHES –  An Arkansas couple established an endowed scholarship in memory of a former math professor at Northwestern State University who was a special teacher and mentor.  William and Elaine Squyres Durand of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, established the Sam Shelton Math Scholarship through the NSU Foundation.  Shelton was Mr. Durand’s math teacher at NSU, as well as a close friend who encouraged him to pursue advanced degrees.

            “I have had a wonderful teaching career and it all began at Northwestern 58 years ago with the guidance of my wonderful mentor, Sam Shelton,” Durand said.   “I have tried to emulate him as I have guided students through their degree programs.  He set an example that I have strived to replicate.”

            The scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior level student majoring in math who maintains a 3.0 or better grade point average.

            Durand enrolled at Northwestern as a first generation college student who wanted to become a mathematics teacher. 

           “Mr. Shelton was one of the best teachers I have ever had. He took a poor farm boy from Pollock High School and guided him to the B.S. in 1962 and M.S. in 1963 in mathematics,” Durand said.  “During that first year Mr. Shelton became my best friend on campus.  He always welcomed me to his office and would put aside whatever he was working on to help me with whatever problem I was having.  My problems were not always about mathematics.”

            Before, Durand completed his undergraduate degree, Shelton was already encouraging him to pursue a master’s degree.  After teaching for one semester at South Terrebonne High School in Houma, Durand began work on his master’s degree, which he completed in 1963, and went to work at Live Oak High School in Watson.  He taught two summers at NSU as a visiting lecturer.  

            Durand joined the faculty at Henderson State Teachers College, later named Henderson State University, in Arkadelphia in 1966 and completed his EdD with emphasis in mathematics at Oklahoma State University in 1972. Returning to Henderson State, he rose in the ranks to professor and eventually department chair.  

            “In 2005 I was awarded the degree of Distinguished Professor of Mathematics,” Durand said.  “Even though I retired as Distinguished Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus in 2007 I have continued to teach one or two senior level/graduate level mathematics classes each semester. 

            Durand and his wife Elaine married in 1967, the year she earned a degree in elementary education at NSU, and they are the parents of Dr. Kevin Durand and Dr. Eileen Durand Faulkenberry.  Kevin is the Dean of Students at a charter school in Little Rock as well as the AP calculus and physics teacher.  Eileen is professor of mathematics education at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. The Durands have seven grandchildren, two grandsons, five granddaughters. 

            “Endowing this scholarship in memory of Mr. Shelton has been my desire for a long time,” Durand said.  “I hope that it will be a stimulus and financial help for students long into the future.  Northwestern State University has been good to and for me and my wife.”

Three Northwestern State University students are spending their spring semester abroad at Université D’Angers in France where they hope the experience of living abroad will enhance their coursework in hospitality management and tourism. University D’Angers is the third second largest hospitality school in the world.  

NATCHITOCHES –  Northwestern State University’s Shreveport Nursing Education Center hosted  a ribbon-cutting Friday to thank donors who contributed to improvements on the campus at 1800 Line Avenue in Shreveport.  Students and faculty from NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health publicly acknowledged the Alta and John Franks Foundation, Willis-Knighton Health System and CEO James K. Elrod, The Committee of 100, Past President Patrick Harrison and members Roy Griggs, John George, Glenn Kinsey, George Fritze and Steve Skrivanos for their assistance in funding new lighting, security cameras and cosmetic improvements.

            “Before this project, we had a dark parking lot with no security,” said Dr. Dana Clawson, dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “There is no question we are safe. We appreciate the difference you made and we hope you see the benefits of what you’ve done in the community.”

            Willis-Knighton has long been a partner to Northwestern State’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health through endowments that support student scholarships and professorships that enable faculty research, teaching and public service.  Willis-Knighton also provides facilities for clinical experience for students in a simulated patient care environment.  The Alta and John Franks Foundation is a Shreveport charitable non-profit that supports numerous philanthropic causes.

            The Committee of 100 is a nonpolitical, nonprofit membership group organized as an education, civic and charitable organization whose members are the highest-ranking local executives of business and professional enterprises in northwest Louisiana.  The Committee works to mobilize the business community to improve Shreveport, Bossier City and the surrounding areas maintaining active interests in regional economic development, education and community relations.

            “The Committee of 100 gets grants from different organizations and finds ways to contribute to areas of the community,” Harrison said. “We look for specific projects that really make a difference. This one was perfect. It is beneficial to both higher education and healthcare.  NSU’s College of Nursing has always been an asset to Shreveport.  In this day and age you want to keep your students safe.  We were glad we could help.”

            NSU’s Shreveport Nursing Education Center provides the educational environment for approximately 1,000 nursing and radiologic sciences majors enrolled in general academic or clinical courses.  The Center consists of the Line Avenue School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Library Building, Faculty Tower and Warrington Building.

            For information on Northwestern State’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, visit nursing.nsula.edu.

NATCHITOCHES – Lt. Col. (Dr.) Brian Lanier, a physician with the U.S. Army, presented a suture clinic for Northwestern State University students interested in careers in the medical field Wednesday.  Lanier led students in a discussion about terminology, instruments, wound preparation, safety techniques and suturing techniques the students put to practice by stitching pigs feet.  He also discussed scholarship opportunities available through the U.S. Army for those pursuing careers in a variety of health professions. The 25 students who participated plan to pursue careers as doctors, physician’s assistants and physical therapists.

            “It is not customary to have undergraduates do this type of clinic,” said Dr. Francene Lemoine, associate professor and interim chair of NSU’s Department of Biological and Physical Sciences.  “To my knowledge, this has never been done at NSU.  It is tremendously important for our students to get experiences like these because it provides them the opportunity to have the hands-on experience of a ‘day in the life’ of a physician.”

            “The goal of suturing is the approximation of tissue,” Lanier told the students, elaborating on methods, cleaning, debridement and anesthesia and familiarizing the students with suturing tools before guiding them through closure techniques.

            “This is amazing experience for our students,” Lemoine said. “They are having a blast.”

            Amber Blanchard of Springfield, who plans to become a physician’s assistant, was one of the 25 students participating in the clinic and said the workshop affirmed her interest in the medical field.  Although she has shadowed professionals before, she had never tried suturing herself.

            “It’s definitely something that pertains to my future profession” Blanchard said. “It’s good practice on something inanimate.”

            Lanier is a native of Covington, Kentucky, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude from Northern Kentucky University.  He was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the Xavier University ROTC program in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.  He was awarded his M.D. in 2003 and was commissioned in the regular Army at the rank of Captain.  Lanier completed his residency in family medicine at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, graduating in 2006 as the recipient of the Outstanding Resident Teacher Award.

            Lanier has held various clinical, leadership, academic and operational positions in the Army Medical Department.  He served as a staff family physician at Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia, before a 13-month deployment in Iraq where he worked as a squadron surgeon in urgent care.  Back at Fort Benning, he joined the faculty at the Family Medicine Residency Program and was selected to serve as the associate residency director before his arrival at the Medical Recruiting Brigade.

            Army doctors are very hirable, he told students, and the appeal of graduating from medical school debt-free is attractive to many prospective healthcare professionals.  As a recruiting liaison, he talks to students about educational and scholarship opportunities.

            “Our classes, both lectures and labs, prepare our students for the academic rigor of medical or physician assistant school but this type of exercise gives our students insight into the physical rigor of their future schooling,” Lemoine said.

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s partnership with the DeSoto Parish School System has been cited as a model for transforming the teacher pipeline in a report released by Education First, a policy organization whose goal is to close achievement gaps in public education.  In the report,  “Ensuring High Quality Teacher Talent:How Strong, Bold Partnerships between School Districts and Teacher Preparation Programs Are Transforming the Teacher Pipeline,” Education First highlights the Louisiana Believe and Prepare program launched in 2014 by the Louisiana Department of Education. 

            As part of the program, NSU partnered with DeSoto Parish schools to enroll five teacher candidates in a year-long residency program intended to align the district’s and university’s expectation of teacher candidates.  NSU staff are also trained on the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) educator effectiveness model and, as a result, revised lesson planning templates and course expectations to align with TAP philosophy. 

            “When you think Northwestern State, you think quality teacher preparation; it is one of the many great things we are known for. Therefore, I believe it makes sense that we are helping redefine teacher preparation on a global scale through our partnership with DeSoto Parish schools,” said Ramona Wynder, coordinator of alternative certification and instructor in NSU’s Department of Teaching, Leadership and Counseling.  “As a unit, we continuously strive for excellence in all we do, so we are constantly exploring opportunities to better ensure our teacher candidates are classroom-ready and capable of meeting the unique workforce needs of each school district.”

            “NSU’s efforts to engage in strong, bold partnerships are truly inspiring and we believe many districts and teacher preparation programs can benefit from learning more about your practices,” said Priti Sanghini, an analyst with Education First.  “Our goal is to encourage districts and teacher preparation programs to prioritize strong partnerships and deepen their partnership work using the recommendations and examples featured in the report as helpful guidance.”

            Research shows that DeSoto Parish principals have noticed that teacher candidates in the residency program are better prepared to meet district expectations.  The district has collected preliminary data and will continue to monitor the teachers’ effectiveness using TAP and NSU evaluations.

            “I believe our school system is responsible for providing each child with an outstanding teacher. One of the avenues we’re traveling to this end is a collaboration with Northwestern State University,” said Dr. Cade Brumley, DeSoto Parish superintendent of schools.  “Not as many college students are entering traditional teacher education programs as in previous years. This prompts judicious districts to seek alternative methods of providing intelligent, creative and compassionate teachers for our students.”

            Northwestern State has also partnered with DeSoto Parish schools in the DREAM ON initiative, in which the university awards academic credit and scholarships based on grade point average, ACT scores and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) classes and CLEP tests. 

            Education First is a non-profit professional services advisory group that reports on public education to advance the vision of preparing all students, particularly low-income and students of color, for success in college, careers and life.

            For information on NSU’s programs in alternative certification, contact Wynder at wynderr@nsula.edu.  For a link to Education First’s full report, visit education-first.com

Three Northwestern State University students are spending their spring semester abroad at Université D’Angers in France where they hope the experience of living abroad will enhance their coursework in hospitality management and tourism. University D’Angers is the third second largest hospitality school in the world.  

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Leesville-Fort Polk campus will host an informational meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 for individuals interested in a career in health care or looking to advance their careers. 

Advisors will be available to talk about NSU’s associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in nursing and radiologic technology. 

The meeting will be held in Campus Classroom 2 at the NSU’s Leesville campus, located at 3329 Hwy. 467.

For more information, contact Linda Nichols, Leesville Campus Nursing Coordinator, at (337) 392-3124 or email nicholsl@nsula.edu. 

NATCHITOCHES – Dr. Dustin Hebert, associate professor and Steeg Endowed Chair in Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development, was named Post Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.  LACUE is an organization that enables educators to fully utilize technology in teaching, provides information and technical training to educators and promotes opportunities for all students to enjoy enriched instruction through technology.

            Hebert is faculty and program coordinator in the master’s program in educational technology leadership and education specialist degree in educational leadership and instruction (educational technology concentration).  He has experience teaching secondary business courses and has served in e-learning leadership and faculty roles in higher education teaching computer studies, office systems, education and educational technology.

            “Being recognized by LACUE is a career highlight,” Hebert said.  “I have been a LACUE member for over 10 years and continue to be impressed with the opportunities the organization provides its members and the caliber of educators who are attracted to become members. Receiving one of the LACUE awards is a great honor, but that honor is elevated in this instance because I was nominated by colleagues. My gratitude to my peers for the nomination and to the award selection team for the recognition is incredible. I cannot thank them enough.”

            Hebert serves as program reviewer for the International Society for Technology in Education and a site visitor team member for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation on both state and national teams. He has been extensively engaged in advancing the use of technology to support learning by serving on advisory councils, technology committees, technology steering teams and e-learning committees at several universities.  He is active in numerous professional associations related to education, counseling and technology, has presented at several conferences and seminars and has published articles on education technology and e-learning in education journals.

            LACUE selects winners from categories in eight districts, then a top state winner.  Last year’s winner was Dr. Darlene Williams, NSU’s vice president of Technology, Innovation and Economic Development.

            “I have known Dustin for several years and cannot speak highly enough of him,” said Inkie Landry, LACUE president.  “He is a great guy, professor and technology user.  Your university is lucky to have him and I know he is a wonderful asset to NSU.”

            LACUE goals include providing for sharing of ideas, techniques, research, materials and procedures used in technology and to represent members’ viewpoints in laws and regulations.  The group cooperates with the State Department of Education, the state legislature and other governmental agencies in matters that relate to technology in education.  Any educator who uses technology is welcome to join the organization in which membership is free.

            For information on LACUE, visit lacue.org.

NATCHITOCHES –  Megan Boyanton, a junior in the Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern State University, was named the recipient of the Orland Dodson Scholarship awarded by the Shreveport Journalism Foundation.  The award is presented annually to a junior or senior college student majoring in journalism, public relations and/or mass communications who lives or attends school within a 100-miles radius of downtown Shreveport.

            Boyanton is a joint major in liberal arts and communications with a minor in philosophy.  She is a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, Purple Jackets Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.  She is the current editor in chief of The Odyssey at Northwestern State having served in the past as a contributing editor.  Boyanton has served as the external affairs commissioner of the Student Government Association, vice president and secretary of the Scholars' College Forum Council, a Gamma Chi recruitment counselor, the Life editor at The Current Sauce and a radio host at KNWD. 

            Boyanton has represented Northwestern State at the College Media Association conference in New York City and the Conference on Student Government Association in College Station, Texas.  She has also been the recipient of the Louisiana Scholars' College Terry Cazales Scholarship and the Thomas Whitehead Sophomore Award in Journalism. 

            Boyanton is a native of Renton, Washington, whose Louisiana home is Slidell. She has much experience as an undergraduate in mass communications.

            “I've had a broadcast internship with WDSU News in New Orleans during the summer of 2014 and a journalism internship with PinkNews in London during the summer of 2015. I've also written as a travel journalist for The Washington Times Communities and Communities Digital News,” Boyanton said.  

            The Shreveport Journalism Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellence in journalism through scholarships and professional development, said Mary Jarzabek, SJF president. Membership is open to all practitioners working in journalism and/or public relations fields and any college-level student.  The organization awards two scholarships per year, the Orland Dodson Scholarship and the Kerry Garland Scholarship.  Last year’s recipient of the $1,000 Orland Dodson Scholarship was Kelsey Newman, also an NSU student.  

            Northwestern State redesigned its journalism/mass communications program in 2015 as the Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts with tracks in electronic media, print and social media to prepare students for careers in TV, radio, print media, public relations, social medial, organizational communication and related fields.

            “We’ve brought back journalism in a new way,” said NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, who earned his undergraduate degree in journalism at NSU.  “Megan is a perfect example of a student whose written, oral and multimedia skills are preparing her for a bright future in communications.”

            “I was so thankful that the members of the Shreveport Journalism Foundation drove down to Natchitoches,” Boyanton said following Monday’s scholarship presentation, which took place during Henderson’s Comm 3660 class, which focuses on public relations and social media. “I had no idea what to expect when it came to the ceremony and was deeply touched by their kind words.”

            Boyanton will graduate in May 2017 and intends to take a gap year before graduate school to join the Peace Corps. 

            “I aim to be a travel journalist one day and would love to explore both political and investigative journalism as well,” she said.  

            For information on NSU’s Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts, visit nsula.edu/newmedia.  For information on the Shreveport Journalism Foundation, visit shreveportjournalismfoundation.com.