Enrollment Holds Steady Thanks to Loyal Students

As the fall semester got underway in August 2005, Xavier was enjoying a record-breaking enrollment that exceeded 4,100 students. Then along came Hurricane Katrina. In one short weekend, the storm had submerged virtually the entire campus under water, scattered Xavier students, staff and faculty to the four winds, and cast the very continued existence of University into serious doubt.

From the very start, however, President Norman Francis made it clear Xavier would re-open in the spring, and – after five months of intensive clean-up and reconstruction – the University did indeed open up its doors again mid-January. The only real uncertainty then was enrollment. Although more than 75 percent of the pre-Katrina students had participated in the school’s online “re-enrollment” in November, there was no way to predict how many of those same students would actually show up on campus in January.

To their credit, most of those who had indicated they would return were true to their word. Some 3,089 students are currently attending class in the delayed ‘fall’ semester (January-May). Following a short break, Xavier will hold its ‘spring’ semester (May- August) to get students back on the normal academic calendar.

Not surprisingly, those returnees had a variety of reasons for coming back. Some felt a strong sense of attachment to the school and its faculty, others were in their final year and couldn’t imagine graduating from another institution and for still others, that brief time away made them realize and appreciate just what they had before the Katrina disaster.

Krystal Kofie, a sophomore psychology major from Chicago, was among those who came back to the Xavier campus because she missed her friends and her school. “I didn’t know what to expect,” said Kofie, who attended a smaller, predominately white school in the Chicago area last semester. “I was hoping the school repairs would be finished, but most of my friends are back, so it doesn’t matter so much.”

“I think my parents would be happier if I transferred, but Xavier is like my second home,” she said. “I’ve built friendships here and I have a place at Xavier.” 

Since her return to New Orleans, she has been involved in the restoration of the community through the campus volunteer organization MAX (Mobilization at Xavier). “I was involved with MAX last year and I am looking forward to being a Girl Scout leader and participating in the monthly outreach day this year,” said Kofie, who also volunteers with the New Orleans Hurricane Relief Fund. “Every Saturday we go to fix up a school. We’ll take everything out, we’ll repaint it and it will be ready for next year.”

Mayuri Kurihara, a junior majoring in music (piano/performance) from Fukuoka, Japan, evacuated to the Memphis area after Katrina. She took classes there at the University of Memphis, but says she couldn’t wait for Xavier to re-open.

“I really love it here at Xavier,” said the international student. “They were really nice in Memphis, the students, the teachers; there was nothing wrong with Memphis, it’s just that I was always missing Xavier and New Orleans. I decided to come back here right away when I heard we were reopening.”

Stephfon Guidry, a sophomore psychology premed major from Beaumont who attended Texas Southern University in the fall, felt the same way. “The school was different,” he said. “There were a few Xavier students there and we all went to class regularly, but a lot of their students didn’t.”

Although he found the campus was bigger and a lot more social, he felt the professors were more impersonal than Xavier professors, probably because they had so many students. He also noted some tension between the New Orleans students and the Texas students.  “Xavier students sort of stayed together, and we were in regular contact with one of the dormitory directors (Edra Ballard), who was also in Texas and kept up our spirits," he said.
 
The one thing TSU had that Xavier didn’t have, said Guidry, was a theatre program. It was one of the few places he felt really accepted. He had the opportunity to become involved in the program and performed in a few plays at his adopted school. Despite that, Guidry says he felt a loyalty to Xavier and wanted to come back and help rebuild the city. His family left the decision up to him, although some were more supportive than others. 

“When my dad brought me back to campus and saw the damage and the neighborhood houses that hadn’t been gutted out, he said ‘This is what you’re coming back to? We can turn around now if you want,’” said Guidry. “But I decided I wanted to give it a chance.  It’s not Xavier so much, but New Orleans that they’re worried about. They saw the city in shambles on the news. We’re not as bad as some – we do still have a campus.”

“Xavier has a family environment that was missing at TSU – so even with a few inconveniences like stores closing early and few restaurants to be found after 8 p.m., I’m glad I came back,” he said. “I think now we just have to go to the next level and show America we can make it.”

Guidry's sentiments are echoed by Kofie. “People should stay in New Orleans to help build it back up,” she said. “I just want to stay and do my part.”

XavierWrites

Lawrence Henry, a second year pharmacy major from DeSoto, Texas (Trinity Christian High), shares a moment with Dr. Maya Angelou after receiving a $4,000 scholarship as one of 10 national winners in the Words of Wisdom essay contest sponsored by Alltel. (photo courtesy of Alltel)

Students

Unoma Akamagwuna, a senior psychology major from Lithonia, Ga. (Stephenson High), has been accepted into the George Washington University Medical School and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Brittany Clark, a senior biology major from Monroe, La. (Neville High), has been accepted into medical school at Morehouse College, LSU-New Orleans and LSU-Shreveport.

Melvin Dillard, a senior biology major from Chicago, Ill. (Young High), has been accepted into the University of Illinois-Chicago School of Dentistry.

Jawauna Faulkner, a senior biology major from Hattiesburg, Miss. (Hattiesburg High), has been accepted into medical school at Morehouse College and the University of Mississippi.

Danielle Haney, a senior biology major from Zachary, La. (Zachary High), has been accepted into the biomedical science Ph.D. programs at Case Western Reserve, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Tennessee-Memphis and the University of Texas-Houston.

Marcus Jennings, a senior biology major from Memphis, Tenn. (Whitehaven High), has been accepted in the Tennessee Institutes for Pre-Professionals at the University of Tennessee Medical School.

Art is the Best Medicine

The Xavier community says “get well” to long-time art professor John Scott through a colorful display of 1,000 Japanese-style paper Cranes and a poster featuring his likeness made up of a thousand computer generated cranes. Sophomore art major Takako Uemura of Ibaraki, Japan and senior art major Huey Moss of Marrero, La., supplied the creative vision, while other students and faculty embraced the idea and joined in cutting and folding the multi-colored cranes. The impressive visual display was on exhibit in the University’s Library Art Gallery.

(photo by Irving Johnson III)

When Xavier art students wanted to send a get-well card to long-time professor John Scott, who is on medical leave, they decided to do it in style. True to their artistic styles, they had to do it differently.

Sophomore Art student Takako Uemura, a native of Ibaraki, Japan took an idea from her Japanese culture. “When someone is sick, you fold a thousand cranes to wish them good health,” she explained. The rest of the art students and faculty embraced the idea and joined in. 

Uemura and fellow art student Huey Moss installed the 1,000 cranes in an impressive visual display in the University’s Library Art Gallery on March 13. In addition, Moss, a graphic design student from Marrero, La., created a poster featuring the likeness of Scott made up of a thousand computer generated cranes.

“Our students got together and pulled this off,” said faculty member Patricia Sills. “More than 20 people participated in the folding,” said Sills. Among those folding artists were department chair Ron Bechet, faculty members Sills and MaPo Kennard and students Kimberly Mitchell, Jessica Fuselier, Lerone Long, and Jamie Jones.

The exhibit was on display through April 1. Students provided a table outside the exhibit with instructions for visitors to create a paper crane of their own to add to the display.

PR Class Helps Recruit Students for Alternative Spring Break

Dave Parks’ public relations class is working to rebuild New Orleans. However, they aren’t taking the traditional route.  While many college students in the area have volunteered to gut out homes, pick up trash and other activities, this group is using what they’ve learned in the classroom to contribute to the city’s comeback.

The students worked in conjunction with the Common Ground Collective, a local non-profit created to provide support for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. The students from Parks’ class contacted historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to recruit other student volunteers around the country to help rebuild New Orleans.  

The Xavier students wrote press releases, recorded public service announcements, created flyers and stuffed envelopes.  “We focused on HBCUs, contacting over 300 different groups and organizations at those schools, as well as student groups at other non-HBCU schools, church groups, fraternities and sororities across the country,” said Park.

The result: for approximately three weeks in March, more than 1,000 students arrived in New Orleans to assist with the rebuilding effort.

“We wanted to do something to the help rebuild the city, to contribute something that would help the residents directly,” said Xavier student Courtney Williams a senior from Oakland, Calif..  “When you give monetary donations, you’re not sure if the people who need the help actually get it. This opportunity to rebuild the community physically got us really excited.”

Park estimates that the students have contributed to over $300,000 in volunteer labor. “Our Xavier students have contributed to bringing in a couple of thousand volunteers, while putting to use everything they’ve learned in the classroom” he said. “It's important to extend our University resources to the community. We have the knowledge and the background to help which also benefits our students.”

Students who participated in the PR campaign included: Kimberlee Rock, a senior from Richmond, Calif.; Angel Bradford, a senior from Folsom, Calif.; Courtney Williams, a senior from Oakland, Calif.; Mary Katherine Hill, a junior from Lubbock, Texas; Alisha Lewis, a junior from Aurora, Colo.; and Charles Donaldson Jr., a senior from Hattiesburg, Miss.

Park's students aren’t done with the project yet. In addition to interviewing some of the visiting students for future publications, Williams and her classmates are also scheduled to go out as a group to get their hands dirty working on area homes.

Holly Loritts, a senior biology major from Fairburn, Ga. (Landmark Christian High), has been accepted into medical school at Howard University, Meharry College and the University of Louisville.

Carla McLain, a senior biology major from Shreveport, La. (Huntington High), has been accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine.

Cuong Nguyen, a senior biology major from New Orleans (Edna Karr High), has been accepted into the LSU School of Dentistry.

Sabrina Powell, a senior biology major from Ft. Washington, Md. (Oxon Hill High), has been accepted into medical school at Howard University and the University of Maryland.

Shannon Seals, a senior biology major from Vidalia, La. (Vidalia High), has been accepted into the LSU-New Orleans School of Medicine.

Frank Williams, Jr., a senior biology major from Marrero, La. (Shaw High), has been accepted the LSU-New Orleans School of Medicine.

Byron Young, a senior biology major from Marrero, La. (Ehret High), has been accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine.

Alumni

Rashan Clark ’02, scheduled to receive his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law this May, has accepted an in-house corporate council position with Marathon Oil in Houston, Texas. He had interned with the company last summer, in addition to another internship with Akin Grump Strauss Hauer and Feld in Dallas.

Xavier Receives $350,000 Partnership Grant from HUD

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson visited the Xavier University of Louisiana campus to award 16 universities more than over $5 million through the HUD's new Universities Rebuilding America Partnership (URAP) initiative.

Xavier was one of nine schools that received maximum funding - $350,000; the other grants ranged from $266,000 to $349,000. In all, six schools in Louisiana received grants – Xavier, Tulane, Grambling, Southern-New Orleans, Southern-Baton Rouge and LSU-Shreveport. The URAP initiative is an innovative new program that draws on the expertise of these centers for higher learning to help rebuild communities throughout the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

Xavier will use its grant to assist low- and moderate-income residents in the Hollygrove, Gert Town and the Treme communities. Xavier will work in partnership with New Orleans City Health Department, McDonogh 35 High School, Earthwalk, Inc., and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs, Inc. to implement the following program activities: 1) Establish the Neighborhood Technology and Health Information Center (NTHIC); 2) Recruit, train and track a cadre of volunteers to include service-learning and community service students, faculty, residents, and health professionals; and 3) Provide technical assistance related to clearance and demolition for residents, especially the elderly.

Jackson, who personally chose Xavier as the site for the announcement in recognition of its determination to rebuild in the post-Hurricane Katrina era, said the funding is designed to tap into young, bright minds to help devastated Gulf Coast communities to rebuild.

"I want to inspire and empower students and faculty to get involved in one of the most important rebuilding efforts in our country's history," said Jackson. "These institutions of higher learning have a unique opportunity to partner with devastated communities and, together, help to breathe new life into these neighborhoods."

University Honors 35 Long-Time Faculty/Staff Employees

The University honored 35 long-time staff and faculty employees at its annual Founder’s Day reception Thursday, March 30.

Topping the list of honorees celebrating anniversaries of employment at XU are David DeLisle with 40 years of service in the music department; Dr. Joe Melcher with 35 years in communications/speech pathology; Clifford Wright with 35 years in business and the credit union; and Dr. JW Carmichael with 35 years in pre-med and chemistry.

Other employees honored were:

30 years – Dr. Lester Jones, mathematics; and Deborah Lidy, sponsored programs.

25 years – Dr. Murty Akundi, physics/engineering; Luella Gombako, residential life; Bobbie Gordon, student services; Dr. Dereck Rovaris, assistant dean, Graduate School; and Dr. Michael White, languages.

20 years – Dr. Kenneth Boutte, assistant dean, College of Arts and Sciences; Joseph Byrd, vice president, student services; Jacqueline Gavins, chemistry; Dr. Barbara Green, biology; Dr. Shamsul Huda, history; and Dr. Dereck Rovaris, assistant dean, Graduate School.

15 years – Jacqueline Chandler, biology; Dr. Elia Eschenazi, physics/engineering; Dr. Marguerite Giguette, associate vice president, academic affairs; Erica Houston, mathematics; Gennice King, library; Sandy Livings-Veal, financial aid; Paul Pierce, university police; Gina Rachal, financial aid; Patricia Vaultz, fiscal services; and Dr. Jian Zhang, chemistry.

10 years – Sharon Aubert, pharmacy; Dr. Levon Bostanian, pharmacy; Arnold Crump, communications; Dr. Ronald Dorris, African American studies/English; Janice Florent-Young, Center for the Advancement of Teaching; Dr. Maryam Foroozesh, chemistry; William Harris, student center; Dr. Anil Kukreja, business; and Dr. Guangdi Wang, chemistry.

Lawrence Cresswell '99 and his wife Angelle Dupuy Cresswell '99, are set to receive their MD degrees from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in May. The new doctors will serve their residencies in emergency medicine and pediatrics, respectively, at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y.

Dionne DeBose ’97, was nominated by Lockheed Martin as Most Promising Scientist for the Black Engineer of the Year Conference, held in Baltimore, Md.

Cheryl Jackson Harris '68, professor and program coordinator for the Clinical Science Program at California State University in Carson, was recipient of the 2006 Associate Member Excellence in Education Award from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Allissa Hosten ’02, is serving as a medical writer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Bethesda, Md.

Ashley Joseph '04, has entered the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport as a physician assistant.

Ryan Jupiter '04, has been accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine.

Danielle Littlefield '04, has been accepted into the MFA degree program in creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College.

Steve Prince ’91, is the curator of an exhibit, “Art from the Gulf: Reflections on Katrina,” featuring 28 New Orleans artists which opens May 9 at the Pyramid Atlantic gallery in Silver Spring, Md. The exhibit, the proceeds of which will benefit the Arts Council of New Oreans,  will show at Xavier this fall.   

Seton Hall Supports XU Recovery Efforts

Seton Hall University representatives Dr. Joseph DePierro and Fr. Kevin Hanbury, dean and associate dean of the College of Education & Human Services, respectively, present a $16,000 check to President Norman C. Francis. The money was collected by the Seton Hall students and faculty to assist Xavier in its Post Katrina rebuilding efforts. Seton Hall, affiliated with the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., is the oldest U.S. diocesan university.

(photo by Irving Johnson III)

Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry ’94 has never been to outer space. Yet she is a vital part of America’s space program, supporting the Astronaut flight crews who actually man the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.

One of only six space toxicologists in the Western Hemisphere – and the only female in that elite group – she is a member of the Space Life Sciences Directorate, the branch of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which analyzes and monitors toxicological activities related to the health of flight crew members.

Khan-Mayberry and her colleagues work closely with the astronauts and NASA flight surgeons at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to assess potential crew exposure to toxins (poisons) generated by payload experiments and materials inherently in use on the Shuttle and Space Station. She is also charged with researching and developing spacecraft air and water regulations for crew health and consumption.

Dr. Khan-Mayberry

So in a very real sense, the flight crews are dependent upon her and her colleagues for every breath of fresh air they take and every drop of clean water they drink. That adds up to quite a responsibility by any equation – but one that she is both highly qualified – and more than happy – to tackle.

“Working at the Johnson Space Center has been a dream job for me,” said Khan-Mayberry, a Houston native who as a young girl used to make regular visits to the Center’s Rocket Park. “It’s nothing I really planned on, but when the opportunity to work at NASA presented itself I jumped at the chance.”

She has been with NASA for three years, serving in a variety of roles including acting head of the habitability and environmental factors division and serving on the committee which oversees the humane care and handling of all research and other onsite animal species at the Center.

Prior to joining the space program, Khan-Mayberry accumulated more than five years of project management experience in public health, chemical toxin assessment, and environmental planning and remediation in stints with such companies as Shell Chemical, Exxon and British Petroleum/Amoco. She is considered a technical expert on air quality issues pertaining to molds, mycotoxins, and toxic biological and chemical substances as agents of bioterrorism.

Her toxicological report from one of her facility remediation projects resulted in national changes – mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency – to standard procedures regarding the use of unlined ductwork for heating, ventilation, air cooling & refrigeration systems in facilities utilized by the public.

Khan-Mayberry, who has operated her own independent environmental consulting business since 2001, had a chance to work in New Orleans last fall to report on air quality issues in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But, being pregnant with her now three-month-old daughter Nicole, she wisely opted to stay in Houston with her husband of seven years (Chris) and do some volunteer work at the shelters opening there instead.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to help in any way that I could,” she said. Ironically she was assigned to help evacuees who were going through their own pregnancies.

Khan-Mayberry, who holds a Ph.D. in environmental toxicology from Texas Southern, is a strong advocate of leadership development and minority participation in science-related careers. That’s why she is an active participant in several global organizations which provide education, outreach, community development and scholarships to the general public.

She has spoken internationally on science, the environment and leadership development. Last year she was one of several distinguished guest speakers – others included former Norwegian Prime Minister Dr. Gro Harlem Bruntland, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell and Tipper Gore – at the Women as Global leaders Conference in Dubai, U.A.E. There she gave an impassioned speech urging young women to seek graduate and professional degrees and to develop strong leadership characteristics.

“Getting a Ph.D. was always among my highest priorities,” she recalled. “There are just so few us (females and African Americans) around.”

And her efforts have not gone unnoticed. This past March she was honored by the Greater Houston YMCA for her leadership and commitment in her professional and volunteer life.

XU in the News

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans area and Xavier have been the subject of continuing national media coverage.

Here are a few examples:

The Black Collegian Online "After Katrina: Starting Over in New Orleans"

The Black Collegian Online Katrina-Ravaged Colleges Determined to Overcome

Chicago Defender- Xavier rebuilds campus, still waiting for federal aid

NBCC Newsletter - St. Katharine Drexel: American Princess / Saint

Diverse Online - Starting Anew

Individual faculty, staff, students and alumni have also been featured - and not always about the storm:

Dallas News - It's a spring break work party
- Denishia McIntosh, senior, chemistry

UPenn Almanac - Lessons from Katrina
- Dr. Tom Bonner, English

Chicago Tribune - Paying dues
- John Stroger ’52

Louisiana Weekly - Black Culture Washed Away by Katrina
- Dr. Michael White '76, Art
- Reginald Starks, pharmacy

Dr. Evelyn M. Simien '96, assistant professor in the department of political science at the University of Connecticut, was recipient of the 2006 Anna Julia Cooper Teacher of the Year Award from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. Her new book, Black Feminist Voices in Politics, will be released in June ‘06 by the State University of New York Press.   

Racquel Spencer '97, has been accepted into medical school at the the University of Tennessee-Memphis.

Christopher Sylvain, RPh., PhD '82 and Tommy Morris, PhD '84 recently shared their pharmaceutical expertise with third-year students in the Pharmacy Practice Course as guest lecturers. Both volunteered their services as a contribution to the College's recovery efforts.

Brandi Tregre’05, who recently earned her master's degree in biomedical engineering from Tulane University, is serving as distribution process engineer at the Procter & Gamble Plant in Alexandria, La.

Crystal Waldrup '04, has been accepted into medical school at Meharry College and LSU-Shreveport.

Faculty/Staff

Dr. Ronald Dorris '72 (African American Studies, English) presented a paper, "Intergenerational Displacement in Katrina," at the Southern Conference on African American Studies, held in in Savannah, Ga.

Dr. Conchetta White Fulton '85, '98 (pharmacy) served as a reviewer for the 15th edition of the American Pharmacists Association's Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs.

Dr. Nicole P. Greene (English) was a respondent on the panel "Revamping Academic Traditions that Structure Faculty Work and Faculty Careers" at the national Conference on College Composition and Communication, held in Chicago, Ill.

Katheryn Krotzer Laborde (Assistant Professor, English) appeared on Thacker Mountain Radio, a literature-and-music program recorded live at the Off Square Book Store in Oxford and broadcast throughout the state by Mississippi Public Radio.

Fr. Phillip Linden, S.S.J. (theology) and Fr. Jeffrey Ott, O.P. (University Chaplain) both served as homilists for Friday Lenten Masses at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.