The complete schedule for New Student Orientation can be found HERE

Students

Alumni

Dr. Tonja Morehead Austin ‘94 has been appointed Medical Director of Primary Care for Physicians Cooperative Medical Practice in Hazel Crest, Ill. 

Emanuel Burke ‘88, served as the orchestral director for the Jomajo Performing Arts Company’s (New Orleans) production of the musical “Once on This Island.”

Brandon Hagler ‘01, a recent graduate of the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, has begun his general practice residency at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

Dr. Stephanie Hightower ’96, has opened her private practice, Hightower Family Medicine PC, in Birmingham, Ala.  

Dara Rahming ’95, performed the title role in the Summer Opera Theatre’s production of the opera “Tosca”, held on the Catholic University of America campus in Washington, D.C.

Tennille M. Robinson ’04, has been promoted from editorial researcher to small business editor at Black Enterprise Magazine in New York.

Sylvia Johnson Styles ’73, executive vice president of the James E. Scott Community Association, Inc., the oldest and largest social service agency of its kind in the southeast, was awarded the Family Christian Association of America’s Community Service Award for her long years of outstanding community service to residents of Miami-Dade County, Fla.

Kara Turman ’04, has been named Youth Services Specialist at the Stratford Library Association in Stratford, Conn.

Dr. April Ulmer ’94, has joined GI Associates medical office in Magee, Miss. A graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, she recently completed a fellowship at the State University of New York in pediatric gastroenterology.

Faculty/Staff

Brittany Burton '07 (admissions) has been named a counselor on the Admissions Office staff.

Dr. David Lanoue (English) made a presentation on Russian and Japanese poetry and participated in a reading/book-signing of the newly-published Bulgarian translation of his novel, Haiku Guy, at the "Poetry: East and West" conference, held in Sofia, Bulgaria. He also made a presentation – with the help of an Italian translator – on "The Spiritual Poetry of Kobayashi Issa" in Milan, Italy.

Melvin Wallis (athletics) has joined the department as head athletics trainer. He previously served as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee State University, where he recently earned his master's degree.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead The Schott Foundation,” said Jackson.  “My professional background and experience from the NAACP and Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, dovetail well with the strategy and vision needed to expand Schott’s work in public education.”  

Winner of the Council on Foundations’ 2007 Critical Impact Award, The Schott Foundation supports grantees working toward statewide high quality public education for all, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable students.

“John’s experience and passion fit perfectly with Schott’s mission and vision.  He has a proven track record in all four of Schott’s strategies – education policy, public policy leadership development, creating public will and leveraging resources for the movement,” said Schott Chair of the Board, Greg Jobin-Leeds. “He will be a great asset as we expand our work. We fully expect that Dr. Jackson will take our victories to the next level, making the wins more consistent and winning many more victories for our country’s most historically underserved children,” Jackson served as the NAACP Chief Policy Officer and prior to that as the NAACP's National Director of Education. Before joining the NAACP, he served in the Clinton Administration as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education. Jackson also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Race, Gender, and Public Policy at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

Dr. John Jackson

In addition to his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Xavier, Jackson also holds a Master of Education degree in education policy from the University of Illinois' College of Education and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois' College of Law. He has also received a Master of Education and Doctorate of Education in administration, planning, and social policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

bracy continued

"Marion has played a heroic role since Katrina – remaining during the hurricane to help protect the campus and our students who stayed behind, then assuming the difficult challenge of overseeing our campus repairs and restoration even though his own home had been destroyed like so many of us,” said Francis. "He continues to play a critical role in our dealings with contractors as campus repairs continue, as well as our insurance claims adjusters and FEMA."

Bracy, whose promotion to vice president was approved by the Xavier Board of Trustees in June 2006, began his career at Xavier in 1998 as associate director of facility planning and management. Shortly after his arrival, he was promoted to director.

He leads a team of 10 managers and 85 employees and is responsible for the overall maintenance and improvement of the University. He also serves as liaison between federal, state, and local agencies, contractors, companies and community members.

In addition to his APPA affiliation, Bracy serves as president for the Southeastern Association of Physical Plant Administrators, he is board member-elect with the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers. He is also affiliated with the International Facility Management Association and the Louisiana Federal Property Assistance Agency where he serves on the Advisory Board.