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FEBRUARY 2013 |
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Jackson, Simmons, Erves, Joseph Earn All-GCAC Honors |
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Browder, Franklin, Gaston-Loyd Earn All-GCAC Honors |
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Xavier Pharmacy to Host 6th Annual Health Disparities Conference |
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Xavier University Names New Director of Library Resource Center |
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Rush to Play Dillard for Second Time in Six Days / Nuggets Begin Title Defense |
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Rush Grab Share GCAC Championship / Nuggets Rout Dillard for Third Consecutive Title |
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McNeese Beats Nuggets, But XU Wins 3 Singles Matches |
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Nuggets One Place from Joining Gold Rush in Top 10 |
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Montrel Still Unbeaten in Doubles, But Cajuns Beat Xavier |
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Rush Win at Tougaloo, Tie for First in GCAC / Nuggets Clinch Share of GCAC Title |
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Nuggets Win at Prairie View; Rush Lose to Top-10 Foes |
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Rush Rally Past SUNO / Nuggets Stretch Win Streak to 10 Straight |
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XU to Host GCAC Track Championships |
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Gold Nuggets Return to Top 10, Rush Drop to 14th |
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Fisk Defeats Gold Rush / Nuggets Win, Regain Share of Lead in GCAC |
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William Carey Beats XU Men in Matchup of NAIA Top-10s |
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Nuggets Give Browder State Record |
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Xavier Explores African American and Diaspora Studies |
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Tennis Beats Loyola in First Men's Dual at New Facility |
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New XU Arena Adds to City’s Arsenal of Convention/Event Spaces |
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Rush Win 20th, Top GCAC / Nuggets Win by Double Figures for Sixth Straight Game |
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Nicholls State Gives Women First Loss
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Big Read Kicks Off in New Orleans |
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Xavier-Dillard Basketball Classic Tickets |
522 Receive Degrees at Xavier Commencement
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana’s first commencement on campus since 1983 saw 522 graduates receive their degrees in the University’s new Convocation Center.
During the previous 29 years Xavier had held its commencement in various city venues – most recently the Kiefer Lakefront Arena and the New Orleans Arena – following a torrential rainstorm that marred the then traditional outdoor ceremony in 1983. Until construction of the CC, there was no facility on campus large enough to hold the anticipated crowds.
At the commencement, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, a 1979 Xavier graduate, delivered a stirring commencement address and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Science.
Three students – Krista Burton, a physics major from Jonesboro GA; Megan Haynes, a political science major from New Orleans; and Duy Nguyen. a pharmacy student from Lafayette LA – headed this year’s group of summa cum laude graduates with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
Twenty others also graduated with summa cum laude honors, including: (BA) Megan Haynes and Uchenna Onwuegbusi; (BS) Peter Baham, Krista Burton, Nnenia Clark, Jessica Cooper, Danny Giang, LaTasha Henderson, Tuyet-Trinh Nguyen, Kaylise Trahan, Mia Ward, and Schulyer Williams; and (PhD) Jonn Bailey, Stefani Breaux, Breannie Charles, Queenet Ibekweh, Courtney Jason, Duy Nguyen, Jennifer Pellittieri, Danielle Ricks, Deann Vessel, Leigh Vidrine, and Demetria White.
Another nine earned graduate degree honors, including: (MA) Jawan Alexander, Reginald Browhow, Diana Marshall, Emily McAveeney, Evonne Mitchell, and Christopher Perriatt; and (MAT): Jessica Baker, Aaron Harrison, and Michelle White.
Visit
HERE for the complete list of 2013 graduates.
Seniors Presented Top University Service Awards at XU Baccalaureate
New Orleans LA – Kaylise Trahan and Sharae Celestine were named recipients of Xavier University of Louisiana’s two most coveted senior service awards at the 2013 Baccalaureate Mass and Honors Convocation.
Trahan, a biology/pre-med major from Lafayette LA (Comeaux High), was presented the St. Katharine Drexel Award; while Celestine, a biology/premed major from Opelousas LA (Opelousas High), was presented the Mother Agatha Ryan Award.
They topped a list of graduating seniors receiving awards at the Baccalaureate ceremony and the College of Pharmacy banquet, including:
General University Awards and Honors:
The Victor H. Labat Award – Nnenia Clark
The National Knights of Peter Claver Awards – (the Gilbert Faustina Award) Endia Blunt, (the Louis Isreal Award) Vanencia Lynch, and (the Alphonse Pierre Auguste Award) Chioma Obih.
The Sister Thea Bowman Award – DeriAnne Meilleur
The Sister Beatrice Jeffries Student Life Leadership and Service Award – Felice Gaddis.
The William H. Mitchell Christian Leadership Award – Jarvis Lewis
The Walter J. Barker, Sr. Award – Shenitria Lewis-Myles.
Music Awards – (the St. Cecilia Award) Dedrian Hogan and (the Sister Elise Sisson Award) Crystal Morris.
University Service Keys – Peter Baham, Blake Grey, Denitra Harris, Lawrence Jackson, Taylor Martin, Skyler Quintero, Jonathan Shaw, Jennifer Smith, Marvin Stewart, Terrance Thompson, Ashley Trussell, and Gerard Williams.
Pharmacy Award for Academic Excellence – Duy Nguyen.
Pharmacy Award for Outstanding Leadership – Chioma Obih.
Pharmacy Award for Patient Care Communication – Derrick Bradley.
Pharmacy Award for Excellence in Research – Brittany Singleton.
Outstanding Faculty Recognized at XU Graduation
New Orleans LA – Six Xavier University of Louisiana faculty members were honored during commencement for their extraordinary performance in the areas of teaching, service, and scholarship.
The winners of the 2013 Norman C. Francis Faculty Excellence Awards were: Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching: (junior faculty) Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya in physics and (senior faculty) Dr. Susan Fitch Spillman in languages.
Faculty Excellence Award in Service: (junior faculty) Dr. John Okogbaa in pharmacy and (senior faculty) Dr. Rosalind Hale in education.
Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarship: (junior faculty) Dr. Harris McFerrin, Jr. in biology and (senior faculty) Dr. Guangdi Wang in chemistry.
Initiated in 2009, the Faculty Excellence Awards are designed to honor both the “junior” faculty members (those who have served as XU for seven years or less) and “senior” faculty members (more than seven years of service. The award includes a monetary gift of $5,000 – which is split evenly between the award recipient and his/her academic department/division/college – and a medallion.
Out the Door in Four Program Hits the Mark
New Orleans LA - An academic enrichment and support program designed to increase the number of Xavier University of Louisiana students who not only successfully earn degrees but do so in as close as possible to the traditional standard of four years, has apparently hit the mark.
Initiated in 2009, the University’s “Out the Door in 4” program began with 24 students recruited from that year’s Freshman Seminar classes. This month, when Xavier holds its annual commencement, seven of those students will walk across the stage right on target (four years), while another six are on track to graduate either this December or in May 2014. Five others are either currently enrolled in the College of Pharmacy or have been accepted for next fall.
The program’s 75% retention rate and anticipated 70% graduation rate are both significantly higher than the University’s overall five-year retention (53%) and five-year graduation rates (43%). The percentages might have been even higher had not six students withdrawn from the University for personal reasons – more often than not for financial considerations.
“We are very proud of
all of these students,” said Pearl Algere-Lonian, assistant vice president for scholarship and special programs, who along with Dr. Pamela Franco, an executive associate in the Office of Academic Affairs, oversees the program. “This is in no sense a program for elite students; the students represent a good cross section of that freshman class in variety of disciplines and varying academic backgrounds, including some who required developmental courses.”
Those on target to graduate this May include: Chelsea Conrad, a biology/premed major from Baton Rouge LA (Baton Rouge Magnet); Nichelle Cox, a psychology major from Pomona CA (Bonita High); Sunseray Joseph, a political science major from Charenton LA (West St. Mary High); Bryan Lucky-Heard, a business/management major from Hackensack NJ (Hackensack High); Nikki Odofin, a psychology/premed major from Romulus MI (Romulus High); Ashley Trussell, a chemistry/premed major from Jackson MS (Murrah High); and Sharonda Washington, a biology/premed from Opelousas LA (Opelousas LA).
While most of the programs key elements – careful monitoring and charting of each student’s academic progress, a full arsenal of educational support techniques including, study skills, time management, and the utilization of labs and tutorial services – are geared to academics, the overall Xavier “experience” is not overlooked.
“Our message to the students is that all of the desired extra and co-curricular experiences can be had in four years,” said Algere-Lonian. “The students in this inaugural cohort have had summer research opportunities, internships, and study abroad experiences, all while being mindful of the benefits of staying focused on the ultimate goal of graduation.”
During the course of four years, the students are exposed to successful professionals and speakers, attend plays and concerts, and participate in other various other cultural events.
That aspect of the program was not lost on the participants themselves, including Odofin (the current Miss Xavier) and Trussel (the current Student Government Association president), both of whom aspired to and where elected to key leadership roles on campus.
“There was always someone there for us whenever we needed anything and they made sure we stayed on track academically,” said Odofin. “But it was the social and cultural outings that I really appreciated. I’ve had so many experiences that I never would have sought out on my own.”
Trussell agrees.
“The support and encouragement we have received for the past four years has been amazing,” she said. “Plus I think our little group of randomly-selected freshmen has developed into a rather closely-knit group of friends over the years.”
Another basic premise of the program that is not lost on the participants are the financial considerations.
“While the ultimate goal is to graduate, the financial advantages of graduating in four or five years cannot be overstressed,” said Algere-Lonian. “Many of these students will pursue professional and graduate studies, and by not extending their undergraduate studies, they will end up with much less student loan debt.”
Case in point, all seven May graduates have committed to pursuing advanced degrees in health professional or graduate schools.
Now that inaugural trial has proven successful, the future of the program is in flux. Franco said she and Algere-Lonian are considering whether to continue the program as is with a new group from next fall’s freshman class, or to limit the program to the first two years of college in order to service more students.
“Once the students have become acclimated to college life and established good study habits, we feel confident they can handle whatever challenges lie ahead,” she said. “The first two years are the most critical ones.”
U.S. Surgeon General, XU Alum to Address 2013 Xavier Graduates
New Orleans LA - U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin will deliver the commencement address at Xavier University of Louisiana’s 86th annual graduation ceremony Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Convocation Center. It will be the University’s first commencement on campus since 1983.
Benjamin, a 1979 Xavier graduate, is expected to address more than 550 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional students and their families at the commencement ceremony. She will receive an honorary degree.
For the past 29 years Xavier has held its commencement in various city venues, most recently the Kiefer Lakefront Arena and the New Orleans Arena. Earlier commencements, traditionally, had been held outdoors in the campus Quad. However, torrential rains in 1983 prompted the decision to hold all future events indoors even though there was no facility on campus large enough to hold the anticipated crowds. The new Convocation Center has addressed that problem.
“Commencement is always an extraordinary time for Xavier, and bringing the exercises back to campus will certainly make very special,” said XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
The annual Baccalaureate Mass and Honors Convocation will be held the preceding evening, Friday (May 10), at 6:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center. The Very Rev. James Pawlicki SVD will be the homilist at the Baccalaureate, while former XU trustee and retired Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon SVD will be the celebrant.
Xavier Students Off to Summer Camp in China
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana, through its Confucius Institute – the first such institute in the State of Louisiana and the nation’s HBCUs – will send a group of 10 undergraduate, graduate, and College of Pharmacy students to China May 14-29.
The students, who all studied the Mandarin language during the regular spring semester at Xavier, will receive further intensive Chinese language training in China, while gaining exposure to Chinese culture and history, such as attending seminars on folk music, painting, history, culture, calligraphy, and paper cutting.
The student group includes six undergraduates (Ahmeena Anderson, Avion Bailey, Leonard Clay Jr., Ajhia Ellis, A’Vanti Glenn, and Sheldon Maurice), two graduate students (Joseph Hicks and Sheridon Trepagnier IV), and two pharmacy students (Adina Ewing and Jazmine Thompson). The students will be accompanied during the trip by Shu Peng, administrative specialist at the Confucius Institute at Xavier, as well as Dr. Lori Crawford from the XU College of Pharmacy.
While in China, the students will visit Beijing and Baoding, the city where Xavier’s partner school Hebei University is located. In addition, they will visit the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Confucius Institute Headquarters, and the Great Wall in or near Beijing, and a famous stone tomb of the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE) and the governor’s mansion of the Qing dynasty (19th dynasty) in Baoding.
Students will also have the opportunity to interact with students of Hebei University, and enjoy Chinese food, learn Taichi, and view theatrical art.
All costs for food, lodging, cultural excursions, and transportation in China will be covered by Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing. Most students will also receive substantial financial aid to cover their international travel.
For more information on the Confucius Institute at Xavier visit
www.xula.edu/confucius, email
confucius@xula.edu or call 504-520-7237.
XU Confucius Institute Hosts Colloquium; Presents at Local Events
New Orleans LA – The Confucius Institute at Xavier University of Louisiana will host a colloquium “Enjoying Chinese and African Art” May 9 in the University Center Room 201.
Top experts on Chinese and African art in the New Orleans region will discuss innovative strategies and approaches in presenting such art in museums so that visitors will not only both learn and enjoy viewing African and Chinese works.
It’s the beginning of a busy month for the Confucius Institute, which will also represent China at the World’s Fair at Louisiana Children’s Museum May 11 and present at the Audubon Zoo’s Asian Heritage Festival May 25.
Colloquium
The colloquium includes formal presentations, starting at 9:00 a.m., by Dr. Yu Jiang, Director of the Confucius Institute; Dr. Mora Beauchamp-Byrd, XU assistant professor of Art History; MaPo Kinnord-Payton, XU associate professor of Art at Xavier University; Lisa Rodondo-McCord, deputy director for Curatorial Affairs & Curator of Asian Art; Bill Fagaly, emeritus curator of African Art New Orleans Museum of Art; Dr. David Riep, SUNO assistant professor of Museum Studies; and Adwale Adenle, Texas Tech visiting assistant professor of Drawing and Painting.
In the afternoon, participants will be invited to tour the New Orleans Museum of Art, with both admission fees paid, and an opportunity to listen to Chinese and African art experts talking about the collection in the museum.
World’s Fair
The Confucius Institute will collaborate with Sandra Pierre-Kazi, President & CEO of New Orleans Worldwide Concepts Vacations, to represent China at the World’s Fair at Louisiana Children’s Museum.
Four Great Inventions of China, including compass, paper making, print making, and gun power, will be presented in line with this year’s STEM (Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics) theme of the World’s Fair.
In addition to text, illustrations, and interactive sessions on these four inventions, there will be demonstrations on Chinese calligraphy and painting, and paper making. A Chinese abacus training and contest (as well as prizes) will be held during the event, as will food tasting.
There will be lanterns, bookmarks, dragon masks, zodiac wheel, quizzes, and balloons to enrich the various activities, while Chinese dancing, instrumental art, and vocal art will be performed.
Asian Heritage Festival
The Confucius Institute will present the achievements of Xavier students in learning Mandarin Chinese, and multiple aspects of Chinese culture and language at the Asian Heritage Festival. The presentation will include posters about Xavier, the Mandarin program on campus, Chinese history and culture, and a Chinese calligraphy demonstration. There will also be interactive activities. Confucius Institute will also manage the Children’s tent at the festival.
For more information on the Confucius Institute at Xavier or to learn more about the future events, visit
www.xula.edu/confucius, email
confucius@xula.edu or call 504-520-7237.
Local High School Students Win XU Business Idea Competition
New Orleans, LA – Three area students took home top honors in The Entrepreneurship Institute of Xavier University of Louisiana’s 2nd Annual Business Idea Competition.
Andreanna Atkins, a junior at Lusher Charter School, was declared the winner for her business concept entitled Educate the World. Runners-up were Jordan Harris and Daren Scioneaux of St. Augustine High School with their idea of UNICO/UTV, and Brandon LeBlanc of St. Augustine High School for Ultimate Cuts. The winner received $400 and the runners-up each received $150.
“We’ve seen a 70 percent increase in applications, and students from more high schools participated in the competition this year,” says Mark Quinn, Director of Xavier’s Entrepreneurship Institute. “We’re hoping to see even more students participate next year.”
The goal of the competition is to expose New Orleans area high school students to entrepreneurship as a viable career option, and to inform them about the support that is available to them.
Sponsors of the competition are the Xavier University Entrepreneurship Institute; Xavier’s Enactus Team; Capital One Bank; and the Louisiana Small Business Development Centers. The applications were judged by Xavier students and faculty, as well as representatives of the Small Business Administration, Capital One Bank and the Louisiana Small Business Development Centers.
Plans are under way for next year’s competition. Teachers, high school students, parents and interested parties are encouraged to contact Xavier’s Entrepreneurship Institute at mquinn@xula.edu for information on how to participate.
Xavier to Host Presentation on Transition to Entrepreneur
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Business will host a presentation, entitled “Making Bold Moves – Moving from Employee to Entrepreneur” on Wednesday, April 24, in the Convocation Center Annex. The presentation starts at 6:00 p.m.
The discussion will provide insight into the opportunity and transition from employee to entrepreneur, specifically from the perceptive of an established entrepreneur. The featured speaker is William S. Parrish, author of Making Bold Moves: Creating Multimillion-Dollar Success in 500 Days or Less! and the President/CEO of NobleStrategy LLC.
“The idea of transitioning from an employee to an entrepreneur is a common thought. Students today constantly want to take charge, and they are the future. Therefore, ‘Making Bold Moves’ could ignite a fire in students that they didn’t see in themselves before” said Mark Quinn, Entrepreneur professor at Xavier University of Louisiana.
This event is free and open to the public. Interested people should RSVP by viewing the invitation HERE.
Xavier Celebrates National Library Week
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Library Resource Center will celebrate National Library Week April 15-19 with a series of events with the theme “Community Matters @ Your Library”.
Two key events scheduled are a public reading of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail – commemorating the 50th Anniversary – at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (April 15), and an Open House on Thursday (April 18) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Xavier’s Art Gallery and Library.
Library tours and database training will compliment the event schedule, which includes:
Monday April 15
Book Read Out, Jim Thiebaud
Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American
Library 400F 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 16
50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail
Public Reading by Library faculty/staff: Marilyn Lee (coordinator), Phyllis Calvin, Elizabeth Elmwood, Esperanda Johnson, Eric Joseph, Johnanna White, and Michele Woods.
Library 400F 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Wednesday April 17
Lavon Williams, Head of Special Collections New Orleans Main Public Library Book Read Out and Inaugural Book Club collaboration Michele Woods
Library 1st Floor 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Book Read Out Marilyn Lee and Michele Woods
My Story, My Song: Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith by Lucimarian Roberts with reflections by Robin Roberts
Library 400F 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Thursday April 18
Library Open House
Library & Art Gallery 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Program 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Alice Roy (prayer), Phyllis Calvin (poetry), Dr. Mark Gstohl “Free Libraries”, Irwin Lachoff (reading passage - Centennial by James A. Michener), and Michele Woods, (poetry reading- "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson).
Friday April 19
National Library Week Closing event Cultural and Literary Evening featuring Book Read Out with Sandra Monroe and Karma Williams Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation, plus poetry, spoken word, and music
Art Gallery 12:45 to 3:45 p.m.
For more info, contact Michelle Woods at mwoods@xula.edu or (504) 520-7584.
Xavier Festival of Scholars Spotlights Student Research
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana students know that in today’s competitive environment, participating in undergraduate research can improve their chances of landing the right job or being accepted into their preferred graduate or professional school.
Some of those student scholars will share their research efforts with the public April 18-19 when the XU Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) hosts its 10th Annual Festival of Scholars in the University Center (2nd floor lobby). The event will open at noon on April 18 and continue Friday until 4:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
The Festival of Scholars spotlights achievements in student research. Projects come from every discipline on campus. More than 100 students will present the work they have been engaged in during the past year through poster sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions and class forums. Nearly 40 faculty members serve as mentors to the students.
This year, the conference continues its tradition of including presentations in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math), the social sciences and the humanities. Scheduled presentations for this year run the gamut from mosquito control to the masking traditions of the New Orleans’ “Baby Dolls”, from combat post-traumatic stress disorder to an analysis of gender roles in Asian Culture, and from an examination of African American adults in post-Katrina New Orleans to DNA-binding.
“Undergraduate research has become a necessary right of passage for students headed to graduate school,” said CUR Director Dr. Gary Donaldson. “Not only does it give them the proper background they need to hit the ground running when they begin their graduate experience, but university recruiters are focusing more and more on students who have research experience as potential candidates.”
CUR is funded through Title III, Part B and the Mellon Foundation. Each semester CUR offers grant opportunities for students to pursue their research interests. Many students gain invaluable experience in applying for grants to secure funding, conducting research projects, and presenting their work to the academic community and the general public.
This year, panel discussions include topics on suicide, self-esteem in athletes, racial identity, teen pregnancy, interethnic communication, long distance relationships and more. Among the poster presentations, research ranges from school reform in New Orleans and advanced health and science research to psychology research.
The festival has grown in the past 10 years. It now includes special sessions highlighting performance-based research, and there are staged presentations adapted from research projects presented to live audiences.
Louisiana “Chinese Bridge” Contest Held at Xavier
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Confucius Institute hosted a local screening for the 6th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students March 27.
With tremendous support from their families, five students from three schools, including Metairie Park Country Day School, Ben Franklin High School, and International High School of New Orleans, participated in the contest. The competition had three parts: self-selected topic speech, Chinese cultural knowledge, and talent show. The students showcased their language and music talent as well as their knowledge about Chinese culture through these steps.
Georgia Bourderionnet from Ben Franklin High School won the first place and will represent Louisiana in the Chinese Houston Consulate District on April 21. Xavier’s own student Briana Edwards, who is studying Mandarin through the Confucius Institute, will participate in the 12th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Houston. The costs of travel for the students are covered by the Houston Consulate. Professor Rongyao Wen, Associate Director of Xavier’s Confucius Institute, will lead the two students for the Houston trip.
The 1st prize winner (college level) will represent Houston Consulate District (including eight U.S. Southern states and Porto Rico) to go to China and take the quarter finals of the 12th “Chinese Bridge” contest; the 2nd prize winners will travel to China to watch the contest. Similarly, the 1st prize winner (secondary school level) will represent Houston Consulate District to take the quarter finals of the 6th “Chinese Bridge” competition, while the 2nd and 3rd prize winners may have the opportunities to watch the contest in China.
Xavier to Host a Top Performance Team from China April 19
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana will host the Three Tours Chinese music and dancing team from Nanchang University in a joint concert with its own Department of Music April 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the University Center’s Mary & William McCaffrey Ballroom.
The concert is free and the public is invited.
Entitled “Joy, Fun, and Inspiration: Chinese Folk Performance and New Orleans Music”, the concert will feature traditional Chinese instruments, vocals, operas, and dancing. Among the selections to be performed by the 20-member Nanchang team will be a flute solo Skylark, a Erhu solo The Harvest of Grapes, a cucurbit flute solo Marriage Vows, the dances Years of Affluence, Jasmine, and Flowers, the Jiangxi Martial Opera Uproar in Heaven, and the vastly popular Facemask Changing.
Individual students, faculty, and musical ensembles from the XU Department of Music will also perform.
“This concert will showcase the talents of both Xavier and Nanchang University students and faculty, as well as illustrate the beautiful diversity and wonder that different cultures can bring to the world,” said Dr. Yu Jiang, Director of the Confucius Institute at Xavier. He said that the Institute plans to host additional cultural activities in the future as part of its mission to contribute to an increased understanding between the peoples of the United States and China.
About Three Tours
The Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing (China) organizes domestic colleges and universities to visit Confucius Institutes during major festivals and celebrations to carry out the “Three Tours” activities, including performance tour, teaching material exhibition tour, and culture lecture tour.
The Three Tours activity from Nanchang University falls into the performance tour category, which is very popular worldwide because of its excellent performing acts.
The process of choosing the team to participate in Three Tours activities is quite rigorous. Typically, a university organizes members of its own performances, or integrates several institutions into one composite team, and submits video, images, and text materials to Confucius Institute Headquarters for review by external experts. Site visits and endorsements by foreign partner schools may be necessary for ensuring that a school team is chosen for participating in Three Tours.
During each tour, a performance team will visit several Confucius Institutes. Xavier is among four U.S. Confucius Institutes which will host the team from Nanchang University in 2013.
About Nanchange University
Nanchang University is a national, comprehensive university in China. It is located south of the Yangtze River and in the provincial capital of Jiangxi Province that is reputed to be capital of porcelain (china). The University has over 80,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
About Xavier
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, co-educational institution offering a comprehensive liberal arts program and professional programs, including 38 undergraduate majors, five master’s degree programs and a doctor of pharmacy program. Xavier is the only historically Black, Catholic university in the United States and draws students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, the Virgin Islands and 7 foreign countries.
For more information contact Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans LA 70125, Phone: 504-520-7568, Fax 504-520-7933.
U.S. Surgeon General, XU Alum to Address 2013 Xavier Graduates
New Orleans LA – U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin will deliver the commencement address at Xavier University of Louisiana’s 86th annual graduation ceremony Saturday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Convocation Center. It will be the University’s first commencement on campus since 1983.
Benjamin, a 1979 Xavier graduate, is expected to address more than 550 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional students and their families at the commencement ceremony. She will receive an honorary degree.
For the past 29 years Xavier has held its commencement in various city venues, most recently the Kiefer Lakefront Arena and the New Orleans Arena. Earlier commencements, traditionally, had been held outdoors in the campus Quad. However, torrential rains in 1983 prompted the decision to hold all future events indoors even though there was no facility on campus large enough to hold the anticipated crowds. The new Convocation Center has addressed that problem.
“Commencement is always an extraordinary time for Xavier, and bringing the exercises back to campus will certainly make very special,” said XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
The annual Baccalaureate Mass and Honors Convocation will be held the preceding evening, Friday (May 10), at 6:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
Dr. Regina Benjamin
Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, a 1979 graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America’s Doctor, she promotes good health and disease prevention based on up-to-date information and scientific research. Her care and concern reaches beyond individuals and the public health of the nation to the operational command of 6,500 uniformed public health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote and protect the health of the American People.
From her commitment as the founder of a rural health clinic in Alabama – which she kept in operation despite damage and destruction inflicted by hurricanes Georges (1998) and Katrina (2005) and a devastating fire (2006) – to her worldwide advancement of preventive health care, Benjamin has forged a career that has been recognized by a broad spectrum of organizations and publications.
In addition to her B.S. in chemistry from Xavier, she holds an M.D. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an MBA from Tulane University. She attended Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency in Macon, Ga. Dr. Benjamin is the recipient of 18 honorary degrees.
A former associate dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile and past chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Benjamin was the first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She served as president of the American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation and chair of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. In 2002, she became the first African-American female president of a state medical society in the United States when she assumed leadership of the Medical Association State of Alabama.
A member of the Institute of Medicine (the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences) and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, she was chosen as a Kellogg National Fellow and a Rockefeller Next Generation Leader. Past board memberships include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the Catholic Health Association, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.
She was named by Time magazine as one of the “Nation’s 50 Future Leaders Age 40 and Under.” She was featured in the 1995 New York Times article, “Angel in a White Coat;” the December 1999 cover of Clarity magazine; in the 2002 People magazine’s article, "Always on Call;” and was featured on the January 2003 cover of Reader’s Digest as one of the national publication’s"Everyday Heroes." She was also named “Person of the Week” on ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and “Woman of the Year’ by CBS This Morning.
In 1998, Benjamin was the United States recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights. She received the 2000 National Caring Award and was recognized with the Papal honor
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Benedict XVI. In 2008, she was honored with a MacArthur Genius Award Fellowship. In 2011, Dr. Benjamin became the recipient of the Chairman’s Award during the worldwide broadcast of the 42nd NAACP Image Awards.
“Xavier University is proud of Dr. Benjamin because of all her accomplishments,” said Xavier President Dr. Norman C. Francis, “but more importantly because she embodies the vision and core values articulated by St. Katharine Drexel when Xavier began.”
Xavier Jazz Festival to Hold Court at the Old Mint
New Orleans LA - The Xavier University of Louisiana 'Department of Music’s annual Jazz Festival, a three-day event which highlights various genres of the Jazz art form through performances, clinics, workshops and lectures, will have an exciting new venue this year: the Old U.S. Mint in the historic French Quarter.
Scheduled for April 16-18, this year’s festival will feature three evening concerts and a day devoted to various clinics, workshops and lectures by various local and national Jazz artists. Among the artists participating are Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Brass Band, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and his group, and the internationally recognized saxophonist Donald Harrison.
All night events will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Old U.S. Mint. Clinics/Workshops begin at noon, 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, in the Xavier Music Recital Hall. All events are free and open to the Public.
The purpose of the Xavier Jazz Festival is expose the News Orleans community to a varied range of jazz related concerts and clinics/workshops and provide them with a more sophisticated insight into the artistry and effort which goes into the creation of the music and the making of Jazz Greats. The programing and presentations are structured with a broad audience in mind, ranging from local junior/senior high school musicians to college students, to professionals.
The schedule of events follows:
April 16
Traditional Jazz: Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Brass Band
Old Mint, 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Michael White, a New Orleans born traditional Jazz musician and historian, is recognized internationally as a lecturer, historian and musician presenting the music and history of original New Orleans Traditional Jazz. He is a graduate of Xavier University and is currently a professor of Spanish. The Original Liberty Brass Band has received numerous performance awards and has traveled the globe presenting New Orleans Traditional Jazz in most of the world’s leading jazz festivals.
April 17
Contemporary Jazz: Delfeayo Marsalis
Old Mint, 7:00 p.m.
New Orlean’s own, jazz trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, has toured internationally with legendary jazz artists Art Blakey, Abdullah Ibrahim, Elvin Jones, Slide Hampton and Max Roach, as well as touring with his own modern jazz ensemble. During a tour with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, he was filmed as part of the Ken Burns documentary on Jazz. A mainstay on the New Orleans modern jazz scene, he has released three solo albums to critical acclaim.
April 18 (day)
Clinic/Workshop/Guest Lectures
Xavier Music Recital Hall, Noon, 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
(Noon) Dr. Michael White discusses various aspects and nuances performed in Traditional New Orleans Jazz; (1:00 p.m.); Delfeayo Marsalis discusses various aspects of modern jazz improvisation, focusing on theoretical concepts and ear training; and (2:00 p.m.) Donald Harrison discusses theoretical devices and techniques used in approaching advanced jazz improvisation.
April 18 (evening)
Xavier University Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Donald Harrison
Old Mint, 7:00 p.m.
The evening concludes the concert series and the festival with its final concert featuring the Xavier University Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Tim Turner, with Mr. Donald Harrison as featured soloist. Harrison has performed with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Don Pullen in the 1980s and also played with the reformed Headhunters band in the 1990s. A talented post-bop altoist with a personal, angular style, Mr. Harrison came to fame with Art Blakey’s Messengers and is widely considered to be one of the finest jazz voices in modern jazz.
Xavier Offers Session on New State Educational Standards
New Orleans LA - The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Education & Counseling and the Departments of Mathematics and English will host a Parent Informational Session about the new state education standards and assessments Saturday, April 20, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Room 111 of the Convocation Annex (corner of Washington Ave. and Fern St.).
At the session, which is free and open to the public, parents will hear from content specialists about the expectations of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that will replace the GLEs and the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum, as well as the new assessments that will replace LEAP and ILeap. A special education expert will also be available to advise parents with special needs children.
The Common Core is a set of educational benchmarks developed by leaders in education and the National Governors Association which have been adopted in 45 states, including Louisiana. Rather than impose curriculum on schools, the Common Core sets student performance standards that slowly build upon themselves year after year. As early as Kindergarten, students will begin developing the basic skills that will make them college and career ready.
Each state has leeway to redraft the standards as it sees fit, but as a whole, national Common Core implementation will establish a relatively uniform set of standards across the country, making it easier for families to move their children between schools and creating new opportunities for collaboration between educators all over the country.
All public schools in Louisiana are required to use curricula aligned with state standards. Most public schools and districts use curricula developed by the Louisiana Department of Education. The Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum (LCC) includes 75 courses in the core areas of English, math, science and social studies.
Louisiana administers state assessments in the four core content areas in grades 3-8 and End-of-Course tests in high school. The state participates in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a 24-state consortium working together to develop next-generation K-12 assessments in English and math. The state is committed to administering the PARCC assessments in 2014-2015.
The state has developed an implementation plan to prepare students and teachers and to ease the transition to the more rigorous new standards and assessments. The implementation plan outlined in the paragraphs below includes one year of preparation followed by two years of implementation of transitional curriculum and assessments before full implementation of the new standards and PARCC assessments in 2014-2015.
For more information contact Dr. Renee Akbar, XU Division of Education at 504-52-7536.
Team Xavier Heads for Honda Campus All-Star Challenge
New Orleans LA – If their performance in the preliminaries is any indication, look for Xavier University of Louisiana’s Quiz Bowl team to make waves at the 2013 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge when it convenes in Torrance CA April 7-8.
Team Xavier is coming off a big win in the Texas Invitational Tournament at Prairie View A&M, where they defeated five fellow HBCU’s (Historically black Colleges and Universities – including Alcorn State, Grambling State, Langston College, Mississippi Valley State, and Prairie View A&M. Honda allows all teams planning to compete in the national challenge to participate in a pre-tournament (regional) event.
The team, coached Darryl Keller, Jr., includes Javon Bracy, McKenzie Moses, Kirkland Penro, Jessica Piernas, Skyler Quintero, and Meggan Simien. Nekita Bannister-Lee serves as XU’s institutional representative.
Xavier has participated in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge – an intense academic competition among the best and brightest students from Historically Black Colleges ad Universities (HBCUs) – 21 out of 24 years starting in 1992-93 season. Through the years, the University has been awarded more than $75,000 in grants during the competition. In addition, Xavier was presented the 2012 Community Service for partnering with Lafayette Charter Academy to tutor kids with after school program.
This year's tournament is expected to draw 48 schools from 18 states.
For more about the Honda Campus Quiz Bowl, visit http://www.hcasc.com.
Xavier, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Forge Partnership
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) have signed a formal agreement of inter-institutional collaboration in the field of mental health education.
The agreement formalizes continued discussions and strategic planning to explore opportunities for future academic and educational collaborations in graduate professional psychology, including, but not limited to: doctoral and/or masters programs in clinical psychology, school psychology, forensic psychology, applied behavior analysis, and business psychology.
The nonbinding memorandum was officially ratified by XU President Norman C. Francis and TCSPP President Dr. Michelle Nealon-Woods during a campus ceremony
“It is no secret that the mental health service needs in the New Orleans area are great, as they are throughout this country,” said Dr. Francis. “Through this joint effort we hope to address some of those needs by providing new, young professionals with the finest undergraduate and graduate psychology training experience possible.”
“We foresee this collaboration as being one of mutual benefit to both institutions, as well as to our respective communities,” he added.
“We are excited to partner with an outstanding institution such as Xavier, and the prospect of making available to these students and others in the new Orleans area, opportunities for graduate education in professional psychology,” stated Dr. Nealon-Woods. “As higher learning institutions, we embrace the values of diversity and inclusion as well as a commitment to work with communities to increase the number of mental health experts.”
TCSPP is very familiar with the quality of Xavier students. In the past two years seven Xavier graduates have entered graduate programs at TCSPP across its three campuses, and already this year at least two more students have applied and are awaiting acceptance for Fall 2013.
Xavier to Host Presentation on Doing Business in China
New Orleans, LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Business and the Confucius Institute will cohost a presentation, “Road to Beijing – Key Lessons on Doing Business With China” Wednesday, March 20, in the Convocation Center Annex.
The reception starts at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation at 6:30 p.m. The event is part of Spring Business Week at Xavier University, an annual event during which business topics are profiled.
“China is a major economic force and market and we believe that it is important for the New Orleans business community to be informed about how to approach it successfully” said Joe Ricks, Chair of the Division of Business.
“We are excited about our partnership with the Division of Business in offering this presentation and sharing China’s rich culture with the business community,” added Yu Jiang, Director of the Confucius Institute at Xavier.
The discussion will provide insight into how China’s economic development will bring potential marketing opportunities for American business, such as pharmaceutical products. The featured speaker is Karl Turner, President of A La Carte Specialty Foods, LLC, a Westwego company that exports to China.
The event is free and open to the public. Reservations may be made online HERE or calling (504) 520-7505. Seating is limited so reservations are strongly recommended.
Xavier Earns CNCS President's Community Service Award
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana was among 690 colleges and universities nationwide named to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) 2013 President's Community Service Honor Roll, which recognizes outstanding commitment volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.
The XU Center for Student Leadership and Service is directed by Typhanie Jasper-Butler.
Team Xavier Scores in Quiz Bowl Invitational
New Orleans LA – If their performance in the preliminaries is any indication, look for Xavier University of Louisiana’s Quiz Bowl team to make waves at the 2013 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge when it convenes in Los Angeles CA next month.
Team Xavier is coming off a big win in the Texas Invitational Tournament at Prairie View A&M, where they defeated five fellow HBCU’s (Historically black Colleges and Universities – including Alcorn State, Grambling State, Langston College, Mississippi Valley State, and Prairie View A&M. Honda allows all teams planning to compete in the national challenge to participate in a pre-tournament (regional) event.
The team, coached Darryl Keller, Jr., includes Javon Bracy, McKenzie Moses, Kirkland Penro, Jessica Piernas, Skyler Quintero, and Meggan Simien. Nekita Bannister-Lee serves as XU’s institutional representative.
Xavier has participated in Honda Campus All-Star Challenge – a trivia competition for HBCU's – 21 out of 24 years starting in 1992-93 season. Through the years, the University has been awarded more than $75,000 in grants during the competition. In addition, Xavier was presented the 2012 Community Service for partnering with Lafayette Charter Academy to tutor kids with after school program.
This year's tournament will be held in April 6-10.
For more about the Honda Campus Quiz Bowl, visit http://www.hcasc.com.
Turner Nominated for Educator Grammy
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana music chair, professor, and director of bands Dr. Tim Turner has been nominated for the GRAMMY’s Music Educator Award.
The Recording Academy, in partnership with the GRAMMY Foundation, has launched this award to bring attention and recognition to the teaching profession, particularly those it music. The winner, to be announced next year, will receive a $10,000 honorarium and be presented the award at the Special Merits Award Ceremony during GRAMMY Week 2014 in Los Angeles LA.
Turner, who has been at Xavier since 2004, conducts the University’s Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble. He also teaches music theory, composition, orchestration, musicianship, conducting, and music appreciation. Previously he served a stint as director of bands at Xavier from 1987-93, and in a similar position at Morehouse College from 1996-2004.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts/Music Education from the University of Memphis.
Xavier Summer Programs Expect Big Increase in Applicants
New Orleans LA - Students who will attend Xavier University of Louisiana’s diverse array of pre-college and collegiate summer programs can count on learning analytical reasoning and verbal skills that will help them with their future studies, in some cases college credits.
Applications for the pre-college student programs are being accepted now, and the University is encouraging the community to enroll students soon, expecting the programs to be filled to capacity. Space is limited. New this year is an online, common application that should make applying easier and convenient.
In addition to those special programs, the summer schedule also includes regular college degree-credit courses available in two five-week sessions, and an additional eight-week session. Some new and exciting online and hybrid courses will be offered, too. All three sessions, offered at low tuition rates, are open to currently enrolled, new and returning Xavier students, as well as students enrolled at other universities. Registration for Session I and II are May 27 and June 28, respectively. Session III registration is June 7.
“Xavier’s campus during the summer months is jumping with local and non-local high school and college students because of the diverse set of course offerings,” said Summer Programs Associate Dean Dr. Kenneth Boutte, Sr. “It also shows the desire of young people to want to improve their skills and get a jump on their future studies. This summer we are expanding our evening and online courses for students with responsibilities that prevent them from taking courses during the day.”
Interesting and informative pre-college programs beginning in May and June include:
- British Petroleum STEM Summer Institute (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
- Summer Science Academy “Star” Programs – offers three “STAR” programs – MathStar, BioStar, and ChemStar – for high school students who have an expressed interest in science careers
- Louisiana Engineering Advancement Program (LEAP)/Summer Scholars – a competitive and intensive honors program designed to improve the analytical reasoning and verbal skills of students considering careers in engineering, mathematics or the sciences
- Exploring Computer Science at XU – for students interested in learning more about science
- Center of Excellence Program – a four-week session designed to grant a small group of high school students interested in pharmacy a broader perspective of the academic requirements and exposure to various career opportunities in pharmacy
- Future Mathematics and Science Teacher Academy (FMSTA) – a worldwide hands-on, middle and secondary school-based science/math education program
- The Stress On Analytical Reasoning (SOAR1) – a program that prepares students in analytical reasoning and provides early exposure to science/health careers
- SuperScholar/EXCEL – a four-week residential summer enrichment program that is geared toward students who are interested in pursuing college degrees in the arts, humanities, social sciences and education.
While the pre-college programs give the campus a different feel during the summer, XU’s regular collegiate summer school sessions, offered at low tuition rates, and several special college-level programs also attract a brisk enrollment. Special program offerings include the following:
- Biomedical Scholar Summer Program (BSSP) – provides the opportunity for very high-ability incoming freshmen students who intend to major in Biology, Chemistry-Premed, or Psychology-Premed to complete one semester of Xavier's General Chemistry course earning 3 hours of college credit. Invitation only.
- Business Achievers Summer Program – for incoming freshmen business majors. Invitation only.
- Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Summer Bridge – enhances diversity in materials research and education by stimulating the development of formal, long-term, collaborative research and education partnerships between minority- serving colleges and universities and the National Science Foundation
- Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program – ten-week program for students interested in obtaining first research experience in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- STEM Scholars Summer Bridge Program – a five-week program for incoming freshmen majoring in math, computer sciences, physics and engineering
- XUPharmPrep - a four-week program for incoming freshmen majoring in Chemistry-Prepharmacy that is designed to prepare students in key academic areas and expose them to opportunities in pharmacy. Invitation only.
In addition, the Math and Science Teacher Institute (MSTI) and Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) are expected to draw higher enrollment numbers as well.
For more information on Xavier’s Summer Programs, visit
HERE.
Xavier Pharmacy to Host 6th Annual Health Disparities Conference
The Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy's Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education (
CMHDRE) will host its Sixth Health Disparities Conference March 7-9, at the New Orleans Sheraton Hotel.
Conference participants will include clinicians (pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals), health policy makers, health educators, and public and community health leaders whose work incorporates the use of mid-level providers to build partnerships to eliminate health disparities and improve health equity.
The conference, titled “Improving Medical Effectiveness and Health Outcomes to Achieve Health Equity Through Interprofessional Collaborations”, will include discussions on successful multidisciplinary models for improving health systems outcomes.
Abstract podium presentations will enhance the effectiveness of the conference and help to stimulate discussions surrounding effective clinical strategies, basic science, health policy and research disciplines, and most importantly, the significant role of mid-level providers and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Xavier University Names New Director of Library Resource Center
New Orleans LA – Dr. Lynette Ralph has been named the new Director of the University Library Resource Center at Xavier University of Louisiana, according to Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Loren Blanchard.
Ralph, who holds both a MS and a Ph.D. degree in Library and Information Science, has more than 30 years of experience as a librarian, including 25 as an administrator and manager in a university setting. Most recently she served as assistant university library director at the Sims Memorial Library at Southeastern Louisiana University.
She replaces Robert Skinner, who retired after more than 25 years in the position at Xavier.
“Xavier is very pleased that a librarian with Dr. Ralph’s impressive credentials, years of experience, and wealth of expertise will join Xavier’s faculty,” said Blanchard. “As the role of the library continues to evolve on college campuses, we are confident that Dr. Ralph will bring leadership and vision that will enhance the library’s current services to Xavier faculty, students, and staff, as well as to the local community.”
Xavier Explores African American and Diaspora Studies
New Orleans LA - The Xavier University of Louisiana African American and Diaspora Studies Program (AADS) will offer the community an extensive look into the discipline Feb. 18-22 with a weeklong program, ”AADS: Identity/Image/Representation.”
Faculty affiliated with the program will conduct master classes, public lectures, workshops and exhibits on various topics during the week. Visit HERE for the schedule of events.
New Xavier XU Arena Adds to City’s Arsenal of Convention/Event Spaces
New Orleans LA – Since its official christening in November 2012, the newly-constructed Convocation Center and Annex at Xavier University of Louisiana has been a very busy venue.
The new center boasts more than 93,000 square feet of space with more than 4,100 seats that can be reconfigured for a variety of purposes. Because of its smaller size compared to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and other large spaces in New Orleans, the Convocation Center is providing the city with an alternative space for small to mid-size events, concerts, galas and more.
During Super Bowl XLVII, a number of groups took advantage of the space and state-of-the art capabilities the center has to offer. The night before Super Bowl, the Annual Gridiron Celebrity Hoops All-Star Basketball Game marked its 15th year at the Convocation Center. The star-studded event drew sports fans from across the country and more than three dozen pro-athletes and celebrities took center court to play.
“This mid-size athletic event proves our Convocation Center has the capacity to draw big crowds for important functions. We have end and center stage arrangements that allows for flexibility and our state-of-the-art scoreboard system is top of the line. We are pleased we had the opportunity to participate in the City’s Super Bowl activities and hope to be an active participant in more events to come,” said XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
Other Super Bowl-related events included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce job fair Hiring Our Heroes – a chance for veteran job seekers, active duty military, Guard and Reserve members, active military and veteran spouses to apply for work at 60 participating, prospective employers. Also, Feed the Children, an organization that provides food to needy families, used the Convocation Center as home base for distribution.
The first public event held in the Convocation Center was a Liberty Bank Christmas Concert featured the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra, which was held in December 2012. Upcoming events include XU’s inaugural commencement in May, giving the university the chance to bring its students back home for graduation. Until the construction of the Convocation Center, graduation was held at the Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena.
The Convocation Center includes weight rooms, an elegant, monumental staircase at the entrance leading to a high-end VIP suite, and a dramatic second floor pre-function area that allows views to the outdoor plaza below while providing natural daylight into the facility. Supporting the Convocation Center is the Annex that houses classrooms, meeting spaces, offices as well as a “green” parking lot with pervious paving and solar panels.
Manning Architects served as architects for both the Convocation Center and Annex, which are anticipated to be LEED Silver Buildings and incorporate community connectivity, water conservation, energy efficiency, recycled and regional materials, and improved indoor air quality. The Convocation Center is across Washington Avenue from the main campus on a site bounded by Short, Palm and Stroelitz streets. A pedestrian bridge will be constructed across Washington Avenue to give the XULA community better access to the new building.
Xavier Kicks Off Big Read in New Orleans
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana will launch its Big Read program in celebration of Ernest J. Gaines’s novel
A Lesson Before Dying with a keynote event Saturday, Feb. 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Xavier, along with its partner, the New Orleans Public Library, was one of only 78 not-for-profits awarded a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2011 and June 2012. The Big Read in New Orleans focuses on
A Lesson Before Dying by Louisiana native Ernest J. Gaines.
The Feb. 23 kick-off event will feature an appearance by the author – a Louisiana native – who will be interviewed about his life and his work on stage by Fox 8 News Anchor Nancy Parker. The event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be provided. Each attendee will be eligible to receive a free copy of the novel. “The Big Read is a direct response to an increasing devaluation of reading as a habit and as a skill,” said Dr. Jason Todd, QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) director at Xavier. “In recent years Xavier has made a commitment to battle that devaluation on our campus. Through the Big Read we will be able to extend our efforts throughout New Orleans.”
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Loren Blanchard, in applauding receipt of the NEA grant, said, “This as a tremendous opportunity to both recognize a Louisiana literary legend and promote the significance of engaged reading as a lifelong treasure.”
The Big Read in New Orleans will be held from Feb. 23 through March 23, with a full calendar of events scheduled, including books discussions, film screenings, essay contests, and an oral history project involving area high school students. The events are being held in cooperation with several local bookstores, library branches, and social organizations. Throughout those four weeks, more than 1,000 copies of
A Lesson Before Dying will be given away. Copies will be available at some events, as well as at both the Main Branch of the New Orleans Public Library and the Library Resource Center at Xavier.
For more information contact Todd at 520-5292 or
jtodd@xula.edu. The full calendar of events and other info is available
HERE.
Xavier-Dillard Basketball Classic Tickets
New Orleans LA - Tickets for the upcoming Feb. 23 Xavier-Dillard Crosstown Basketball Classic, the first game(s) in the long rivalry to be played in Xavier University of Louisiana’s new Convocation Center, will go on sale Feb. 18.
Tickets for the men’s/women’s doubleheader can be purchased for $5 each at the Convocation Center Box Office from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday (Feb. 18-21). Tickets purchased on game day will cost $10 at the Box Office, which opens at 2:00 p.m.
Game times are 3:00 p.m. (women) and 5:00 p.m. (men).
Blanchard Named Xavier University of Louisiana’s First Provost
New Orleans LA – The Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Dr. Loren Blanchard to serve as the University’s first Provost effective July 1, 2013.
Blanchard, who will continue to serve as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, will now also act as University President Norman C. Francis’ chief advisor, providing leadership in establishing priorities and in collaborating with all organizational units to advance the mission and the continuing success of the institution. In the Provost’s role, Blanchard will become the ranking Vice President who coordinates the work of the other University Vice Presidents.
In the new dual role, Blanchard will not only hold primary responsibility for implementing academic policy and coordinating academic programs and activities but will now assume a more active role with Dr. Francis in expanding the economic, social and cultural impacts of Xavier by strengthening partnerships within the local, state, national and global arenas.
Michael Rue, President of Xavier’s Board of Trustees, stated that “with the increasing pressures facing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Xavier, I can think of no better time for Dr. Blanchard to step into this critical administrative role to work strategically with Dr. Francis to ensure the University’s continuing growth and competitiveness.”
Over the past five years, Blanchard has been Xavier’s chief academic officer after previously serving in similar posts at the University of Louisiana System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans for nearly seven years, total.
“As an alumnus, it is clear to me that the success of faculty, students and Xavier as a whole runs vibrantly through Blanchard’s bloodstream”, said Dr. Norman Francis, who has served as President of Xavier University for almost 45 years. “He works hard to ensure that Xavier stands at the forefront of excellence in all aspects of our work. We are glad and fortunate to have Blanchard now serve in this inaugural role of Provost at his alma mater.”
Blanchard holds a B.S. from Xavier in Speech Pathology; a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana; and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. His professional expertise centers on assessment and accreditation planning. Blanchard was largely instrumental in co-creating an electronic-based assessment system used by nearly every teacher education program in Louisiana for accreditation purposes. This system was later sold and is now commercially marketed.
625 Xavier Scholars Make Fall 2012 Dean's List
New Orleans LA - A total of 625 student scholars made the Dean's List at Xavier University of Louisiana during the fall 2012 semester, according to XU Registrar Avis Stuard.
Students merited a spot on the honor roll by earning a semester grade point average of 3.3 or above while taking at least 12 semester hours. The honor students listed below are grouped by major and include their classifications, high schools and/or (hometowns). Unless otherwise noted, the latter is New Orleans.
The complete lists are available HERE (Arts & Sciences) and HERE (Pharmacy).
XU Psychology Major Receives MLK Service Award
New Orleans LA - Vanencia Lynch, a senior Xavier University of Louisiana psychology major from Houston TX (Westfield High School), was honored for her community service during the 27th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Week for Peace Celebration.
Lynch, whose career goals include graduate study in clinical adolescent counseling and a foundation to mentor and inspire young adolescents, was recognized for emulating the true spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and for embracing the Xavier’s mission of leadership and service, particularly in the area of urban girl scouting.
As a project coordinator with MAX (Mobilization at Xavier) – the University’s umbrella community service organization – she undertook the challenge of resurrecting and re-invigorating the Girls Scouts at Xavier campus program and also successfully organized a Girl Scouting program in the Iberville Housing Development. The urban girl scouting program focuses on mentoring, tutoring and life skills.
In addition to leading the two scouting programs, Lynch currently serves as a MAX executive board member and assists with planning Xavier Service Saturdays, monthly one-day service projects in the community.
She was one of four students (one from each of the MLK Week-sponsoring local institutions: XU, Tulane, Dillard and Loyola) to receive a community service award during MLK Week’s signature convocation. Other events included an inauguration watch party, an interfaith service, an expressions of unity celebration, and a community service day.
Xavier University YMTF/BEEP Welcomes Black Professionals
New Orleans LA - Accomplished professionals from the public and private sectors will visit the Xavier University of Louisiana campus Feb. 24-26 to participate in the Office of Career Service’s annual Youth Motivation Task Force/Black Executive Exchange Program (YMTF/BEEP).
The team of 55 African American professionals includes attorneys, educators, and entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from various state and federal government agencies, the military, the medicine/health sciences, fine arts, and business arena. This year’s event is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps.
In addition to pre-arranged visits to classrooms to share their stories and give advice on how to succeed in life after college, the consultants will be available to meet with individual students Feb. 25 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
This year’s YMTF/BEEP team, chaired by XU Director of Career Services Carolyn Duvigneaud Thomas ’71, features 30 other alumni, including: Monica Bertran ’88, Kenneth Boutte, Sr. ’76, Kenneth Boutte Jr. ’09, Chad Broussard ’99, Charlese Brown ’81, Michael Campbell ’82, Conchetta Carpenter ’99, Lynette Causey ’72, Clement Dugue ’80, Veronica Harrison ’86, Kimberly Henderson ’03, Paula Narcisse Hooks ’89, Kristi Hubbard ’78, Adrienne Johnson ’95, Frank Joshua ’84, Algernon Kelley ’04, Amanda Kelley ’06, Victor Labat ’55, Ivan Lemelle ’71, Ambrose Martin ’76, Vernon Martin Jr. ’73, Willie McKinney ’90, Giovanni Morris ’90, Latoya Moseley ’03, Andrea Rance ’09, Larry Rivarde ’74, Randall Schexnayder ’80, Anthony Sharp ’06, Melanie Sullivan ’88, and Albert Tripps ’72.
Mellon Grant Supports Xavier University Reading Initiative
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana has been awarded a $330,000 grant by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of its comprehensive engaged reading program.
The three-year grant, “Creating a Culture of Critical Reading,” will allow the University to continue the work begun in 2010 with its “Read Today, Lead Tomorrow” initiative, a multi-faceted and broad-ranging approach designed to develop a culture of critical reading among students.
“It has been well-documented that American teenagers are not graduating from high school with the critical skills necessary to excel at the college level, and one of the greatest areas of concern is reading,” said Jason Todd, QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) director at Xavier and principal investigator for the grant. “Simply put: American teenagers are neither reading enough nor well enough.”
“Three years ago we conducted an internal review which confirmed that Xavier students were not immune to this trend, so we made the decision to aggressively address the problem here at the college level,” he said. “We are pleased to say that we have since seen measureable positive outcomes as a result of our initiative, and this new grant will allow us to fully implement it.”
From the beginning, the focus of the initiative has been on fostering faculty development, implementing active reading strategies in and out of the classroom, developing and facilitating literary communities, and incorporating reading-based service learning opportunities.
Moving forward, the University will re-double efforts to incorporate discipline-specific, active-reading into the classroom – including providing financial funding to those faculty members willing to experiment with novel approaches to integrating critical reading instruction. In addition, this past fall each academic department began offering both a mandatory entry-level class that introduces critical reading skills and an upper-level class that reinforces critical reading.
One component of the initiative that has met with great enthusiasm since its introduction is the “Shared Reading” program, which requires all incoming freshman to read the same book selection during the summer, and then discuss and reflect on the reading as part of their mandatory Freshman Seminar course.
The program has been enhanced by a speaker series which brings of the author of the selected book to campus. This year’s shared reading is
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, a book about two African American men with the same name who, as children, lived almost identical lives in urban Baltimore. This past fall, author Wes Moore spoke before a campus audience of more than 800.
Other members of the Xavier community have also been encouraged to participate in the shared reading and in the literary communities (books clubs, journal clubs, etc.) which have emerged on campus.
“Xavier has established a robust reading program that promises to transform the learning community,” said Todd, noting that an earlier two-year planning grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation which funded an increase in the faculty development components of the initiative, has been critical to the initiative’s success to date. “We are pleased that the Foundation has found merit in our efforts so far, and more so, that they have provided us with the financial support to see it through.”
Xavier Host Site for Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XV
New Orleans LA - Xavier University of Louisiana’s new Convocation Center will be the host site for the Super Bowl-affiliated Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XV Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
The annual NFL-sanctioned charity celebrity basketball game and fan-favorite interactive experience features professional football and basketball stars. Tickets range from $20 to $300. Visit HERE for more info or call (301) 868-8856.
Xavier University Spring Registration Jan. 10-11
New Orleans LA – Registration for the 2013 Spring Semester at Xavier University of Louisiana will be held Jan. 10-11, with classes beginning Jan. 14. Visit HERE for more details. HERE for the latest updates on both teams.
Xavier Delegation Visits China, Hebei University
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana University officials visited their Confucius Institute partner school, Hebei University in Baoding (China), to plan future initiatives and attended the 7th Global Confucius Institute Conference Representatives in Beijing.
The delegation, led by Dr. Marguerite Giguette, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, also included Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, Dean of the College of Pharmacy; and Dr. Yu Jiang and professor Rongyao Wen, the XU Confucius Institute directors.
During the visit, a variety of topics were explored with administrators, faculty, and students from Hebei, including summer trips to China for XU students, rotation opportunities for pharmacy students; faculty and student exchange programs in education, art, music, and business, and visiting Hebei faculty experts.
More than 300 Confucius Institutes worldwide attended the conference.
Explore Xavier Open House Jan. 31
New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana will host its annual open house for prospective students Jan. 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The "Explore Xavier" event gives students and their parents the opportunity to meet individually with representatives from academic departments, Admissions, Financial Aid, Fiscal Services, and the various programs under Student Services (Health Service, GradStar, Career Services, Housing and Residence Life, Student Government, sororities and fraternities, to name a few) to learn about their offerings.
Campus tours are also given throughout the evening. Free tickets will be available to that night's women's basketball game. Attendees should go to the University Center to begin open house.
Visit HERE for more info or call 1-877-XavierU.
Panel Discussion on Affirmative Action Highlights MLK Week Celebration
New Orleans LA – A panel discussion on affirmative action featuring several prominent national and local leaders highlights the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week for Peace, Jan. 21-26, 2013.
The theme for this year’s event – a joint collaboration between Xavier University of Louisiana, Tulane University, Loyola University and Dillard University – is “Keep Calm and D.R.E.A.M.”
The headliner event of the week-long celebration – the annual MLK Convocation on Jan. 22 – will be hosted this year by Dillard University. The panel discussion, “The Continuing Need for Affirmative Action in a Diverse America” will be moderated by MSNBC host and Tulane University professor Melissa Harris-Perry. Panel members will include Dillard University President Dr. Walter Kimbrough, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, Spelman College professor Dr. William Jelani Cobb, Loyola University law professor Bill Quigley, and Xavier University professor and political pollster Silas Lee.
Lifetime achievement and student community service awards will also be presented at the opening event. Students from all four universities will also be honored.
In addition to the convocation, other MLK week activities include inauguration watch parties at the respective schools, an interfaith service, an Expressions of Unity celebration, a special student event, and a community day of service. All events are free and the public is invited to participate. The complete calendar of MLK events follows:
Monday, Jan. 21
- Inauguration Watch Party
Contact each school for their respective time and location.
Tuesday, Jan. 22
- MLK Convocation
Panel Discussion: The Continuing Need for Affirmative Action in a Diverse America
Reception 5:30 p.m.; Convocation 6:30 p.m.
George’s Auditorium, Dillard University
Wednesday, Jan. 23
- Interfaith Service
6:00 p.m.
St. Katherine Drexel Chapel, Xavier University
Friday, Jan. 25
- Expressions of Unity and Step Off for the Dream
7:00 p.m.
Roussell Hall, Loyola University
- MLK Student Event, 9:30 p.m.
Danna Center, Loyola University
Saturday, Jan. 26
- MLK Community Day of Service
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Staging area: McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University
For more information call 520-5450.
Xavier Posts Undergraduate Research Journal Online
New Orleans LA – The lastest issue of XULAneXUS, Xavier University of Louisiana's online undergraduate research journal, is now available ONLINE. Volume 10/Issue 1 of the peer-reviewed academic journal, includes articles from students in Biology, Communications, English, and Psychology.
Presbytere Exhibit Features Book by XU Professor
New Orleans LA – A book release and signing by XU associate dean and author Dr. Kim Vaz is one of the highlights the Jan. 18 opening celebration of the New Orleans’ Presbytere’s newest exhibit, “They Call Me Baby Doll: A Mardi Gras Tradition.”
The exhibit, which will be on display through December 2013, features the preservation and resurgence of 100 years of the “Baby Doll” masking, song and dance traditions of New Orleans.
Vaz’s book, The Baby Dolls: Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition, tells the story of the first women’s street masking practices in the United States.
It is available from the LSU Press. Vaz is associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of education.
Visit HERE for more info on the event.
