Xavier University of Louisiana was singled out as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review in the 2026 edition of its "The Best 391 Colleges" publication. The publication recognizes Xavier as a top institution nationally for students who are most engaged in community service. 

The university, founded upon the mission of promoting a more just and humane society through preparing students for leadership and service roles, has historically been infused with a spirit of community commitment. Volunteer hours are not a graduation requirement at Xavier, yet the student body averages between 16,000 and 20,000 service hours each academic year.

Mobilization at Xavier or M.A.X., a coalition of students who promote social awareness and social responsibility through community service, works to source volunteer opportunities and helps students track their service hours. Zachary Williams, Deputy Chief Engagement Officer in the Office of Student Affairs, who serves as co-advisor for M.A.X., said service is tied to the university’s mission.

“Our students come from all walks of life to this institution, founded with the purpose and spirit of serving others,” Williams said. “That spirit continues in this generation for a multitude of reasons. Such as having been underserved and now having the opportunity to serve out of new abundance, or having a background of service previously instilled in them, or even being newly exposed to a joyful culture of service while matriculating here at Xavier. All calls to serve are welcome, and we see it all within our student body." 

Generations of Xavierites recognize service as professional and cultural development, as well as a way to form meaningful connections with their community.

Jeanine Hall ’03, a clinician-scientist working as a pediatric emergency medicine physician, studied biology premed at Xavier. While an incredibly rigorous course of study, she regularly made time to serve.

“Community service is at the heart of Xavier,” Hall said. “Serving in the community where I attended school helped me feel connected to that community. It would not be until later in life that I realized that volunteering at Xavier was a formidable time in my life. It ignited the desire to serve in many capacities within my professional and personal life.”

The culture of care for the community remains ever-present at Xavier, with students volunteering in projects focused on advocacy, philanthropy, environment, animal welfare, health and wellness, youth education, hunger, homelessness, disaster relief, mentoring, and elder care.

Yara Bou Harb, a senior neuroscience major with a double concentration in biology and chemistry, said that service is at the heart of Xavierites of all generations.

"Xavier University of Louisiana produces true leaders more than any other institution. I claim so because service is ingrained in our mission, in our image, and in the way the institution raises up leaders,” Bou Harb said. “No leader would be successful without serving the community in which they lead. Service to me means that I get to raise up my community and meet their needs, however small or large they may be. I serve with a lot of pride because I get to witness alumni serve our student body so selflessly. Service is the true identifier of a leader, and being a Xavierite comes with an innate drive to serve, making us Xavierites the most perfect leaders to carry on the mission that our institution has set out to accomplish." 

In the 24-25 academic year, the student body completed 21,361 service hours, including work on a community garden, food insecurity projects, and independent hours outside of M.A.X. and student clubs and organizations.

"Our students understand that they are their ancestors’ wildest dreams. They recognize the sacrifices made by those who came before them so they could stand in the spaces they now occupy. For us, service is not just an act—it is a duty…Through service, we contribute to building a more just and humane society," said Dannette J. Lewis, Administrative Coordinator, Office of Social Justice and Inclusion.

Xavier is proud to be recognized in the community service category, a notion a century in the making for the university, celebrating 100 years of excellence.