As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to thank each of you for the dedication and spirit you bring to Northwestern. Your work continues to strengthen our university, enrich our community, and create an environment where students can thrive.

LHSAA Cross Country Championship

There was great energy on campus Monday as we welcomed prospective students, athletes, and their families for the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships. The annual event, hosted by our track and field coaching staff since 1992, brought hundreds of competitors and thousands of supporters to Northwestern, showcasing our campus as a welcoming and vibrant community. Special thanks to our track coaches and athletic facility staff for continuing to be excellent hosts, and to our recruiting team for engaging with prospective students and sharing the many opportunities available at NSU.

NSU Bass Fishing Team

On Tuesday I enjoyed lunch with the NSU Bass Fishing Team and learned more about their recent success and upcoming events. The team is consistently ranked nationally and continues to build a strong reputation for competitive excellence. It has been good getting to know these student-athletes and to see how club sports like this contribute to recruiting and national recognition for Northwestern.

Meetings with Faculty

Tuesday afternoon I met with our faculty leadership to discuss progress on key academic and institutional priorities. Their commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement strengthens the student experience, supports faculty development, and advances the university’s strategic goals. I also had the opportunity to visit with CPT Armando Lopez, the incoming Assistant Professor of Military Science, during a meet and greet.

SLC Championship Celebration with NSU Soccer

On Tuesday evening I joined our NSU Soccer team for a celebration of their Southland Conference Championship. The event was hosted at Raising Cane’s and brought together students, families, and community members for photos with the team and Vic the Demon, an autograph session, giveaways, and a chance to see the SLC Championship trophy. The celebration also recognized SLC Coach of the Year, Ian Brophy, and team members who received various player honors and accolades. Special thanks to Raising Cane’s for donating a portion of their proceeds to support our team. It was a great evening of community pride and celebration.

Criminal Justice Lecture

On Wednesday I had the honor of serving as a guest lecturer for Dr. Shirley Snyder’s Criminal Justice 2400 class, which covers courts, trials, sentencing, and appeals. The students will soon discuss habeas corpus reviews, so I shared stories and insights from my professional experience to support their understanding of these important processes. It was encouraging to see their engagement and thoughtful questions as they explored the real-world applications of what they are learning.

Friendsgiving

On Thursday, Martha and I joined faculty, staff, and students in Iberville Dining Hall for our Friendsgiving celebration. I was honored to carve the turkey and enjoyed spending time with everyone in this warm and festive setting. Events like this strengthen our sense of community and remind us of the importance of gathering together in gratitude. Thank you to Sodexo for their continued partnership and for helping create such a welcoming event.

Athletics Update

We have nearly 400 students competing in our athletics program, all with a strong commitment to academic performance. This was reflected on Wednesday when the NCAA released its annual Graduation Success Rates report showing Northwestern with an overall score of 85. Men’s basketball and tennis each earned perfect 100 marks, and seven of our ten sport groupings scored 90 or above. Congratulations to our student athletes for this outstanding achievement, and thank you to the academic support team, faculty, and coaches who contribute to this important and ongoing success story.

The football season concluded Thursday night when Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin, which received a No. 7 seeding Sunday in the 24 team NCAA FCS playoffs, overpowered our Demons. An encouraging sign was the performance of our freshman and sophomore laden team after halftime against the younger backup players from SFA, resulting in a 14-14 tie over the final two quarters. There was clear progress in Coach Blaine McCorkle’s second season rebuilding our program, most recently a near upset of Nicholls in Thibodaux. With the impending opening of the David and Sherry Morgan Health Performance Center providing a significant boost to offseason training for all student athletes, along with continued recruiting momentum, I am optimistic about the path Coach McCorkle has charted for Northwestern football.

A tremendous amount of effort goes into each home football game, which provides hours of engagement with prospective students, supporters, stakeholders, current students, faculty, staff, and alumni. These efforts greatly benefit our university and deserve recognition. I want to express special appreciation to the NSU Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni and Development for hosting five home game tailgates this season, and to Perry Johnson and Dean Lemoine, who volunteered their time to cook and serve guests throughout the fall.

Basketball will captivate us well into March. Our Lady Demons have posted consecutive 100-point games heading into a holiday tournament in Destin, Florida, followed by a Monday night game against Virginia. The men’s team showed the progress Coach Rick Cabrera has been seeking in a hard-fought loss Thursday night at Grand Canyon and will host the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Southern Jaguars next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.

What’s Happening at NSU?

Thank you to the Office of Alumni and Development for creating the new “What’s Happening at NSU?” page. Our annual Christmas Gala performance is just one of many upcoming events featured there. A link to the page will be included in all weekly updates going forward to help keep our campus community informed and engaged. Click here to explore the full list of activities and opportunities to stay connected.

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to remind everyone that the university will be closed this week. I hope you enjoy a restful break filled with family, friends, and gratitude—and a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to all.

Fork ‘Em Demons,