I hope each of you had a wonderful Easter weekend filled with time for rest, reflection, and family. As we move into the final stretch of the spring semester, there is a great deal of positive momentum across our campus. I am pleased to share a few highlights from the past week and opportunities ahead.

CDC Music Monday and Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt

On Monday, I visited the three- and four-year-old classes at the Marie Shaw Dunn Child Development Center for Music Monday and played a few notes on the saxophone for the children. Their excitement and energy were truly contagious and a great reminder of the joy of learning at every stage. On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the President’s Residence for the kindergarten classes from the NSU Elementary Lab School. This long-standing tradition continues to be a special opportunity to connect with some of our youngest learners. The week also marked the national Week of the Young Child, with a different theme celebrated each day, highlighting the importance of early childhood education.

NSU Engages in LABI Tour and Statewide Economic Dialogue

On Wednesday, I joined fellow NSU colleagues for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) tour in Natchitoches, where we heard firsthand about the state’s continued progress in strengthening its business climate and economic competitiveness. These conversations provided valuable insight into the priorities shaping Louisiana’s future and reinforced the importance of collaboration between higher education and industry. The program featured NSU alumnus Will Green, President and CEO of LABI who shared perspectives on the upcoming legislative session and key priorities impacting businesses across the state. We are proud to see our alumni leading at the highest levels and advocating for North Louisiana and beyond.

Lauren Corley Vaughn Memorial Scholarship

On Saturday, the Lauren Corley Vaughn Memorial Foundation hosted its annual LV5K run in support of the Lauren Vaughn Scholarship, which benefits students in our accelerated nursing program. The scholarship honors the life of Lauren Corley Vaughn, who was tragically killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. We are deeply grateful to her mother, Bridget, and the entire Vaughn family for transforming their loss into a meaningful legacy that continues to support our students. I also want to thank the Foundation for its dedication and hard work in making this event a success and for its continued commitment to Northwestern State University.

Dr. Daniel Gordy Recognized for Outstanding Service

I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Daniel Gordy, assistant professor of Criminal Justice and English, on receiving the Outstanding Service Award from the Association of Business Information Systems and the Federation of Business Disciplines (FBD). He was recognized at the FBD conference in Dallas for his contributions to the profession. Dr. Gordy has served as editor of the Journal of Research in Business Information Systems since 2022, helping maintain the journal’s strong reputation and academic impact. His consistent scholarship and service, along with his leadership roles at Northwestern State, including vice president of the Faculty Senate and holder of the Gerald Long Endowed Professorship in Criminal Justice, reflect his commitment to excellence. We are proud of his accomplishments and grateful for his continued contributions to our university.

Athletics Update

It was another exceptionally successful week for NSU Athletics, with even more highlights just ahead. You are invited to the introduction of our new women’s basketball coach, Alan Frey, this Monday at 1:30 p.m. on the ground floor of the Friedman Student Union in the Lucille Mertz Hendrick Room. I would like to congratulate Athletics Director Kevin Bostian and everyone involved in the rapid and effective search process following the departure of Anna Nimz to North Alabama. Coach Frey, a New Orleans native, brings extensive collegiate and high school coaching experience in south Louisiana. He comes highly recommended by his longtime mentor at Tulane, Lisa Stockton, along with respected coaches Kim Mulkey at LSU and Vic Schaefer at Texas. All believe he is an outstanding choice to lead our women’s basketball program.

Our championship-caliber women’s tennis team will be in action Monday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex against Southland Conference foe UIW, with doubles play beginning at 11 a.m. Coach Marcos Morelli’s team is 10-6 overall and 6-1 in conference play. They will wrap up the regular season at home Wednesday at 11 a.m. against Lamar on Senior Day.

The Demon baseball team extended its league lead as it moved past the halfway point of the 30-game Southland Conference schedule with an impressive three-game sweep at UT Rio Grande Valley Thursday through Saturday. After a 17-9 opening victory, the final two wins came from late-inning comebacks, showcasing the grit and competitiveness that define Coach Chris Bertrand’s team. The Demons, now 21-10 overall and 13-5 in conference play, return home this week. Louisiana Tech visits Tuesday at 6 p.m., followed by Southern on Wednesday at 6 p.m. A three-game Southland Conference series against Houston Christian begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. as part of Alumni Weekend.

It will also be Alumni Weekend for our red-hot softball team, which is now 20-19 overall and 9-6 in conference play. The Lady Demons have won six of their last seven games following a strong road series victory at Stephen F. Austin. Next up is a Southland Conference series against visiting UIW, featuring a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday and a noon game Saturday. That evening, Coach Jenny Fuller will host the program’s annual Mardi Gras Auction at Flying Heart Brewery, an event originally postponed due to the January winter storm. Please visit NSUDemons.com for more information about this important fundraiser supporting our softball program.

Our track and field teams returned home with outstanding results following a weekend of high-level competition at the University of Florida Relays. Leading the way was the men’s 4×400-meter relay team, which recorded the nation’s second-fastest time and set a school record of 3:04.67. The team included Desmond Duncan, Charlie Bartholomew, Kason Jones, and Will Achee. The women’s 4×400 relay team placed third with a time of 3:34.04, ranking among the top 10 in NCAA Division I. Achee and Lady Demon standout Rushana Dwyer also posted top 10 national times in their respective 400-meter events. Coaches Mike Heimerman and Adam Pennington’s teams delivered numerous additional strong performances, further enhancing Northwestern’s reputation as a nationally competitive program.

 Looking Ahead

We look forward to welcoming pianist James Armstrong back to campus on Wednesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall as he performs with the NSU Jazz Orchestra. An accomplished musician and NSU alumnus, Armstrong has built a diverse career spanning jazz, gospel, zydeco, and blues, with performances across the country and internationally. This concert promises to be an outstanding showcase of talent from both our students and guest artist.

On Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m., we will host NSU Guitarfest 2026 in Magale Recital Hall, led by faculty member Luke Brouillette. This concert will feature a wide range of performances, including solo guitar works, student ensembles, and selections by the Luke Brouillette Jazz Quartet. The program highlights the depth of talent within our music program and offers a wonderful opportunity to experience live performance on campus.

We also anticipate a meaningful day of tradition and remembrance on April 25. Our campus and community will come together to celebrate the legacy of Coach Sam Goodwin with a memorial at Turpin Stadium, followed by the annual Joe Delaney Bowl and Crawfest. These events represent some of the very best of Northwestern, honoring our history, celebrating our student-athletes, and bringing together alumni, students, and friends in a spirit of pride and connection.

For more information on these and other upcoming events, click here.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and to Northwestern State University. Your work each day makes a lasting impact on our campus and the communities we serve.

President James T. “Jimmy” Genovese
Northwestern State University