As we prepare for the culmination of another academic year, I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for your continued dedication and energy. From campus to community, your efforts are making a difference.

ULS Day at the Capitol
On Monday, I joined fellow presidents, faculty, staff, and students from all nine universities for ULS Day at the Capitol. This annual event in Baton Rouge showcases the talent, innovation, and statewide impact of our University of Louisiana System institutions. Special thanks to Leah Jackson for coordinating our participation and to Professors Corbin Covher and Dr. Meryn Olivier, who represented the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, respectively. Professor Covher’s demonstration using Meta Quest headsets and Adobe’s Substance software generated significant interest. His students are creating 3D sculptures with remarkable efficiency, producing work that can be printed on 3D printers or used in digital environments such as video games. I was especially proud to learn that this methodology is not being offered anywhere else in the system, further demonstrating how NSU continues to lead through innovation and distinction.

Nurses Week
Last week we celebrated Nurses Week and honored the extraordinary impact of nurses across Louisiana and beyond. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the historic role Northwestern has played in advancing nursing education, highlighted by 75th anniversary celebrations at our Shreveport and CENLA campuses. From our beginnings as Louisiana’s first public BSN program to today’s comprehensive offerings including ASN, BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, and DNP, our more than 16,000 nursing graduates continue to improve lives wherever they serve. These programs thrive because of the outstanding faculty who bring real-world experience into every classroom and clinical setting. We are grateful to our nurse educators for their unwavering commitment to student success and for carrying forward a legacy that spans Louisiana and extends across the nation.

Bridging Law and Legacy: CLE in Louisiana’s Oldest City
On Friday, I was honored to co-chair “Bridging Law and Legacy: CLE in Louisiana’s Oldest City” with NSU alumnus and local attorney Taylor Townsend. This continuing legal education event welcomed legal professionals from across the region to explore professionalism, ethics, labor law, and administrative law. We are grateful to our esteemed presenters: Associate Justices Cade Cole and Scott J. Crichton (Retired), Judges Elizabeth Pickett, Van Kyzar, Verity Gentry, and Lala Sylvester, Attorneys Jacob Ruppert, Mary Smith, Philip Hunter, and Scott Kendrick. Special thanks to Dr. Mary Edith Stacy for her leadership in organizing this outstanding program.

In Memoriam: Dr. Roy Gentry II
On Friday, I joined members of the Northwestern community in honoring the life of Dr. Roy Birchfield Gentry II, a beloved professor, alumnus, and mentor who dedicated 42 years to teaching kinesiology at NSU. A four-year football letterman, faculty sponsor of Phi Epsilon Kappa, and champion of student success, Dr. Gentry made a lasting impact on our university and on the lives of countless students and colleagues. The Gentry family’s legacy at NSU is a proud one. His wife, Dr. Vickie Gentry, is a retired faculty member who served as Dean and Chief Academic Officer, and their son, Cole Gentry, currently serves as our Chief Marketing Officer. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Gentry family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gentry Family Endowed Scholarship.

Jazz Fest and Alumni After Hours
This weekend, I joined alumni, friends, and community members downtown for the Natchitoches Jazz and R&B Festival. The NSU Alumni Association hosted a hospitality tent, providing a great space for alumni to reconnect and celebrate. Events like Jazz Fest strengthen our ties with the community and highlight the unique cultural experiences that make Natchitoches and Northwestern so special.

Athletics Update
Our Demon baseball team finished its regular season in style at home this weekend, taking a hard-fought three-game series with McNeese. Coach Bertrand’s ball club demonstrated its trademark toughness, resilience, and its ability to perform under pressure. Our Demon baseball team finished the regular season with a 33-19 record, 19-11 in the Southland Conference, and have earned a fourth seed in the conference tournament. The Demons, who are 79th nationally today in the Ratings Percentage Index among 307 NCAA Division I programs, won their three-game series against regular-season co-champion UTRGV and third-place Lamar. NSU goes to Hammond to play beginning Thursday in the Hammond bracket of the two-week SLC Tournament.

I enjoyed visiting with a spirited group of former players and family members back for the annual Baseball Alumni Weekend. Thanks to our staff who assisted with that reunion with special gratitude to former player Buddy Proctor for spearheading the gathering.

Good luck to our very impressive track and field teams as they travel to Houston for the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships Thursday-Saturday. Our Lady Demons are defending champions.

As we wrap up the semester, we look forward to celebrating our graduates during Spring Commencement this week. For more information, including ceremony times and livestream access, please visit www.nsula.edu/commencement. Thank you for everything you do to support our students, strengthen our university, and uphold the proud tradition of excellence at Northwestern.

Fork ‘Em Demons,

President James T. “Jimmy” Genovese
Northwestern State University