I hope each of you had a wonderful Independence Day weekend with family and friends. This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as our nation marked its 250th anniversary. It was a time to reflect on the values that unite us and the opportunities we have to shape the future through education, service, and leadership. Thank you for all you do to advance our university and our students every day.

Before turning to this week’s updates, I want to acknowledge the passing of Brycen Bailey, a student in our Creative and Performing Arts program, a member of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band, and a brother of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. His loss is deeply felt across our university community. Martha and I extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, classmates, bandmates, fraternity brothers, faculty, and all who knew him during this difficult time. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Fall 2027 Applications Now Open

Earlier this week, applications for the Fall 2027 semester officially opened. While our Office of Enrollment Management continues assisting members of the incoming Fall Class of 2026 with applications, registration, and final preparations for the fall semester, our Recruiting Office has already turned its attention to the next generation of future Demons. Prospective students are encouraged to apply now at nsu.la/apply and to use the code July2026 to have their application fee deferred. Thank you to everyone across campus who plays a role in recruiting students and showcasing the exceptional opportunities available at Northwestern.

NSU Professor Appears on Jeopardy!

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph “Andy” Briseno, associate professor in the Department of English, Languages and Cultural Studies, who represented Northwestern State University as a contestant on Jeopardy! this past Thursday. Dr. Briseno’s appearance on one of America’s most recognizable television programs provided outstanding national visibility for both him and our university. We are proud to celebrate this unique accomplishment and appreciate the enthusiasm it generated across campus and among our alumni and friends. Good Job, Andy.

CAPA Faculty Showcase Excellence on National and International Stages

Our faculty continue to earn recognition on both national and international stages, further enhancing Northwestern’s reputation for excellence in the performing arts.

This week, Director of Orchestral Studies and Professor of Bassoon Douglas Bakenhus and Professor Emerita Dennette McDermott will present at the Annual International Double Reed Society Conference at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Their presentation, Baroque Rhetoric: Articulation and Ornamentation in the Mixed Styles of the Eighteenth Century, will showcase their scholarship and performance expertise before an international audience of musicians, educators, and performers.

We also congratulate Eddie Carney, collaborative pianist in musical theatre, who recently completed a two-week engagement as substitute musical director for the national touring production of The Music Man. Carney has spent a decade working with major national touring productions, and his continued involvement in the professional theatre industry provides invaluable real-world experience that directly benefits our students. He will return to the tour following the conclusion of the fall semester.

These accomplishments reflect the exceptional talent and expertise of our CAPA faculty while providing meaningful national and international visibility for Northwestern State University. Congratulations to Professors Bakenhus, McDermott, and Carney on these well-deserved achievements.

Summer Dinner Theatre Continues This Month

Congratulations to the faculty, staff, students, and volunteers who made this year’s production of Death by Disco another successful installment of Northwestern’s long-running Summer Dinner Theatre. For nearly 25 years, Summer Dinner Theatre has brought together campus and community through entertaining performances that combine live theatre, dinner, and audience participation. This year’s interactive murder mystery once again created an engaging experience while showcasing the talent and creativity of our students.

The summer season continues with Country Summer Nights, a musical revue that will be presented July 14-18 and July 21-25 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. If you have not had an opportunity to attend this year’s Summer Dinner Theatre, I encourage you to support our talented students and faculty by joining us for one of the upcoming performances.

Athletics Update

Voting by former athletic letterwinners is now underway to help select the 2026 N-Club Hall of Fame induction class, which will be celebrated during Homecoming. You can view the ballot, and all former Northwestern student-athletes are invited to vote by clicking here. The accomplishments of this year’s nominees are truly impressive, and I encourage our former letterwinners to participate. The voting deadline is July 17.

Congratulations to former Northwestern head baseball coach Dave Van Horn on his selection for induction into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Coach Van Horn and his wife, Karen, were members of the Northwestern family from the fall of 1994 through December 1997. During his three seasons as head coach, the Demons won 106 games, captured a Southland Conference regular season championship and a Southland Conference Louisiana Division championship, and swept a two-game series at LSU. He later became head coach at the University of Nebraska and has spent the past 24 seasons leading his alma mater, the University of Arkansas. This well-deserved honor is a testament to his extraordinary career and lasting impact on collegiate baseball.

Thank you for your continued commitment to Northwestern State University. As we move further into the summer, exciting work continues across campus as we prepare to welcome a new class of students this fall while advancing initiatives that strengthen our university for years to come. I hope you have a safe and productive week.

Fork ‘Em Demons,

President James T. “Jimmy” Genovese
Northwestern State University