I hope you are enjoying a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend. As we take this brief pause, I am pleased to share highlights from another meaningful and productive week at Northwestern.

Quarterback Club Luncheon

On Monday I joined Coach Blaine McCorkle, Athletic Director Kevin Bostian, and a great crowd of supporters for the season's first Quarterback Club meeting. Coach McCorkle shared his plan for Thursday's game, and the energy in the room reflected the excitement of the season ahead. I appreciate all who attended and continue to support our program.

University Recruiting Appreciation Lunch

On Tuesday, I was honored to host our Recruiting team for an appreciation luncheon. I extend my gratitude to Emily Miller, Director of University Recruiting, for her leadership and to the entire division for their tireless work toward increasing enrollment. A special thanks to Van Erikson for his tireless effort, involvement, and success in boosting enrollment at NSU. Spending time with the team allowed me to learn more about their ongoing initiatives and their critical role in executing our strategic enrollment plan. They are making a difference.

ULS Board Meeting

On Thursday, I traveled to Baton Rouge for the University of Louisiana System Board meeting where I joined fellow presidents in discussions centered on advancing the growth and development of our system and Northwestern. I am pleased to share that the following items submitted by Northwestern were approved:

  • Contract extension for Mr. Christopher Bertrand as Head Baseball Coach
  • Operating budget for fiscal year 2025–2026, including graduate and undergraduate fees, room and board charges, and the organizational chart
  • Naming of the percussion studio in the new Fine Arts Building as the Kenneth H. Green Percussion Studio
  • Naming of a room in the Sylvan Friedman Student Union as the Dean Leonard O. Nichols Blue Key Honor Society Room
  • Lease agreement with the Demons Unlimited Foundation for NSU Softball Complex renovations
  • Lease agreement with the Demons Unlimited Foundation for NSU Softball scoreboard replacement
  • Lease agreement with the Demons Unlimited Foundation for Walter Ledet Track Complex scoreboard replacement
  • Fiscal year 2025–2026 five-year capital outlay plan

Game Day Festivities and Football Home Opener

Following the ULS Board meeting, I returned to Natchitoches to take part in the excitement of our season opener. Martha and I enjoyed visiting with faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters at Collins Pavilion during the Alumni Association tailgating event and making our way through Tailgate Town to greet fans. A highlight of pre-game was joining our freshman class for the annual Inferno Run. Their enthusiasm was contagious as anticipation built for kickoff.

In case you hadn't heard, Thursday evening was a momentous occasion for our football team and NSU. Despite a weather delay, our team fought with skill and determination to secure a 20–10 victory over Alcorn State, a much-needed triumph that validated the progress of our team and earned national attention. Congratulations to Coach McCorkle and our student-athletes on this well-deserved win, and thank you to all who came out to support the Demons. Special appreciation goes to those who stayed until the final seconds ticked away at 11:36 Thursday night. The only disappointment was the cancellation of what promised to be a tremendous halftime show from the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. Even so, SON's dynamic presence in the stands had a powerful impact.

NSU Alumni Association Board Meeting

On Friday, the NSU Alumni Association held its annual board meeting, where members discussed new and innovative ways to build momentum and re-engage alumni across the country. I extend special thanks to Alumni Association President Leah Middlebrook for her leadership, our dedicated board of directors for their service, and our Alumni and Development staff for their tireless efforts in preparing for the meeting and hosting our volunteers. The work of the Alumni Association is vital to our long-term success.

Athletics Update

Our soccer team overwhelmed Mississippi Valley State 7–0 Sunday afternoon on the road to improve to 3-1-1 heading into a Thursday evening home game against Grambling. The volleyball season began in Memphis, and our Lady Demons won their first match under new coach Ben Kaszeta, defeating Tennessee State before falling to Memphis and USC Upstate. The team is on the road until their September 9 home contest in Prather Coliseum against ULM. The cross-country season opened Friday in Lake Charles, highlighted by a third-place finish among 23 runners by Demon senior John Klein.

I also want to thank our athletic staff and the many university personnel involved for their hard work in successfully hosting the season-opening football game. Your efforts created great goodwill for Northwestern among both first-time visitors and our most loyal supporters.

As we move into September, let us continue to build on the positive energy across our campus. Thank you for your commitment to our mission and for all you do to strengthen Northwestern.

Fork 'Em Demons,

President James T. "Jimmy" Genovese
Northwestern State University