Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen numerous awards programs and ceremonies highlighting the incredible achievements of our students. It’s heartwarming to see the dedication of our faculty and staff in supporting these milestones.
We’re gearing up for a busy and exciting week with three graduation ceremonies scheduled for May 8-9. Let’s make these moments special for our graduates and their families. You can find more details and the live stream at http://www.nsula.edu/graduation.
In a nod to our rich history, we’ll also be celebrating our 50-year graduates from the Class of 1974. Their reunion events will take place on May 9-10.
As we say goodbye to our graduates, we’re also preparing to welcome the Class of 2028 through several Freshman Connection sessions. It’s an exciting time to join the Demon family, and we look forward to meeting our new students soon.
Today, I am excited to share with you the latest updates from our Center for Research, Education, and Artistic Teamwork Exploration (CREATE).
Launched in 2023, CREATE serves as a vibrant hub for our faculty, staff, and students to forge and deepen collaborations that drive our College of Arts and Sciences’ renowned interdisciplinary activities. This academic year, we’ve seen some inspiring projects take shape:
- Thinkers, Tinkers, and Talkers Podcast: A COAS initiative that showcases the diverse interests and expertise of our faculty through engaging podcast episodes. Each installment dives into different topics across arts, humanities, and sciences.
- A Cross-Disciplinary Approach to SCI1010: This innovative effort brings together our STEM and CAPA schools to design a general physical science course specifically for our creative majors, integrating relevant artistic examples to spark greater interest in science.
- Upgrading Our Virtual Campus Map: Our recent updates to the campus map on CampusTours now include new layers showing parking, roads, and accessible routes, enhancing navigation, and planning for everyone on campus.
The enthusiasm from all participants in CREATE has been uplifting, and we’re eager to continue this momentum into the 2024-2025 academic year.
Two of our talented music students, Lennon Cooke and Hallie Ward, have received scholarships to participate in the distinguished 35th Galway Summer Flute Festival in Switzerland this June. They are both under the tutelage of Assistant Professor of Flute, Dr. Stephen Clark.
The Flute Festival will provide our students with a unique opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading flutists, including the renowned Sir James Galway. Dr. Stephen Clark, a former student of Sir James Galway, has played a pivotal role in securing this opportunity for our students.
I want to share some highlights from our 37th annual Research Day, held on April 18th, which showcased a vibrant display of scholarly work and creative projects from our university community.
With 63 oral presentations and 11 posters, participants from all four colleges and 20 academic units shared their projects. We had 25 faculty-led projects, 19 from our graduate students, 31 from our undergraduates, and an impressive submission from a student at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.
A range of topics were covered, from industrial process improvements to mental health studies among caregivers. I want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Betsy Cochran, who coordinated this year’s event.
Our participation in the 13th annual University of Louisiana System Academic Summit at Louisiana Tech was highly successful. Our representatives – including five visual artists, performers from the musical “Bonnie and Clyde,” and numerous researchers – showcased the talent and dedication of our NSU scholars. This event is a testament to the enriching experiences that our students engage in, which extend far beyond our campus.
As we continue to support and celebrate each other, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to be part of such an inspiring community. Let’s finish the semester strong and keep the momentum going throughout the Summer and Fall sessions.
Dr. Marcus D. Jones
President
Northwestern State University