ALEXANDRIA - Louisiana State University of Alexandria held its annual Employee Recognition Dinner on Monday, April 28, to celebrate the hard work and dedication of faculty and staff.
The most prestigious recognition awarded each year is the Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence. Established in 1989, the estate of Mrs. James C. Bolton provides funds to the University for an award to recognize excellence in teaching at LSUA. The Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence is presented annually to the full-time faculty member who best exemplifies the University鈥檚 commitment to teaching, service, and professional development. The recipient of this honor is recognized with a cash award and a plaque for outstanding contributions to the University.
The Bolton Award recipient for 2024-2025 is Julie Gill, Ph.D., Professor of Kinesiology.
The Staff Senate Boss of the Year award is given by direct reports to a manager who demonstrates excellence in personnel management, leadership, responsibility, and professionalism. This year鈥檚 winner is Sarita James, Ph.D., RN, CNE, Professor and Director of the School of Nursing.
The Staff Senate Scholarship is awarded to two full-time staff members to defray the costs of achieving a degree or continuing their education. This year鈥檚 scholarship recipients are Trent Partridge, Head Coach of LSUA Softball.
Student Choice Awards are included in this year鈥檚 program. Current LSUA students nominate the awardees. The winners are:
- Outstanding Staff Service recognizes a staff member who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting students 鈥� Cieltia Adams, Tutoring Center Coordinator.
- Life-Changing Class recognizes an educator whose class has fundamentally altered a student鈥檚 academic, professional, or life goals 鈥� Patrick Hunter, Assistant Professor of Performing Arts, Howard and Eloise Mulder Endowed Chair.
The Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Innovation Award and Grant are given to showcase and reward innovative teaching in the classroom. This work is made possible through financial support from the LSUA Foundation. The winners are:
- Teaching Innovation Award - Rafael Romero Moreno, LL.M., M.A., Instructor of Business.
- Teaching Innovation Grant - Cheryl Bardales, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of C.O.R.E.
The Outstanding Staff Service Award program began in the 1970-71 academic year as a means of recognizing and rewarding superior performance and outstanding contributions to the University by non-teaching employees. The recipient of this honor receives a plaque and cash award for his or her service to LSUA.
This year鈥檚 recipients of the Staff Outstanding Service Award are Judy Everett, Custodian 2 (classified), and Ashley Robinson, M.A., Assistant Director of Distance Learning (unclassified).
The Faculty Award for Outstanding Service is presented to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment by exceeding their everyday academic responsibilities. This year鈥檚 recipient is Elizabeth Azua, Instructor of Radiologic Technology.
The Service Above Self Award is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty throughout the past year to ensure the well-being of LSUA students. The award is presented by LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. This year鈥檚 recipient is Teresa Seymour, M.A., Director of Distance Learning.
The Rising Star Award is presented annually to a staff member who has worked at LSUA for fewer than five years and who has made outstanding, novel contributions to institutional operations, campus culture, or programming. This year, the award goes to Josie Carmouche, Admissions Support Coordinator.
The Four-Star Service Award is presented annually to a staff member who has worked at LSUA for more than ten years and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the university by making long-lasting contributions to the institution鈥檚 operations, student success, and campus culture. This year, the award goes to Ethan Lipsey, M.A., Director of First Year Experience.
In a touching moment, Jeff Langston, Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Health & Human Services, and LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil honored Dr. Haywood Joiner鈥檚 nearly two decades of dedicated service to the university and central Louisiana鈥檚 medical community by naming the teaching auditorium at the new LSUA Downtown Health Education Campus the "Haywood B. Joiner Auditorium." Joiner鈥檚 impactful career includes key leadership roles such as Interim Chancellor, Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Health and Human Services, and Department Chair of Allied Health, significantly advancing LSUA鈥檚 healthcare education initiatives.
LSUA also recognizes the recipients of fourteen endowed professorships. The professorships are established through private donations to the LSUA Foundation and matched through the Board of Regents Support Fund to establish a $100,000 professorship endowment.
The recipients of this year鈥檚 endowed professorships are:
The Jenkins-Mulder Endowed Professorship in Business - Katy McClure, MBA, CPA, Instructor of Accounting.
The Roy O. Martin, Jr. Endowed Professorship in Business - Beverly Alwell, DBA, Assistant Professor of Accounting.
The Charles Adrian Vernon & William K. Child, Jr. Endowed Professorship in Business Administration - Adena LeJeune, Ph.D., CPA, Associate Professor of Accounting.
The LSUA 吃瓜直播 of Business Endowed Professorship - Rafael Romero Moreno, LL.M., M.A., Instructor of Business.
The Capitol One Endowed Professorship in Business - Jennifer Wright, MBA, Instructor of Marketing.
The Jack & Sue Ellen Jackson Endowed Professorship in Education - Emily Weeks, M.Ed., Assistant Professor of Education.
The Robert Rife Sauders Endowed Professorship - Jessica Thacker, M.A., Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Department Chair of Communication, Languages, and Arts.
The Carolyn Cole Sauders Endowed Professorship - Cole Franklin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication Studies.
The Frances Holt Freedman Endowed Professorship - Skyler Braswell, MSN, RN, NP-C, NREMT-P, Assistant Professor of Nursing.
The Barbara Martin Endowed Professorship - Crystal Smith, MSN, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing.
The Rapides Regional Medical Center Endowed Professorship in Radiologic Technology - Elizabeth Azua, Instructor of Radiologic Technology.
The Huie Dellmon Trust Professorship in Science - Himael Das Gupta, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science.
The Joanne Lyles White Endowed Professorship in Education - Susan Myrick, M.Ed., Associate Professor of Education.
The Richard Bryan Gwartney Endowed Professorship - Wangling Chou, MFA, Associate Professor of Fine Arts.
Endowed professors receive a salary stipend as well as additional funds for professional development or travel activities. Professorships are usually awarded for a two-year term.
LSUA also honored eight employees who retired in the past year, including beloved custodian Claudette Green, as well as all employees who have 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service to LSUA, including Eamon Halpin, Ph.D., Teresa Seymour, and Beth Whittington with 30 years of service and Melissa Parks, Pd.D. with 35 years of service.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit - LSUA Strategic Communications
Image - Julie Gill, Ph.D., winner of the Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence