Lsu Alumni Association Presents
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Fall/Winter 2020, Volume 96, Number 3 CONNECTING GENERATIONS From the INTERIM PRESIDENT Reaching New Heights The pandemic has transformed the way we learn and live at LSU, but it hasn’t slowed the tremendous momentum of our great university. At a time when most universities across the country are struggling to maintain enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, we’re celebrating record high figures on all three fronts. This fall — for the third-straight year — we enrolled the largest freshman class in our history. The 6,690 full-time students who joined our LSU family represent a 9 percent increase over last year, and they helped boost our total enrollment to a record high 34,290 students. More importantly, the academic quality of our freshman students is not wavering as enrollment rises. The GPA of our newest class of Tigers reached an all-time high of 3.45, while the ACT is holding steady at a near record high of over 25.4. We also set a new enrollment record at Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, with more than 800 freshman students whose average ACT of 32 and GPA of 3.81 are both the highest in the college’s history. Our campus community is also more diverse than ever before. Historically underrepresented students make up more than 30 percent of our freshman class, with Black students comprising 16.8 percent of the class — the highest in our history — and Hispanic student enrollment of 9.1 percent for the first time. Over the past decade, Black student enrollment at LSU has increased by 87 percent to 5,028, while enrollment of Hispanic students has risen 130 percent to 2,490. “Setting new records for I’m incredibly proud of our enrollment increases and increasing diversification, which are a testament to the first-rate academic experience we enrollment, retention, provide at LSU, the exceptional work of our dedicated faculty and staff, and our and graduation rates ongoing work to create an even more inclusive and equitable campus culture. But our ultimate mission is to support and guide students to the proud day on would be an incredible which they graduate and leave LSU with a degree that positions them to earn achievement during any above average starting salaries and mid-career earnings — and we’re excelling in those areas as well. year, but to do it during Our retention rate of first-year students rose to almost 86 percent this fall, a a pandemic year is truly record high, while our two-year retention rate increased to 75 percent. Our six- year baccalaureate graduation rate rose to 66 percent, the second highest rate remarkable.” in LSU history, while our four-year bachelor’s graduation rate reached an all- time high of 44.1 percent, and our five-year rate rose to 61.9 percent. Setting new records for enrollment, retention, and graduation rates would be an incredible achievement during any year, but to do it during a pandemic year is truly remarkable. It’s evidence that LSU is moving in the right direction despite unprecedented disruption and that we will further flourish when we finally emerge from the pandemic. Stay safe, be strong, and Geaux Tigers! Thomas C. Galligan, Jr. LSU Interim President and Professor of Law @lsuprez LSU Alumni Magazine | Fall/Winter 2020 1 Contents Publisher LSU Alumni Association Editor Jackie Bartkiewicz Advertising Emily Johnson Art Director Chuck Sanchez STUN Design & Interactive Editorial Assistant 8 Emily Johnson Feature Contributors Bailey Chauvin, John Grubb, Libby Haydel, Adrian Hirsch, Rachel Holland, Emily Johnson, Mignon Kastanos, Steve Neumann, 18 Connecting Generations: Alison Satake, Paul West LSUTigerNation.com While the coronavirus pandemic created a Photography Darlene Aguillard/real life photos, April Buffington, Robert Friedman, “new normal” working environment for much of Sean Gasser/InRegister, LSU Athletics, Chris Parent, M.C. Rollo, the spring and summer, it did not prevent your The Walls Project Association from looking toward tomorrow, 36 Printing finalizing and launching already in-the-works Baton Rouge Printing strategies to benefit University alumni, faculty, and students. These new ventures, part of the new online platform LSUTigerNation.com, underscore BOARD OF DIRECTORS the organization’s primary commitment – Jeffrey M. “Jeff” Mohr, Chair maintaining contact with and between alumni and Baton Rouge, La. keeping alive the traditions that are Forever LSU. Bart B. Schmolke, Chair-elect Alexandria, La. 24 LSU’s Human Anatomy Lab 44 Beverly G. Shea, Immediate Past Chair By the time they get to college, really smart kids New Iberia, La. are used to knowing all the answers. Whether Stanley L. “Stan” Williams they rely on an app, all night study sessions, Fort Worth, Texas or a photographic memory, they can master Jack A. Andonie, Director Emeritus material to excel on just about any test. They Metairie, La. make Scantrons sing. They ace the MCAT and get J. Ofori Agboka, Seattle Wash. Mario J. Garner, Spring, Texas into their choice of post-graduate program. The Mark Kent Anderson, Jr., Monroe, La. James G. “Jimmy” Gosslee, Shreveport, La. problem is: Medicine is about more than parroting 72 Michael B. Bethea, Covington, La. Leo C. Hamilton, Baton Rouge, La. back textbook answers. Success depends on a Karen Brack, San Diego, Calif. R. Scott Jenkins, New Orleans, La. different kind of skill. It takes the ability to apply David B. Braddock, Dallas, Texas Matthew K. “Matt” Juneau, Baton Rouge, La. Cassandra M. Chandler, West End, N.C. Michael J. Kantrow, Jr., New York, N.Y. knowledge, navigate through uncertainty, make Kathryn ‘Kathy” Fives, Baton Rouge, La. Kevin F. Knobloch, Baton Rouge, La. tough decisions quickly, and take action – and, Corey Foster, Lake Charles, La. Brandon Landry, Baton Rouge, La. that requires a giant leap from the world of G. Archer Frierson, III, Shreveport, La. Van P. Whitfield, Houston, Texas science into the art of medicine. LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the LSU Alumni Association. Annual donations are $50, of which $6 is allocated for a subscription to LSU Alumni Magazine. The 80 LSU Alumni Association is not liable for any loss that might be incurred by In Each Issue a purchaser responding to an advertisement in this magazine. 1 From the LSU Interim President Editorial and Advertising LSU Alumni Association 4 LSUAA President Message 3838 West Lakeshore Drive 8 LSU Alumni Association News Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4686 225-578-3838 • 888-RINGLSU 28 Around Campus www.lsualumni.org / [email protected] 42 Locker Room © 2020 by LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 60 Tiger Nation LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4686 Letters to the editor are encouraged. LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE reserves the right to edit all materials accepted for publication. Publication of material On the Cover does not indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint by the magazine, Generations of Tigers across the globe connect the Association, or LSU. to all things LSU through LSUTigerNation.com. 2 LSU Alumni Magazine | Fall/Winter 2020 Bank of America LSU Alumni Magazine | Fall/Winter 2020 3 President and CEO MESSAGE “Tigers have always And, thank you to those of you who have already responded. stood together in the I take this opportunity – and face of adversity and know you join me – in thanking our extraordinary team that readily and emerged stronger enthusiastically responded to the plight than ever.” of those affected by Hurricane Laura. Their call for supplies to support relief efforts in SWLA communities was a guidelines. We look forward to the day huge success. Alumni, friends, and fans our entire team is truly together again. across the country donated countless This issue’s cover story items, which were distributed by staff is a testament to the talent, members in mid-September. We are resourcefulness, and dedication of blessed to be able to “give back” to your LSU Alumni Association staff. Louisiana in time of need. See page 12. Plans for LSUTigerNation.com were It was with much sadness that we underway when the quarantine went learned of the death of our friend and into effect in spring and launched benefactor Lod Cook in September. during work-from-home efforts. This Lod achieved phenomenal success new online tool supports professional and – remembering his experiences at networking, job search, career LSU – used his standing and resources building, and more by connecting to make a difference at his alma mater. generations of fellow Tigers. We hope The New Normal His hope was that his philanthropy it will help you take your next step. would inspire his peers and the The coronavirus pandemic The pandemic forced major changes next generation of LSU alumni, fans, for our alumni chapters, whose main impacted everyone in one way or and friends to also give back to the events take place in the spring and another, and we are still adjusting University. Thanks to Lod Cook, LSU summer. The alumni staff certainly to a new way of life. Masks, alumni and future alumni will chart their missed traveling across country to visit gloves, sanitizing wipes, and social paths to successful lives. with hundreds of friends and to thank distancing – with X’s marking No one can be sure how things will each and every one for their loyalty play out in the future. We face many standing-in-line boundaries – are and support. Until this year, the summer unknown challenges, but Tigers have the way of the “new normal.” and fall issues of LSU Alumni Magazine always stood together in the face of Handshakes, hugs, and high fives featured several pages of chapter adversity and emerged stronger than have been replaced with foot taps, activities, especially the popular ever.