The Big Picture Coming Together Nicholls student leader Kayla Freemon organized a unity march down Canal Boulevard on June 4, to promote equality and unity in the Bayou Region. 2 | Fall 2020 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Fall 2020 | 1 THECOLONEL FEATURES the magazine of NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY the magazine of NICHOLLS STATE Every King Has a Story The Colonels Retention of 16 Winners Network began as a way to help young Black men stay in school. Now, its impacts are felt beyond the classroom. For an Education Even though universities had been ordered to 24 integrate in the 1950s, several held out. Fortunately, people like Rev. Lloyd Wallace, Clarence "Danny" Brown and Raymond Ellis were willing to fight for the right to equal educational opportunities. Fall 2020 ON THE COVER We invite you to celebrate diversity at Nicholls State University by reading this issue dedicated to the Black Voices in our campus community. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER MEET THE NEW ALUM RAISES ADJUST TO LIFE AS CLASSMATES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SICKLE CELL AWARENESS PG. 8 PG. 12 PG. 36 2 | FallFall 20202020 •• The COLONEL • Nicholls State University DEPARTMENTS 40 1 The Big Picture 4 A Letter from the President 5 Colonel Pride 35 5 More Than Human Resources 6 Being Black in America 7 Service Through Diversity Alumni House 8 Drawn Together 30 10 Whatcha Got Cookin'? 30 My Home, My University 11 You Are Not Alone 31 Colonel Notes 32 A Man Worth Following 34 A Model Leader 35 Improbable Odds 36 Shining for Cells 38 2020 Alumni Awards 40 Campus Cornerstone 40 Campus Cornerstone 40 Challenge Accepted 42 Synergy Bank Helps Bring Community Together 11 43 Making an Impact 12 The Red Zone 12 Bringing it Together A Colonel of Truth 14 In the Paint 44 15 Picking up the Blitz Nicholls State University • The COLONEL • Fall 2020 | 3 FALL 2020 FALL THE COLONEL the magazine of NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY University President Dr. Jay Clune (BS ’86) Executive Vice President for Dr. Alex Arceneaux Enrollment and External Affairs Director of Alumni Affairs Katherine Mabile (BS ’14) Director of Communications Jerad David (BA ’00) NICHOLLS FOUNDATION Executive Director Jeremy Becker (BS ’95, MBA ’97) NICHOLLS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger President Christopher H. Riviere (BS ’78) Vice President Daniels Duplantis (BS ’69) Secretary/Treasurer Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr. (BS ’79) Board Members Hunt Downer (BS ’68) Alexis A. Duval (BS ’92) Hugh E. Hamilton R.E. “Bob” Miller (BA ’75) Pat Pitre (BS ’72) NICHOLLS ALUMNI FEDERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Brooke Huddleston (MA ’99) President-Elect Sheri Haydel Eschete (BS ’84) Let’s Celebrate Diversity Together Past-President Archie Chaisson III (BS ’08) Vice President David Heltz (BS ’84) am often asked why we are changing the names of our streets and Secretary Jennifer Smith (BA ’09) these two buildings. I do not think I am the best person to answer that Treasurer Kevin George (BGS ’96, BS ’99, MEd ’03) question. But I know who is: Board Members Thad Angelloz (BA ’03) I Tiffany Augustine. Chef Johnene Breaux. Clarence Brown. P.J. LaToya Bailey (BA ’98) Burkhalter. Farren Clark. Raymond Ellis. Kayla Freemon. Julian Frilot. Gilberto Burbante (BA ’11) Garett Charpentier (AGS ’12, BS ’18) Kevin George. Dr. Cleveland Hill. Channing Holmes. Kilah Jacobs. Clarence Dr. J. Robert Field (BS ’88, MBA ’91) James. Gil Jasmine. Dr. Melinda Jefferson. Carl Johnson. Loan-Anh Johnson. Bart Folse (BS ’07, MBA ’16) Maida Jones. Steven Kenney. Lashawn Lewis. Cydneé Mills. Kendall Red. Jennifer Hodnett Ledet (BS ’84) Alivia Searcy. Jessica Searcy-McCray. Ashantian Smith. Jonathan Terrell. Courtney Hicks Richard (BIS ’13) Elnora Vicks. Lloyd Wallace. Rodney Woods. John Warren (BA ’17) Business Admin. Chapter Pres. Adam Lefort (BS ’16) The stories of these individuals are intricately woven into the very fabric Education Chapter Pres. Aldrian Smith (BS ’17, MEd ’19) of Nicholls State University. This institution would not be the same if Rev. Culinary Chapter Pres. Chef Donald Kasten (BA ’04) Lloyd Wallace, Clarence “Danny” Brown and students like Raymond Ellis Cheer Chapter Pres. Blaine Landry (BS ’18) had not had the courage to fight for the right of Black men and women Black Alumni Chapter Pres. Kevin George (BGS ’96, BS ’99, MEd ’03) to attend college in the Bayou Region. Can you imagine Nicholls if Dr. THE COLONEL EDITORIAL STAFF Cleveland Hill had not persevered as the first Black student-athlete and Editor Jacob Batte returned as a professor and dean? Guest Editors Dr. Shaniece Bickham • Farren Clark (BA ’03) But that same fabric is evolving. Now, our first Chief Diversity Officer Art Director Jerad David (BA ’00) Steven Kenney and our first Black Athletic Director Jonathan Terrell will Photojournalist Misty Leigh McElroy (BA ’03) influence how we move forward to create a more inclusive university for Contributers Chef Johnene Breaux (BA ’16) • Shenelle Ellis (BGS ’96, MEd ’03) Kevin George (BGS ’96, BS ’99, MEd ’03) • students like the ones you’ll find in the Nicholls NAACP and CROWN. Jason Graham (BA ’03) • Dr. Cleveland Hill (BA ’73, MEd ’79) This issue is a step toward better representation for our campus, but it Caryln James • Dr. Melinda Jefferson • Cain Madden • is not the final step. The Colonel editorial staff is committed to producing Cydneé Mills • Courtney Richard (BIS ’13) • a product representative of every student, every faculty member, every Bruno Ruggiero (BA ’90)• Alivia Searcy • Chris Singleton (BA ’06) classified and unclassified staff member and every alumni in all future issues. Akaira Sutton • Clifton Theriot (BA ’95) • Brandon Thomas • Leroy Triggs (BA ’19) • Elnora Vicks (AS ’10, BA ’13, MEd ’17) • So if you are looking for an answer to why are we changing these names, I Rodney Woods encourage you to turn the page and listen to the stories told within. Because we are all Colonels, and we are stronger together. The Colonel is the official publication of Nicholls State University and is published twice a year by the Nicholls Foundation, Nicholls Alumni Federation and Nicholls Office of University Marketing and Communications. With Colonel Pride, We welcome your story ideas, suggestions, alumni news and feedback. Contact The Colonel at: P.O. Box 2033 • Thibodaux, LA 70310 Phone: 985.448.4141 • Email:[email protected] Dr. Jay Clune Nicholls President 4 | Fall 2020 • The COLONEL • Nicholls State University MORE THANHuman Resources Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Steven H. Kenney, Jr. Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer How do you view your role as chief diversity and inclusion officer on campus? I view it as being the person or the conduit to ensure that all diversity and inclusion efforts are streamlined. We have many programs already in place that support diversity and inclusion. However, they are not under the umbrella of diversity and inclusion. Me being a chief diversity and inclusion officer allows all diversity and inclusion efforts to funnel through one general source to streamline the process. But I really believe that the mission around diversity and inclusion is not the task of one person. We are all in this together, and we all support diversity and inclusion. How do you plan to use your role to better incorporate/listen to Nicholls’ black students? We have individuals that think of diversity and inclusion only in terms of race and gender, but it is so much more. We have students that identify as LGBTQ+, and we will incorporate those voices into the initiatives at the university. We have students from the United Houma Nation Tribe, and we need to place a great focus on them. We have students who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. First-generation students are another form of diversity. It’s making sure that everyone has a seat at the table. I was having a conversation, and we had someone on campus make the comment, ‘I’ll help anyway that I can, but I’m just an old white guy.’ And I’m like, no, we need everyone at the table. Conversations will never be limited. Everyone will be a part of the conversations. Specifically regarding students of color on campus, I believe that there is a need for them to identify the tools and resources available to them. I will help them identify and discover what tools and resources are available. While it is important that we hear their voices, it can’t stop there. They need to see that we are taking actions based on the feedback that they have given us. Tell me about the bow ties. I started wearing bow ties probably in 2002 or 2003. I saw an article in a magazine, and the gentleman had a bow tie on. I wouldn’t say I’m a fashionista by any means, but I’m really big into clothing and things of that nature. So, I thought, I can replicate this look, and I went out and bought a bow tie. And when I tried to tie the bow tie, it was a little difficult because you look at the pictures they give you when you buy a bow tie, or you look at an online diagram. It’s not as intuitive as they try to make it seem in those few simple steps. So it became a challenge for me to actually learn how to tie the bow tie. Since I learned how to, I have not worn a regular tie. Today, I probably have close to 200 bowties. It is an art form and very addictive as well. All of my bow ties are self tied, I don’t buy any pre-tied, so it is a craft.