2019-2020 yearbook

Student Affairs Open-House
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Career Fair
College of Pharmacy & Office of Career Services
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Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards
On campus for a Q&A session with students and got into the XU spirit.
Trick-A-Trunk
Student organizations provide a safe Halloween for local grade schools
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94th Founder's Day (1925-2019) - October 8, 2019
Speaker, Sharlene Sinegal-Deciur, Ph.D., Keller Family Endowed Professor and associate professor of History, XU 1999 alumni
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Artist, Brendon Palmer-Angell


C. Reynold Verret, Ph.D., president, presiding; Kenneth G. Boutte, Ph.D., professor, division of biological and applied health sciences, grand marshal; Anne E. McCall, Docteur és lettres, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, master of ceremonies; Reverend Etido Jerome, S.S.J., university chaplain; Ryan Norton, 21, president, pharmacy student association, founder's day proclamation; Investiture of class 2020: Blaine Derbigny '20, senior class president; Trisha Obinyan '20, pharmacy P4 class president; Myles Bartholomew '20, president, student government association, introduction of speaker; Xavier University: Symphonic Band, Timoth R. Turner, conductor; University Chorus, Kristina Hicks '19, group leader; John E. Ware, D.M.A., director; Recognition of honorees celebrating employment anniversaries.
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PINK Day - Breast Cancer Awareness
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UNCF 5K Run/Walk for Education
Dr. Reynold Verret: Thank you UNCF for continuing to build a robust and recognized pipeline of underrepresented students who become highlighting qualified graduates. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but wonderful thing to invest in.
HBCUnity at its finest! Dillard and Xavier Cheer teams take a group photo before the walk.
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Night Out Against Crime
We’re saying NO to crime and YES to our community.
We received distressing news that a member of our Xavier family died as a result of a police shooting in Forth Worth Texas. Atatiana Koquice Jefferson graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
Our prayers and thoughts are with her family and friends as we gather as a community in prayer. As we wait for details of this incident to unfold, let us cling to our mission of justice and humanity and seek answers to this tragedy.
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Wellness Awareness Day
The Xavier Community had the opportunity to make wellness their primetime by getting health screenings and donating blood to save lives.
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CURGO Graduate Fair
The Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity
CURGO held its annual Grad Fair in October. Students from all majors checked out the graduate and summer research opportunities available through Graduate School programs.
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University Ball — "The Legacy Never Ends" Homecoming 2019 - Ball & Coronation
Miss Xavier - Hailey Elyse Armstrong • Mr. Xavier - Malik Benjamin Frazier
Royal Court - Left - front to back: Miss Xavier, Hailey Armstrong; Miss Senior, Cherrelle Perkins; Miss Junior, Gianna Haskin; Miss Sophomore, Jallure Harrell; Miss Freshman, Jazmine Ezell. Right - front to back: Mr. Xavier, Malik Frazier; Mr. Senior, Najee Booker; Mr. Junior, Elgin Hodges; Mr. Sophomore, Noah Williams; Mr. Freshman, Barry Sevalia.


Coronation Ball 158


Xavierite's enjoy the ball
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Homecoming - Friday - Celebration on the Yard
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Alumni - Dr. Rudy Lombard '61 symposium on Civil Rights • Pharmacy Continuing Education seminar
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Alumni - Book signing • Lunch • Celebration on the yard
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Saturday Parade
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Photos by Jazmynne Massey, Zaviyah Hudson, Kadeem Burton


Tailgate BBQ • Gold Rush Basketball Game
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Photos by Jazmynne Massey, Zaviyah Hudson, Kadeem Burton


Sunday Alumni Mass
Class 1969 - Golden Anniversary • Class 1994 - Silver Anniversary
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Queens and SGA Leadership Brunch Speaker, Dr. Contessa Metcalfe, M.D.
Former Miss Xavier's
L-R: Jasmine Merlette, 2016-17; Kelsey Green, 2018-19; Elaine Keller-Johnson, 1990-91; Dionne Humphrey Lapeyrolerie, 1955; Hailey Armstrong, 2019-20; Contessa Gray Metcalfe, 1997-98; Melaney Williams Batiste, 1977; Shirley DeCloutte Bechnel, 1979-80; Kathy Abadie, 1979;
Marcella Marcelle Keys, 1964.
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Forum on life after Xavier - addressing some of the trials and triumphs educated Black women and men face as they build their careers.
"Xavier Women in White Coats," is a special Q&A forum with Xavier alumnae who are cast members on the hit reality TV show "Married to Medicine,” moderated by award-winning journalist Monica Pierre
Photos by Jazmynne Massey
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End of Fall Semester
Snowday fun before exams and Christmas break
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Summer Events
2019
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Tamika Catchings
Catch the Stars Foundation Basketball Clinic
For the second consecutive year, Xavier University of Louisiana and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation partnered to host the Tamika Catchings Catch the Stars Foundation Basketball Clinic. The event was free and open to girls and boys ages 9-14.
Catchings — a legendary basketball player for the University of Tennessee, USA Basketball and the WNBA’s Indiana Fever — was in her third year of conducting nationwide clinics to teach youth basketball fundamentals, sportsmanship and healthy lifestyle choices.
Catchings is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, a seven-time first-team All-WNBA selection, a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time Kodak/WBCA All-America first-team selection at Tennessee. She was the 2011 WNBA MVP and led Indiana to the 2012 WNBA title. She is the WNBA career leader in steals and attempted free throws, No. 2 in rebounds and made free throws and No. 3 in points. Catchings was recipient of the 2015 ESPN Sports Humanitarian of the Year award and co-recipient of the 2016 National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy award.
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College of Pharmacy Residency Program
Four residents were presented Residency Program Certificates by Xavier PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director, Dr. Janel Bailey Wheeler and Assistant Director, Teaching Certificate Program by Assistant Director, Dr. Shandrika Williams Landry.
Residents: Dr. Rania El-Desoky, Xavier University of Louisiana; Dr. Micah Johnson, Howard University; Dr. Anthony Nguyen, Xavier University of Louisiana; Dr. Bolanle Soyombo, Texas.
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Back-L-R: Dr. Janel Bailey Wheeler, Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, COP dean, Dr. Shandrika Williams Landry. Front L-R: Residents: Dr. Bolanle Soyombo, Dr. Micah Johnson, Dr. Rania El-Desoky, Dr. Anthony Nguyen.


Xavier University Biologists Discover Rare Exotic Species in Bayou St. John
On June 15, 2019 Biologists Dr. Peter Martinat and Kristal Huggins discovered twelve Monopterus specimens, an exotic species new to the Bayou St. John area better known as the Asian Swamp eel. They made the discovery while participating in the “Bayou St. John Giant Salvinia Control Patrol” clean-up effort, a neighborhood volunteer organization that keeps the bayou from being clogged by two invasive aquatic plant species Alligator Weed and Giant Salvinia.
College of Pharmacy Research Labs
Dr. Tauran Mandal, Ph.D. research: Characterization of Nanoparticles. L-R: Nikki Swopes, lab supervisor; Giang Le, P-3.
Dr. Tommy Morris, Ph.D.
Dr. Tommy Morris, Ph.D. research: Transdermal Drug Delivery (Topically delivered drugs). L-R: Brittany Bush, P-2 and Edidiong Utin, P-3.
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Summer Research Symposium
The 9th Annual summer research symposium offered an opportunity to recognize the ongoing research and creative work that happens year-round at Xavier, but most intensely in the summer. Presented by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity-CURGO.
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Left: Chelsea Callicoatte explained her research on "Dopamine Signaling as a Non- Opioid Analgesic Strategy for Chronic Pain" - CN Callicoatte, AR Pahng, Ph.D. A. Melain, KN Edwards, S. Edwards, Ph.D.-LSU Health Sciences Center Department of Physiology, Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program.
Rright: Xavier student, Ahmed Coulibaly showed his research of the F.Y.R.E. Program from Yale University - "Une Experience Culturelle" - What happens in the brain of a bilingual individual?


Anita Waye explained her research on "Higher SIV Levels are Observed in Blood and Tissue Reservoirs of ART-Treated Female Masaques Exposed to Chronic Binge Alcohol" - Anita Waye, Nedra Lacour, Angela Amedee, Ph.D.-Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center and Department of Micobiology, Immunnology, & Parasitology.
Diego Vargas showed his research on " Mechanisms of Nicotine-dependent Activation of Cardiac Fibroblasts" - Diego Vargas, Nicholas Fried, Jason Gardner, Ph.D. - Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Arielle Jones, Xavier student explained her research on "Understanding the Strong Black Woman's Attitudes Towards Seeking Help."
Xavier biology student, U'Ronnie Banks showed his research on "An Evaluation of Novel Kinase Inhibitors in Hormone Sensitive and Hormone Refractory Breast Disease" - U'Ronnie Banks, Jayalslakshmi Srihdar, Jordon Coward, KiTani Lemieux, Ph.D., Xavier University Department of Pharmacology.
Xavier student, I'kia McKay explained his research on "Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel CYP2A6/CYP2A13 Inhibitors for Decreasing Smoking Behavior"-I'kia Mckay, Camilla Do, Navneet Goyal, Maryam Foroozesh, Ph.D., Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Chemistry.
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Pre-College Summer Programs
College of Pharmacy Center of Excellence-COE
The Center of Excellence (COE) Scholars Program is to educate and train African American students in research methods and to provide opportunities for them to participate in basic and clinical research. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of minorities in biomedical research.
COE 9th graders learned about cosmetics comunding of lip balm, lotion, and bath balm in Dr. Stacie Peck's lab. Top Left: Dr. Peck is a 2007 Xavier PharmD graduate.
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Summer Science Academy
Xavier University of Louisiana hosts a variety of summer opportunities for middle school and high school students to enrich their academic and social development.
Students from around the country will pursue their passions in a rigorous, academic setting. With exciting programs ranging from science to math. Students had the unique opportunity to explore an area of interest on a deeper level through in-class discussions, laboratory experiences and cultural explorations. As part of the learning experience at Xavier, you will enhance your high school career and get a jump start on your college life. Summer Science Academy: MATHStar, BIOStar, Center of Excellence, SuperScholar Excel, SOAR, CHEMStar, Chinese Immersion Summer Program, Summer Start Institute.
MATHStar
Summer 2019 Business Achievers Program
Incoming freshmen who successfully completed the Summer 2019 Business Achievers Program with L-R: Joe Ricks, Ph.D. and Clifford Wright.
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Art Summer Workshops
by Artist, Owolabi Ayodele from Lagos, Nigeria
Sponsored by Center for Continuing Studies and Distance Education Introduction, Sketch, Drawing, and Painting for adults & families
Top left: Xavier President, Dr. Reynold Verret and artist, Owoladi Ayodele. Bottom: Yzoma Samuel, artist. Earlier in May, Xavier collaborated with Nike Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria to present the art show: Insight.
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Institute for Black Catholic Studies - IBCS
Week One - Group 1
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Week Three - Group 3


Thirty-second Annual Baccalaureate and Commencement Class of 2019
Master of Theology-Th.M.
Kathryn L. Crawford, Major Paper-Reducing Bias Formation in Elementary Aged Children: The Role Catholic Teaching Institutions-Practicum-The Power of Catholic School to Reduce Bias Formation; Angela D. Hollier, Major Paper-Sisters Among Us: African American Catholic Women's View of the Church-Practicum-A Seat at the Table: Conversation about African American Women's Spirituality; Fidgi A. Simeon, Historical Essay-"Makes Me Clap My Hands:" Parallel Systems of Belief in Hip-Hop Culture and Black Catholic Theology.
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Agavu, George L
Amoakoh, Gladys
Barbarin, Kirk
Castello,Elaine Elder
Dabney, Carey W.
Daniels-Maina´, Diana Elder
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Duhé, Barbara Elder
Fazande, Ethel M. Elder
Gholston, Timothy
Gwelo, Ify
Jacque, Dwana P.
Johnson, James Isaac IV
Okafor, Daniel
Osborn, Aubry
Owens, David
Rich, Susan, Ph.D.
Roby, Tina Elder
Sadler, Regina K.
Saint-Louis, Marjorie
Smith,Geraldine B. Elder
Spencer, Sheree-Ann Elder
Tedford,Ada Elder
Vollbrecht, Sr. Judy, RSCJ Elder
White, Sadie O. Elder
Johnson, Patricia Elder
McEvilley, Princess
Mulligan, Janice
Nevills, Melba
Nicholas, Barbara
Odeyeml, John Segun


Young, Aisha C.
Administrators, Faculty & Staff
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Veronica Downs-Dorsey, MM
Judy Legier, Artist in Residence
Cecelia Moore, Ph.D. faculty
Kirk P. Gaddy, Ph.D., Interim Co-Director & Assoc. Director Masters Degree Program
Ernest Gibson, III. Ph.D. faculty
Sr. Eva Marie Lumas, SSS D.Min., Interim Co-Director & Assoc. Director, Contin, Educ.
Fr. Manuel B. Williams, CR Interim Co-Director for Administration & Finance
Luther Gray, Artist in Residence
Heather Malveaux, faculty
Diana Hayes, JD, Ph.D., STD faculty
Deacon Lawrence Houston, Assistant Coordinator of Community Life
Chaplain Thelma Lucas
Fr. Gerard Marable faculty
Modeste Malu Nyimi, Ph.D. faculty
Brian Turner, Ph.D. faculty
Gwendolyn Young, Coordinator of Community Life
Kathleen Dorsey Bellow, D.Min., was named the director of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS), the first and primary national center for the study of the Black Catholic experience.


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Spring Events 2019


Ninety-Second Annual Commencement
Xavier honored four of its own graduates – three prolific medical doctors and a world-renown vocalist – during its 92nd annual graduation ceremony
The physicians – Dr. Pierre Johnson 2002, Dr. Maxime Madhere 2002, and Dr. Joseph Semien 2001 – who are co-authors of the book Pulse of Perseverance, in which they share their personal struggles and ultimate triumphs in an effort to empower and inspire black youth to work towards their goals, were the keynote speakers for commencement.
They all received honorary degrees.
They were joined on stage by vocalist Gail Gilmore 1972, a celebrated Opera star, who was also awarded an honorary degree from her alma mater.
Eleven students with perfect 4.0 grade point averages headed this year’s group of 56 summa cum laude graduates, including: Hana Alkhafaf, a biology/premed major; Simin Almassi, a biology/premed major; Jacqueline Baidoo, a physics/chemistry major; Dalia El-Desoky, a biology major; Tyler Kelley, a biology/premed major; Gabriel Niculescu, a political science major; Allison Stephens, a chemistry/premed major; and four pharmacy students – Bree Bergeron; Olivia Ewing; Alison Neuliep; and Anh Nguyen; they posed with Xavier's President C. Reynold Verret; Xavier's Board of Trustees President, Sonia Perez; Dr. Anne McCall, rovost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs; and the Four Honored Graduates—Gail Gilmore, Maxime Madhere, Pierre Johnson, and Joseph Semien, Jr.
Top: Collge of Arts and Sciences and Below: College of Pharmacy
L-R: Dr. C. Reynold Verret, Xavier President; 2019 Norman C. Francis Faculty of Excellence Awards: Dr. Yashoda Pramar, Pharmacy; Dr. Florastina Payton-Stewart, Chemistry; Dr. Steven Salm, History; Dr. Cirecie Olatunji, Education.
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Graduation Ceremony


Receiving the Degree
504 Degrees Conferred at Commencement
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Proud graduates & families
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The Start of Graduation Ceremonies Roll Call - College of Arts & Sciences
After all the late nights of studying, count down to graduation started with Roll Call to make sure you are cleared to graduate and pick-up your tickets for family members to celebrate your milestone.
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Roll Call - College of Pharmacy
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Senior Toast
Sponsored by the National Alumni Association
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Graduate School Hooding
College of Arts & Sciences Doctor of Education
Right: Benjamin-David Christopher Legrand – Dissertation: Early childhood computer-based testing: Effects of digital literacy on affective filters and student achievement
Left: Zwila Burks Martinez – Dissertation: Can a Latin-based Intervention Improve Vocabulary among Black Early Readers in the Second Grade: An Explanatory Analysis
Center: Jordan Anthony Sanchez – Effect on Block Scheduling on End-of-Course Achievement for High School Students Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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College of Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy Hooding and Awards
Keeyan Davis received the Bowl of Hygeia Award, the highest honor bestowed by the College of Pharmacy, from Dean Kathleen Kennedy
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Family & friends after P-4 hooding ceremony Top: Keeyan Davis and family.
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Baccalaureate Mass
Celebrant Most Reverend Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M. Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans
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College of Arts & Sciences Awards
L-R: Dr. Anne McCall, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs awarded the University’s top honors for service - Saint Katharine Drexel Award, Ericka Scott; Mother Agatha Ryan Award, Sydney Green
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The Knights of Peter Claver Awards


What's Next?
Bryan Redman - a student at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Nina Nguyen
Kelsey Green
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Anthony Freeman - US Air Force
Mass Communication graduates with professors: L-R: Prinsey Walker, Mizani Ball, Dr. Rachel Grant, Allana Barefield and Dr. Shearon Roberts.


Seven 2019 Xavier Graduates Inducted into the National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society
The Kappa Gamma Pi National catholic College Graduate Honor Society inducted seven Xavier University of Louisiana's class of 2019 graduates. These distinguished women graduates were chosen for the purpose of exerting a positive influence upon their communities.
Those honored graduates are:
Ashley Adams
Ashley Brider
Angel Branden Delandro
Melissa Dugas (no photo)
Alexandra Griffin (no photo)
Lindsey Hutchins (no photo)
Prinsey Walker
Originally intended for lay women graduates of Catholic colleges, the society extended membership in 1967 to members of religious orders and to those of various faith commitments, and in 1981, to eligible male graduates as well. Kappa Gamma Pi became the National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society for all qualified honor graduates of affiliated Catholic colleges and universities.
Ashley Adams
Ashley Brider
Angel Branden Delandro
Prinsey Walker
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