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 Dr. Phil Schauer with state, city, and LSU leaders

World-Renowned Surgeon, Researcher Joins LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Earlier this month, Pennington Biomedical Research Center announced the hiring of Dr. Phil Schauer to lead the new bariatric and metabolic surgery program. Schauer is the world’s leading expert on obesity and diabetes, a condition that affects one in six Louisianans. His accomplishments include performing the world’s first laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in 1997, and leading the discovery that bariatric surgery could reverse Type 2 diabetes for the vast majority of individuals.

Under Schauer’s direction, Pennington’s new bariatric and metabolic surgery program will serve as an international leader in groundbreaking research and medical care. Established in partnership with both the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and Our Lady of the Lake, the center will open on LSU's Pennington campus in Baton Rouge by 2020. 


State and LSU officals break ground on the new Center for Medical Education and Wellness at LSU Health Shreveport

LSU Health Shreveport Breaks Ground On New Facility 

On the one-year anniversary of the signing of LSU Health Shreveport’s partnership with Ochsner, ground was broken on the new Center for Medical Education and Wellness. The state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory building will provide much-needed space in addition to enhancing the learning experience of LSU Health Shreveport’s record number of new students.


LSU Law students have a group discussion in the Paul M. Hebert Law Center's library

LSU Law Ranks Among Nation’s Best Values 

For the eleventh straight year, preLaw magazine has ranked LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center as one of the country’s top values for students. LSU Law has seen a considerable jump in recent years, finishing No. 12 in the nation this year, an increase of 11 points in the last two years. LSU is the only Louisiana university to make the rankings in 2019.

Among the factors influencing the ranking process are employment figures and an institution’s bar exam pass rate. 91 percent of LSU Law alumni have found employment in full-time legal positions, the fourth highest among the 25 universities included in the rankings. In addition, nearly 86 percent of LSU Law students who took the Louisiana Bar Exam in 2019 passed, the highest percentage among the state’s law schools.


Under the supervision of LSU students, dogs dig up the ground for the university's new Stephenson Pet Clinic

LSU Breaks Ground On Stephenson Pet Clinic

Using dogs rather than the traditional shovels, LSU broke ground this month on the new Stephenson Pet Clinic at the School of Veterinary Medicine. The clinic is the culmination of a longtime vision from LSU benefactors Emmet and Toni Stephenson, who noticed the need for a first-class animal care and wellness facility in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The project was funded by the generosity of donors such as the Stephensons, who provided the initial gift for the building, matched with public dollars provided by the state. 


LSU Vice President of Strategic Communications Jim Sabourin speaks to a group on LSU's campus

LSU Welcomes New Campus Leaders 

Two new campus leaders joined the LSU family in October, bringing their talents and expertise to some of the university's top posts. 

At the October meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Dr. Paul Coreil was named as LSU of Alexandria’s permanent chancellor. Coreil has been LSUA’s acting chancellor since June, and previously served as the interim campus leader from February 2013 to February 2014. Prior to joining the Alexandria campus, Coreil, a two-time LSU graduate, has been working with the university since 1978.  

Jim Sabourin officially started work October 1 as LSU’s Vice President of Strategic Communications. Sabourin is the former senior vice president and chief communications officer for Unum and brings extensive experience in global public relations and communications to the university.

Gordon Monk has assumed the interim presidency of the LSU Alumni Association, replacing Cliff Vannoy, who retired after 38 years of service on campus. Monk, an LSU graduate, previously served as the chief fiscal officer of the Louisiana Legislature before retiring from public service in 2012. Monk will serve on an interim basis while the Alumni Association undertakes an executive search for a new president and CEO.  


In academic regalia, LSU Faculty stand for recgontion at commencement ceremonies

 LSU Faculty Are Fierce For Excellence 

LSU’s faculty are fierce in their pursuit of academic excellence. Their dedication to the university’s high standards brings many accolades to campus, showcasing their incredible work. 

Professor Haywood Joiner, the Chair of the Department of Allied Health at LSU of Alexandria, has been inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame for his longtime public service and lifetime commitment to education.

Boyd Professor Susanne C. Brenner is among 18 individuals selected for the national 2020 Association of Women in Mathematics fellowship.

Associate Professor Jennifer Lentz and the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans were recently awarded $1.74 million by the National Institutes of Health to develop treatment for Usher syndrome. The disease is known for causing vision and hearing loss. Working in partnership with Canadian researchers, Lentz’s studies target specific mutations that specifically affect Acadians, or “Cajuns,” who were exiled from Canada and sent to Louisiana in 1755.


LSUA graduates pose with their diplomas during the university's commencement exercises

LSUA Receives National Recognition

In their annual rankings, U.S. News & World Report named LSU of Alexandria as one of the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges that create social mobility for students. On the list, LSUA joins institutions such as West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy.

The major factor in determining the rankings is the graduation rate of students receiving Pell Grants. The awards are typically given to students with household incomes of less than $50,000.  


2015 Homecoming King Michael Panther is recogonized in Tiger Stadium

LSU Alumnus Delivers Hope to Africa

Michael Panther, a 2015 LSU graduate, is bringing thousands of wheelchairs and mobility devices to poverty-stricken parts of Africa. Panther, who himself uses a wheelchair, was born in South Sudan amid the country’s ongoing civil war, combating paralysis since a young age.

Studying at LSU as an international student, Panther was highly involved in campus organizations and was elected homecoming king in 2015.

After graduation, Panther was motivated by his personal experiences to start a non-profit organization, Living with Hope, to distribute wheelchairs in Africa. In the past year and a half, he has given out nearly 1,000 mobility devices.

Living with Hope is currently accepting mobility devices with a special focus on pediatric devices. To learn more, please visit https://livingwithhope.net.


In the News: A Sample of LSU's Footprint in the National Media

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A star has been flickering for years – and researchers think they've figured out why

ABC News explores the scientific discoveries made by LSU Assistant Professor Tabetha Boyajian, and how they impact the field of astronomy. 

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Slavery in America: Some historical sites try to show the horrors. Others are far behind.

Ogden Honors College Dean Jonathan Earle discusses the legacy of antebellum violence and the impact of Kansas' statehood on the Civil War. 

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How does Simone Biles do what seems impossible?

Dr. David Young, an LSU physics professor, discusses the unique scientific phenomenon he observed while studying the athleticism of gymnast Simone Biles.

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Self-driving cars could ease future evacuations

LSU Professor Brian Wolshon explains how self-driven cars can provide a smoother pace and quicker exit during hurricane evacuations. 


Mark Your Calendars!

Ben Folds with the LSU School of Music

November 2, 7:30 p.m. in the Union Theatre 

Ben Folds joins the LSU Symphony Orchestra performing hit songs in his trademark style that crosses multiple genres. 

Tickets can be purchased either online or at the door and start at $25. 

Agriculture Alumni Lecture Series featuring Roberta Anding

November 15, 11:30 a.m. in Knapp Hall 

LSU alumnus Roberta Anding, a sports dietitian with Major League Baseball's Houston Astros, will be discussing her career and the challenges of maintaining a diet in modern athletics. 

LSU Science Café: Fish on the Table—Sustaining Louisiana's Commercial Fisheries

November 19, 5 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre

LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences Professor Robert Twilley will discuss challenges for American fisheries and adaptations that they can make to accommodate the world's changing environment.

LSU Science Café is sponsored by the LSU Office of Research & Economic Development and held on the last Tuesday of each month. Doors open at 5 p.m. for networking and light refreshments, and the talk will start at 6 p.m. People of all ages are welcome.

Attendees are encouraged to register online.