Louisiana's Got Talent

In February, the Board of Regents hosted its second statewide Meauxmentum Summit, a collection of institutional Academic Deans and Department Chairs as well as advising, faculty, and student affairs leaders to support each campus’s implementation of Louisiana’s Meauxmentum Framework student success strategies.

At the end of the first day, Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed chaired a National Perspectives Panel which focused on how the Meauxmentum work in Louisiana can be connected to national strategies to improve student outcomes and close equity gaps.

The national experts on this year's panel were Ruth Watkins (Strada), Julie Adams (Strong Start to Finish), Nia Haydel (Complete College America), and John Lane (SHEEO).

In February, the Board of Regents hosted its second statewide Meauxmentum Summit, a collection of institutional Academic Deans and Department Chairs as well as advising, faculty, and student affairs leaders to support each campus’s implementation of Louisiana’s Meauxmentum Framework student success strategies.

At the end of the first day, Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed chaired a National Perspectives Panel which focused on how the Meauxmentum work in Louisiana can be connected to national strategies to improve student outcomes and close equity gaps.

The national experts on this year's panel were Ruth Watkins (Strada), Julie Adams (Strong Start to Finish), Nia Haydel (Complete College America), and John Lane (SHEEO).

Louisiana's 2023 Teacher of the Year Brittany Bonnaffons, a ninth-grade Algebra teacher and head track coach at Hahnville High School, joined Dr. Kim Hunter Reed for an energetic and enthusiastic conversation in the latest episode of "Louisiana's Got Talent."

While celebrating Louisiana's rich HBCU history, Grambling State University President Rick Gallot and Dillard University President Dr. Rochelle Ford sat down with Commissioner Dr. Kim Hunter Reed for a special HBCU episode of "Louisiana's Got Talent." Gallot, the first repeat guest on LGT, shared his journey of attending school from Pre-K to college on the same campus in Grambling. Dr. Ford, another HBCU alum, reflected on her first year of leadership at Dillard and how her HBCU education has transformed her career.

During a Professional Development session with Regents Board members, Regents Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Innovation Dr. Tristan Denley discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence language models in higher education. He began by introducing and demonstrating these models and their capabilities, including their ability to generate human-like responses to questions and engage in conversations on a wide range of topics.

He also explored some examples of such AI use in higher education, such as virtual assistants, and personalized learning, and discussed how these tools can be effectively integrated into existing teaching and learning practices. Throughout the course of the discussion, Dr. Denley examined some of the concerns surrounding the use of AI in higher education, including concerns that its capabilities may be misused, and how Louisiana institutions are responding to the existence of these new tools.

ChatGPT did not generate this episode of Louisiana's Got Talent.

Leaders from all 28 Louisiana public state higher education institutions and four systems, along with national experts, traveled to Baton Rouge for the first Meauxmentum Summit in early February. The Meauxmentum Approach is an evidence-based framework that has been demonstrated to significantly improve student success and close equity gaps.

During the Summit, national experts Dr. Nancy Zimpher (NASH), Rob Anderson (SHEEO), Patrick Methvin (Gates Foundation), and Dr. Nasser Paydar (U.S. Department of Education) sat down with Commissioner Dr. Kim Hunter Reed for a discussion about higher education on a national scale and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for education leaders.

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed took "Louisiana's Got Talent" on the road to start 2023 with a special visit to Bossier Parish Community College. She sat down with Sandra Roberson, the Director of the Cavalier Care Center, which is home to a variety of wrap-around student services. To date, the Care Center has served more than 400 students (on a campus of 5,800 students) and has provided more than 30,000 pounds of food through its food pantry.

Veterans Day is a chance for us to honor those who have served our country.   For this special edition of Louisiana’s Got Talent, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed sat down with three #LaVetCorps Campus Navigators - Greg Ludley (Grambling State), Marty Motes (LSU Alexandria), and Tammy Armond (Fletcher) - to share their stories of why they chose to serve.

September was National Recovery Month, National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, as well as Campus Safety Awareness Month.  This month’s podcast guest was Portia Gordon, who is the Director of Counseling and Health Services at the University of New Orleans. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Child Therapist.  The goal of UNO’s Counseling Services is to assist students in addressing mental health concerns in a professional, unbiased, and objective way.  Counseling Services on college campuses are becoming a more critical student service than ever before.

In August, the U.S. Department of Education hosted the Raise the B.A.R. (Bold + Action + Results) in College Excellence and Equity Summit, where Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced his vision for the future of higher education and actions the Department is taking to support college completion.  As part of the Raise the B.A.R. Summit, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed moderated an armchair conversation with Secretary Cardona to discuss major issues in higher education as we recover from multiple disruptions.

June marked the 50th Anniversary of one of our nation’s most transformative laws to create gender equity in education and sport – Title IX. Appropriately recognizing 50 years of Title IX means not only understanding the intent of the law but also hearing from the trailblazers and champions who fought to see real change happen.  With that in mind, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed welcomed LSU gymnastics legend D-D Breaux to the podcast!

After 35 years of service to Southern University, President-Chancellor Dr. Ray Belton is retiring on June 30. A phenomenal leader and advocate for HBCUs, Dr. Belton sat down with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed for the latest episode of Louisiana's Got Talent.

Dr. Belton reflected on his career, the future of HBCUs, and what's next for him in retirement.

May is a month when we celebrate the profession that creates all others - teaching. As part of Regents' Future Educators Honor Roll celebration at the Old State Capitol, 2022 Louisiana Teacher of the Year Annelise Tedesco sat down with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed to share her passion for teaching.

Joining Dr. Kim Hunter Reed on the latest episode of Louisiana's Got Talent is one of the biggest advocates for adult education and readying students for the workforce,  Louisiana's Community & Technical Colleges (LCTCS) President Dr. Monty Sullivan.

Dr. Kristine Strickland, the Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College, joined Dr. Kim Hunter Reed for the latest episode of Louisiana's Got Talent Podcast.

Since taking over as Grambling State University President in 2016, Rick Gallot has transformed Grambling in critical ways, including in areas of computer science and cybersecurity degree programs.

The Board of Regents' official podcast, Louisiana's Got Talent, launches with its first guest, newly appointed Board Chair Collis Temple III.