I'm now wrapping up week two of my service on Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards' Higher Education Transition Team. The governor-elect has made education his top priority for his administration. The inauguration is exactly one month away, and Louisiana is less than two months away from a special legislative session. Our team is a very diverse, smart and engaged group of about 27 Louisianians. The discussions so far have been robust and stimulating. I can't say enough about how impressed I am with the leadership of our chairperson, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed. It's great to see her back and serving Louisiana higher education again. I am also pleased to share this opportunity with retired Southern University professor, Dr. Huey L. Perry.

 

Today, the Southern University family will hear from our new champion of higher education when the governor-elect delivers the SUBR commencement address. I'll be in the audience, probably on the front row, soaking it all in. The notion that the governor-elect chose Southern to deliver one of his first commencement addresses as the state's leader is truly exciting. But, one man can't do it all. We have to do our part. We must offer this administration all the support that it needs to begin to reinvest in the education of the children and adults of this great state.