EUNICE, La. (WNTZ) — LSU Eunice has awarded six endowed professorships to faculty members recognized for their excellence in teaching, service, and innovation, the university announced this week. The competitive honors, made possible by local healthcare partners and community donors, provide multi-year funding to advance academic and professional development initiatives across the campus.

Administered by the LSUE Professorship Committee through a formal application process, the awards are intended to support faculty in fulfilling the university’s mission of delivering accessible, high-quality education throughout Acadiana and beyond.

“These professorships are a strategic investment in both our faculty and our students,” said Chancellor Dr. Nancee Sorenson. “Each recipient proposed thoughtful, forward-looking initiatives that will have a tangible impact on the quality of education at LSU Eunice. We’re deeply grateful to our donors for making this level of academic innovation possible.”

The 2025 Endowed Professorship Recipients and Initiatives:

• Lisa LaFleur – Ochsner Lafayette General Professorship #2:
  A leader in allied health, LaFleur will attend the Organization of Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) conference and continue research focused on improving student retention in LSUE’s nursing program.
• Braneshea Moore – Ochsner Lafayette General Professorship #1:
  Moore plans to integrate artificial intelligence into the nursing curriculum to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of LSUE’s future healthcare workforce.
• Dr. Domingo Jariel – Fritz Lang Professorship:
  Jariel will expand undergraduate research in environmental and agricultural biology, including the acquisition of a utility transport vehicle for the Native Prairie Restoration Project on campus.
• James Cordes – Opelousas General Professorship:
  Cordes will continue his long-standing research on whiptail lizards in six Texas localities, building on several previously published journal articles.
• Symantha Jones – Train Derailment #1 Professorship:
  Jones will use the funding to revitalize LSUE’s arts program, acquiring new equipment and supporting student-led campus beautification projects such as murals and public art through the LSUE Art Club.
• May Stone – Train Derailment #2 Professorship:
  Stone will advance a book project in literary criticism, developing the material into a journal article, pursuing conference presentations, and ultimately publishing a full-length work.

The endowed professorships provide between $5,000 and $11,000 in annual support over a minimum of two years. Funding will be used for curriculum development, faculty training, student research, and broader program enhancement — reinforcing LSU Eunice’s role as a regional leader in affordable, innovative higher education.