Meet Dr. Rousse, the Eighth President of McNeese State University

I'm proud to have been raised in Golden Meadow, a small Cajun town in Lafourche Parish. From the time I was very young, my mother stressed the importance of education. I remember dinner conversations always revolving around education. From what I had learned that day in elementary school to what I was going to study in college. A long time ago, an opportunity to be a part of the football team brought me here to McNeese. I'll never forget the day my parents dropped me off on campus. My mother was so emotional, she simply could not hide her tears. With the benefit of time, I now understand her emotion. She realized that day was the beginning of a better life for all of us. And it was. When I reminisce about my undergraduate college experience, it's McNeese that I think of. The three years I spent living and learning on this campus, provided the foundation I needed to navigate life's challenges. The lessons learned in college go far beyond the classroom. It's so important to be in a place where you're surrounded by a community of faculty and staff who are committed to your success. You form lifelong friendships in college with peers who become your family over time. My career took me out of the state of Louisiana for almost two decades. So, returning to McNeese in 2019 was coming home. I'm so excited to serve as the eighth president of McNeese, the University that gave me my start. When I think about what McNeese will look like in the next five years, I'm optimistic about seeing reinvigorated student experiences on campus. I envision a very engaged community, our entire McNeese family, here on our campus, week in and week out, involved in a variety of academic, cultural, and athletic events and programs that we offer throughout the entire year. We are committed to ensuring that our academic curricula are market driven, and that they provide our graduates with the skills necessary to be gainfully employed upon graduation. We also want our graduates to be lifelong learners. Our amazing faculty will instill in our students a curiosity to be pioneers in their chosen discipline and inspire them to achieve more than they ever thought possible. These are the true benchmarks of our success ... a connected, engaged, and energized McNeese family, market-driven curricula, and successful graduates who fulfill the existing needs in our region. These accomplishments will strengthen our economy, our community, and our beloved university. Geaux Pokes!