NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

9/20/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Frances Watkins Conine, director of Student Services at Northwestern State University, will conclude a two-year term as president of the Louisiana Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators (LACUSPA) next week in New Orleans. Conine had been chosen to lead the organization for the 2004-2005 academic year, but the LACUSPA Board of Directors voted to extend the terms of officers after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Shakira Baldwin Hardison of Grambling State University will succeed Conine.

Prior to next week's LACUSPA Convention, student services professionals from around the state will work on a service project with The Phoenix of New Orleans in the devastated Ninth Ward.

"We talk to our students about the importance of being active in the community and giving something back," said Conine. "This is a way to 'practice what we preach' and provide some assistance to people who are trying to get their lives back in order."

"Service Learning" will be the theme of the LACUSPA Conference.

"Service Learning is an initiative of University of Louisiana System President Dr. Sally Clausen, so each UL System institution is working in this area," said Conine. "We believe this conference will give all state colleges and universities ideas on how to improve their campus, their community and ultimately the state."

Conine said her time as head of the organization has been rewarding and challenging.

"Last year's storms were challenging for people of the Gulf Coast and all of us in LACUSPA had colleagues who lost homes and saw their institution damaged," she said. "Out of that, all of us say the willingness of the higher education community in the state and around the country to help one another. It has been meaningful to be in a leadership position in a time of trouble."

Information on The Phoenix of New Orleans is available at www.pnola.org.

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