NEWS RELEASE

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

10/10/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Many things have changed at Northwestern State University since the 1960's but for 38 years Mildred Moore has always been there to assist students. Moore, the executive assistant to the vice president for student affairs, is this year's recipient of the President's Distinguished Service Award. She will be recognized during Homecoming activities at NSU Oct. 19-20.

"Receiving the award was quite a surprise to me," said Moore, the first classified staff member to receive the Distinguished Service Award. "I always wanted to work with students. It is wonderful to watch them as they come to college and accomplish things."

Previous inductees include retired vice president for vice president for financial and administrative affairs and EEO officer E. Loneta Graves, former Director of Alumni Affairs Elise P. James and retired faculty member Dr. Ernest O. "Slim" Howell.

Moore began working for Dean of Women Lucille Hendrick in 1963 when she "was younger than some of the students." She has worked under six different people through six presidential administrations..She remembers NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb, Executive Assistant to the President Robert Crew and her current boss Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Dan Seymour from their days as Northwestern students.

The campus is different from when Moore first began working here, but the university has stayed the same in some important ways.

"When I came here, we were all basically in one building. There was a closeness and friendliness that is still here today," said Moore. "We are all part of making Northwestern a better place and are proud of the place we work. I sent my children here and have never hesitated to recommend Northwestern to anyone who asks."

Moore has been married to Alvin Moore for 38 years and has four children and four grandchildren.

Moore moved back to Natchitoches in 1963 after living in Baton Rouge for almost four years. She applied for a job at Northwestern and the only opening was in the Dean of Women's Office. At first, Moore planned to work until she got married, then she was going to stop working when she had her first child. Those plans gradually changed.

"I believe God puts us where he wants us to be and my place was at Northwestern," said Moore. " I didn't plan to be here 38 years but I am glad that things worked out that way."

Moore has been recognized with several awards from the students of Northwestern. The Student Government Association presented her with the Staff Member of the Year Award in 1998, a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding service in 1994 and the Outstanding Service Award in 1994. She was given the Dan Seymour Award and the Dean Dudley Fulton Award from the Blue Key National Honor Society and an Administrative Award from Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Moore was also named Secretary of the Year by the Cane River Chapter of Professional Secretaries, Inc.

Those awards say a great deal about Moore's willingness to students and her ability to adjust to changes at the university.

"My first big change came when Mrs. Hendrick retired. It was the first time I had a male boss," said Moore. "At that time, we took on more duties. I had been working with female students in the Dean of Women's Office, then I was in Student Services and worked with the male students as well."

Moore had a variety of duties including running the student I.D. card system and helping manage an emergency loan fund for students. Her duties changed again in the mid-80's when the Division of Student Affairs was reorganized. Moore began working with Dean of Students Fred Fulton, who would become vice president for student affairs and Director of Housing and Food Services Harold Boutee. She would work with Fulton for 11 years.

"Mr. Fulton and Mr. Boutee had never worked at a university before, so I was here to help then," said Moore.

Over time, Moore has noticed changes in the way students react when they first deal with her office.

"When students used to be called to the Dean of Students' Office, they would come in here shaking even if it wasn't a disciplinary matter," she said. "Now coming here is no big deal to them."

One thing she still enjoys is when former students take time to drop by and say hello.

"I remember recently when a former student came by to visit. He was dressed in a nice suit and said he had a good job in Dallas," said Moore. "It means a lot when you see a former student who has gone on and done well."

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