NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

5/17/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Susan Nealy, coordinator of Perkins Programs at Northwestern State University, was one of two featured speakers during the Postsecondary Perkins annual spring retreat. Perkins Programs is the department at NSU responsible for administering the Perkins Vocational Grant. The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act is a source of federal funding to support continuous improvement in vocational, career and technical education.

"Our department administers this yearly grant that provides funding to six associate degree programs at NSU, including business administration, criminal justice, electronics technology, nursing, office administration and veterinary technology," Nealy explained.

Funds are used for program enhancement, curriculum improvement, upgrading technology and professional development. Projects have included collaboration with Electronic and Continuing Education for upgrading of faculty training labs and professional training.

"I was asked by the organizers to present some of the programs and additional grants we have put in place here at NSU," Nealy said. "Considering that I didn't know what Perkins was four years ago, it was quite an honor to have Louisiana state Perkins officials recommend me to do a best practices presentation because of the innovative things we are doing at NSU."

At the conference, Nealy discussed the coordinator's role, leadership grants, partnerships and collaborations and professional organizations.

Nealy has served as Perkins Program coordinator for four years. She has vast experience in grant writing, curriculum development at secondary and postsecondary levels and has been successful in integrating the Perkins program into the overall mission of the university.

In addition to administering the Perkins Grant for NSU, she has written Perkins Leadership and other grants to support the department's work. She developed and implemented a dual enrollment program, which currently serves over 125 students through face-to-face and on-line courses.

"One lady stopped me afterward and told me I had given her hope. She was brand new to Perkins and felt lost, but after hearing that I was in the same boat not long ago, she had a renewed confidence that she could succeed. It was a great experience for me," Nealy said.

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