NEWS RELEASE

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

5/23/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- The Steeg Family Foundation of New Orleans has made a donation of $60,000 to the NSU Foundation to establish the Melba L. Steeg Endowed Professorship in Primary Education. The professorship was created to honor Melba L. Steeg. The donation will be matched with $40,000 from the Board of Regents Support Fund to create a $100,000 endowed professorship.

"Any time you can add an endowed professorship, your academic integrity is enhanced. It adds another level of national recognition and credibility to the program," said Northwestern Dean of Education Dr. John Tollett. "This will give us the opportunity to designate a faculty member who will produce professional publications which will enhance our education program and work closely with public school systems in the area."

Melba Steeg graduated from Northwestern in education. She has been an active supporter of the university and has served as president of the NSU Foundation, on the Foundation Board and on the NSU's President Council. During her tenure as president, the NSU Foundation has received its first $1,000,000 endowed chair and a pledge to create another endowed chair.

In 1994, Melba Steeg was named to the NSU Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line. Steeg was named to the NSU College of Business Hall of Distinction in 1998. She is president of Investing and Developing, Inc., a commercial and residential real estate developing and financing corporation.

Melba Steeg has been the first woman on many of the boards and commissions on which she has served. She has been a board member or trustee of organizations including the National Conference of Christians and Jews where she was a member of the national board and co-chair of the Regional Louisiana Chapter, the Caroline Dorman Nature Preserve in Natchitoches and the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine.

She was an advisor/consultant to the Ellender Foundation for Medical Research which she co-founded, the Touro Infirmary Gerontology Committee and was co-chair of the Touro Infirmary Steering Committee. Steeg has been a member of the board of the Chamber/New Orleans and the River Region, the Urban League of New Orleans and the New Orleans Museum of Art. She has been listed in the International Who's Who of Women and has been recognized as one of the Best Dressed Women in New Orleans.

Along with her husband, Moise S. Steeg she received the Volunteer Fund Raiser Award from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Steeg has also received the National Jewish Chairman's Award, the Paul Tulane Award at Tulane University and was the recipient of the Sophie Newcomb Society Award.

Moise S. Steeg, Jr., is a prominent New Orleans attorney who has been active in community affairs, health matters, culture and the arts, religion and education for a number of years. He was one of the youngest graduates in the history of Tulane Law School and had to wait until he was 21 to be admitted to the Louisiana Bar. His professional memberships include the American, Louisiana and New Orleans Bar Associations as well as the Association of Real Estate Mortgage Attorneys.

During World War II, Moise Steeg served in the Air Force for four years, leaving the service as a captain. He earned an Army Commendation Medal for his services in the field of contract termination and the disposition of military assets at the end of World War II.

In the field of education, Moise Steeg served as chairman of the Loyola University Board of Trustees and is a member of the Tulane Association program. He has also been a member of the Tulane Law School's Dean's Council and was vice chairman of its building fund. Steeg also was on the Delgado Community College Board of Directors and the Trinity Episcopal School Board of Visitors. He has also supported Northwestern as a member of the President's Council.

Moise Steeg is the author of the book "Tiffany Favrile Art Glass" about which one reviewer said "The beautiful photos and well written commentary make this book the finest on the subject available. Detailed descriptions along with superior photo quality make this a must for new collectors and experts alike."

With this donation, 22 endowed professorships are secured through the NSU Foundation. Northwestern has one $1,000,000 endowed chair along with a pledge to create a $1,000,000 endowed chair in education.

Main Menu