NATCHITOCHES – Christopher Brown of Newark, Texas; Sherman Desselle of Houston and Mark Poole of Little Elm, Texas, were inducted into the Northwestern State University School of Creative and Performing Ars (CAPA) Hall of Fame following a Wind Symphony concert March 7.
“NSU’s Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts is proud to induct these highly accomplished gentlemen into our 2025-2026 Hall of Fame. Each of them excels in their chosen fields and represent some of our best alums to walk the halls of NSU.” said Scott Burrell, director of the School.
Brown has served as the official artist for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame since 2009. A former minor league pitcher turned nationally recognized sports artist, he is known for his dynamic athlete portraits and his ability to capture the emotion and motion of sport. His artwork has been featured in International Business Times, CEO Weekly and Beckett Magazine, and he has created pieces for major organizations including the Sugar Bowl.
Brown has illustrated three books including his book, “Life Lessons from the Diamond.” He continues to broaden his impact through commissioned work for athletes and organizations, as well as gallery exhibitions across the United States.
Desselle’s path to becoming an award-winning journalist began long before he stepped into a newsroom. As a student at Northwestern, he immersed himself in music and theatre within the School of Creative and Performing Arts – training that would ultimately shape every stage of his career. In addition to performing on and off campus in various capacities, he also pledged Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Gamma Rho Chapter (Spring 2004), and later Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Theta Chi Chapter (Spring 2007), two brotherhoods that deepened his commitment to service, discipline and creative excellence – and then a roast beef sandwich happened.
After graduating, Desselle returned to his hometown of Alexandria, to work in a grocery store deli until he figured out his next move. An unexpected conversation there set the trajectory for his future. A chance encounter with a newsroom manager led to his first job in television as a part-time photographer at KALB-TV. When Hurricane Gustav devastated Central Louisiana, Desselle was pushed in front of the camera for the first time – an experience that ignited his passion for connecting with people through storytelling.
Desselle’s theatre training, vocal performance background and time spent in NSU’s studios became the foundation of his journalistic voice – and naturally translated into the newsroom. His work today blends that artistic foundation with the demands of modern journalism: clear and compelling writing, narrative-driven reporting, audience-focused storytelling, and innovative digital and social media content creation.
He went on to anchor KALB’s top-rated morning program “Jambalaya” for seven years and won numerous Associated Press and Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Awards before joining NBC affiliate WDSU-TV in New Orleans as weekend anchor. His work there earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award and a reputation for elevating stories that matter to the community.
Beyond the camera, Desselle is deeply committed to mentorship, outreach and the arts. He has volunteered with youth programs, moderated community forums and political debates, organized scholarships, and served on director boards – including the Rapides Symphony Orchestra.
Nearly 18 years after leaving NSU, Desselle is humbled to be an inductee into the school’s Hall of Fame – a full circle honor recognizing not only his career achievements, but the artistic roots that shaped them. He dedicates the honor to his sister, the late film and TV actress Natalie Desselle-Reid.
Poole is originally from Mesquite, Texas, and is in his eighth year at Lone Star High School. The Lone Star Wind Symphony was awarded the 2024 TMEA 5A Honor Band recently and performed at the 2024 TMEA Conference. The Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 76th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2022. The Wind Symphony was recognized as a National Windband Honor Recipient of the Mark of Excellence in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The LSHS Marching band advanced to the State Marching Contest in 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and was a finalist in 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Poole was previously the director of bands at Forney High School for 12 years. The marching band made appearances at the Texas State Marching Contest five consecutive times. (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). The Wind Ensemble was awarded consistent Sweepstakes honors and was named a four-time National Windband Honor recipient, two-time Grand Champion of the Dallas Winds Invitational and named a TMEA State Honor band finalist in 2013 (fifth overall) and 2017.
Prior to his appointment at Forney, Poole was the director of bands at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas, director of bands for the Jasper Independent School district, and at Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. His bands received numerous sweepstakes awards (Texas and Louisiana). In 2003, the JHS Symphonic band was awarded the OPS (Outstanding Performance Series) award from ATSSB.
One of his former students, Dr. Adam Hudlow, is a member of NSU’s music faculty.
Poole received a degree in music education and saxophone performance from the University of North Texas. After completing his undergraduate degree, Poole graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern the following year, receiving his master’s degree in conducting.
As a graduate assistant he was director of the Symphony Band, jazz band, basketball pep-band, marching band assistant and assisted and conducted the Wind Symphony. He also served as a private instructor and arranger for the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band.
Poole has performed professionally with the Texas Wind Symphony, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, Roy Clark, Ben Vereen, Bill Causey Big Band, Pete Peterson Big Band, Just Friends Big Band and many other groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Poole also serves as a clinician/adjudicator.
Information on NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts is available at www.nsula.edu/capa.