Southeastern student selected for national fellowship
Thursday, December 15, 2016 
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – A Southeastern Louisiana University communication senior has been selected
to participate in a national fellowship program designed to prepare individuals for
a career in college student affairs.
Neil Bourgeois, a senior from Sorrento, will participate in the Undergraduate
Fellows Program sponsored by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
(NASPA). The program provides students with various opportunities that prepare them
for a career in student affairs. The national organization is the principle source
for leadership, professional development and advocacy for student affairs professionals.
Applicants for the fellowship must be identified as a member of a traditionally
underrepresented or historically disenfranchised student population.
A first generation college student, Bourgeois is a leadership intern in Southeastern’s
Office of Student Engagement, where he helps develop programs to encourage student
engagement opportunities in organizations such as the Student Government Association,
Greek organizations and other student groups.
Under the fellowship, Bourgeois will work with his mentor, Pam Rault, director
of the Office of Student Engagement, to review current trends and research in the
field and keep track of specific goals that have been established. As a fellowship
participant, he is also able to apply for leadership programs application fee waivers
for the Graduate Record Exam, and internships and stipends to the attend NASPA conference.
Bourgeois said he sees the strong possibility of a future career in student affairs.
“I hope one day to be either a Greek life adviser or work in leadership development
at a university,” he said. “I want to impact the lives of college students the way
Southeastern and my mentors have impacted me. I want to make a difference and show
students the many benefits of being involved in college.”
In addition to his campus internship, Bourgeois is the secretary of Pi Kappa
Alpha, serves as a senator in the Student Government Association and is an ExCEL (Excellence
in Commitment to Education and Leadership) Scholar.
