Southeastern faculty members honored as 40 under 40

Four Southeastern Louisiana University faculty members have been recognized by Northshore Media Group’s Edge of the Lake magazine as 40 Under 40 Honorees. Maria Brylski of Covington, Brent Blazevich of Independence, Katherine Newell Evans of Hammond, and Myia L. Graves of Covington were all honored recently at a special event in the Southern Hotel in downtown Covington.

Each year, the Forty Under 40 initiative celebrates emerging leaders in business and the community who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and impact in their fields. Nominees must be under the age of 40 at the time of nomination and must both live and work on the Northshore.

Brylski earned her Master of Science in nursing degree from Southeastern, where she now serves as an instructor in the School of Nursing. Previously as Skills Lab Coordinator, Brylski played a key role in improving collaboration across Southeastern’s three campuses, enhancing resource efficiency and consistency in the student learning experience. As the former Telehealth Program Coordinator, she also helped secure and manage grant funding to integrate telehealth into the curriculum and expand community partnerships for innovative care access.

“As department head, I see firsthand Maria’s dedication, dependability, and unwavering commitment to student success,” said Nursing Department Head Lindsay Domiano. “She creates an engaging, supportive environment where students are truly able to thrive. Her reliability, work ethic, and passion for student success make her an outstanding educator and leader.”

With over 14 years of experience in acute care settings, Blazevich currently serves as director of general medicine at St. Tammany Health System, where he leads a dynamic team of over 50 nurses. Under his leadership, the department has achieved a nearly 30% improvement in quality and patient safety, driven by initiatives that promote autonomy and collaboration between patients and care providers. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Southeastern, where he mentors nursing students and instills the importance of patient-first care.

“Brent demonstrates exceptional leadership, professional achievement, and service to his community,” Domiano said. “Through his leadership at St. Tammany Health System, he has consistently contributed to advancing organizational goals, while fostering collaboration and mentorship among colleagues. This recognition also shows Brent’s continued influence and dedication to our students at Southeastern.”

Evans earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southeastern in 2016 and her Master of Science in nursing in 2021. She began her career at North Oaks Health System in 2015 as nurse tech and has remained a dedicated team member ever since. Over her more than 10 years at North Oaks, she has grown into her current role as clinical nurse manager of telemetry west. She also serves as an adjunct nursing instructor at Southeastern, blending her passions for leadership, education, and high-acuity care.

“As a two-time graduate of Southeastern, Katherine exemplifies the success we hope for our students,” Domiano said. “As an adjunct faculty member and clinical nurse manager at North Oaks Health System, she serves as an outstanding role model, connecting nursing education to clinical practice and strengthening our workforce pipeline.”

Graves is an associate professor of kinesiology at Southeastern, where she also serves as Health Sciences Program manager. Originally from Montgomery, Ala., she holds a doctoral degree in health education from the University of Cincinnati. Her teaching focuses on health-related topics, such as epidemiology, and her research aims to address population health issues through data-driven strategies, prevention, and policy development. She is a published scholar and frequent presenter at regional and national health conferences.

“Myia always ‘steps up’ when needed and connects well with students,” said Kinesiology and Health Studies Department Head Buddy Sirikul. “She is a great role model for our students.”