For Dr. Matt Alford, Southeastern is the kind of place where excellence isn’t just encouraged—it’s expected. As director of MBA programs and an economics instructor, he values working in an environment that empowers employees to elevate their work, strengthen their ideas, and take pride in the results they create. What stands out most to him is Southeastern’s commitment to doing things well, from the quality of its academic programs to the support it provides for professional growth.
In the College of Business, Dr. Alford sees that commitment play out every day. He describes the MBA programs as thoughtfully designed, innovative, and aligned with the needs of today’s workforce. Whether it’s the long-standing traditional MBA, the executive MBA that accommodates busy professionals, or the online MITech program developed in partnership with the College of Science and Technology, the focus is always on quality and relevance. He appreciates working in a place where new ideas are welcomed and where faculty and staff are trusted to build programs that meet high standards. It’s a culture where innovation is not only possible but encouraged.
Dr. Alford also values Southeastern’s growing leadership role in the region. He believes the university is uniquely positioned to serve as a hub of business knowledge and expertise on the Northshore. Through initiatives like the Business Forum and emerging partnerships with local industries, he sees Southeastern stepping confidently into that role. Being part of an institution that is intentionally raising its visibility and influence is something he finds both energizing and meaningful. It’s not just a workplace—it’s a place where your work can shape the broader community.
For those considering a career at Southeastern, Dr. Alford believes the draw is clear. You join a university committed to excellence, progress, and preparing people to thrive in a fast-changing world. It is a place where employees are encouraged to lead, to innovate, and to make an impact that extends far beyond campus. At Southeastern, you don’t just contribute—you help drive the standard of excellence forward.
For Samantha Taylor, returning to Southeastern felt less like a career decision and more like coming home. After earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees here, she realized just how much she valued the community, support, and sense of belonging she experienced as a student. “I feel like I should have never left,” she said. “It’s a family that never lets you down.” That same warmth, encouragement, and connection are what make Southeastern an exceptional place to build a career.
As a faculty member, Samantha has found that Southeastern’s environment allows her to do meaningful work surrounded by colleagues who genuinely care about students and about one another. The close-knit campus makes it easy to collaborate, ask questions, and build supportive relationships across departments. “Everyone is willing to help you here,” she shared, noting how rare it is to find a workplace where faculty know each other by name, celebrate one another’s successes, and readily pitch in when someone needs a hand.
Southeastern’s size also allows for the kind of personal attention that many educators value. Samantha appreciates being able to walk into her classroom and recognize every face—not just as students, but as individuals who seek guidance, reassurance, and connection. That same spirit extends to the broader workplace culture: whether chatting in hallways, sharing resources, or offering professional advice, employees feel supported from day one. “You’ll always have someone on your side here,” she said, a message she repeats often to both new students and new colleagues.
For those considering a role at Southeastern, Samantha believes the university offers something truly special: a strong sense of community, opportunities to grow, and a campus culture rooted in encouragement. “Being part of Southeastern means you will have family,” she said. “There’s always someone here who wants you to succeed.”
It’s that spirit—welcoming, collaborative, and deeply human—that makes Southeastern a place where careers aren’t just built, but nurtured.
When Dr. Jerry Parker first arrived at Southeastern as an undergraduate, he didn’t know much about the university or the Hammond community. But what he found immediately was a sense of welcome that stayed with him long after graduation. As he put it, “The people here are just so genuine. Everyone is so family-oriented and supportive.” Even today, he describes the people of Southeastern and Tangipahoa Parish as some of the warmest he has ever encountered.
His three years as a student left a lasting impression. “Within those three years, that was the most amazing time I ever had in my life,” he shared, remembering faculty who encouraged him, stayed connected with him, and continued to celebrate his achievements long after he earned his degree. Many of those professors remain close colleagues and friends, a testament to the tight-knit, uplifting culture he experienced as a student.
After graduate school, Dr. Parker reached out to Southeastern simply to thank his former department. He didn’t expect that message to lead to a job offer the same week a faculty member retired. Taking the position felt right—“there was something here that was instilled in me,” he said, adding that returning to Southeastern allowed him to give back to the place that shaped him. What started as an unexpected opportunity became a deeply fulfilling career in teaching, language education, and service.
Working at Southeastern has allowed Dr. Parker to grow in ways he never anticipated. As he engaged with faculty across campus, he discovered new interests in curriculum, policy, leadership, and instructional design. The university’s size and culture fostered these connections; as he put it, “Because we’re so small, you can interact with so many different people across campus. That’s the Southeastern way.”
His dedication has been recognized at the highest levels, including earning the President’s Award for Excellence in Service and being named the 2023 Louisiana Foreign Language Teacher of the Year.
Reflecting on why he continues to build his career here, Dr. Parker emphasizes the power of community. “My success was never built on me. It was built on my interactions with the people at this school,” he said. He believes strongly that Southeastern is a place where people uplift one another, celebrate one another, and grow together. “Good people come out of Southeastern. Great people. And we show our brilliance in different ways.”
For anyone considering joining the Southeastern family, Dr. Parker’s experience says it all: when you work here, you become part of a community that encourages, supports, and believes in you—just as it did for him.