ByLion
IN THIS ISSUE, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

Alumnus of the Year selected
Rock School wins top honors

Constitution Day Lecture set
Southeastern in the News

This Week in Athletics
Professional Activities

 

BYLION STORIES

William T. CefaluCefalu selected as Southeastern Alumnus of the Year
An internationally renowned physician and scientist in the field of diabetes has been selected as the Southeastern Alumni Association’s 2017 Alumnus of the Year.
     William T. Cefalu, M.D., chief scientific, medical and mission officer for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and a 1975 zoology graduate of Southeastern, will be honored at the Alumni Association’s annual awards evening held on campus Friday, Oct. 6, as part of Southeastern’s Homecoming Week.
     “We are pleased to honor Dr. Cefalu as our 2017 Alumnus of the Year,” said Brad Stevens, president of the Alumni Association. “Dr. Cefalu is recognized worldwide for his clinical and basic research into a disease that is fast becoming an epidemic in the United States and other nations. Throughout his more than 30-year career as a physician, scientist and health care leader, he has demonstrated his commitment to the research needed to help reverse the ever-increasing incidence of diabetes and to improve the lives of millions living with and affected by it.”
     Born in New Orleans and raised in Amite, Cefalu was appointed to his current position with the ADA earlier this year and leads the association’s efforts to drive discovery within the world of diabetes research, care and prevention; to raise voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and to provide support and advocacy for the millions of Americans living with the disease and those at risk of developing diabetes, as well as the health professionals who care for them.
     He previously served as the executive director of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, where he also held the George A. Bray, Jr. Endowed Super Chair in Nutrition and served as a professor. At Pennington Biomedical, he directed the center’s basic, clinical and population science research functions, supported the training and educational missions, and served as a mentor to medical and graduate students, medical residents and junior faculty.
     Cefalu also was editor-in-chief of the ADA’s journal Diabetes Care, the highest-ranked, peer reviewed journal in the world specifically devoted to diabetes. His research has focused specifically on interventions to improve the metabolic state of individuals with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. He had research support from the National Institutes of Health for more than 25 years and was the principal investigator for two NIH-funded research centers. At Pennington Biomedical, he directed the NIH-funded Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, as well as the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center, a consortium of eight academic institutions and health care systems across the state. He served as principal investigator for several multi-site trial studies including the NIH-funded GRADE study.
     Following his graduation from Southeastern, Cefalu earned his medical degree from LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans and completed his residency at the University of California-Irvine, Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System where he also served as chief resident. He completed a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He has held academic appointments at Tulane University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
     The author of more than 280 manuscripts and 25 book chapters, he has also served as the editor of five books on the management of diabetes.

Southeastern radio program Rock School wins top honors
Southeastern’s 90.9FM KSLU’s Rock School radio show has earned top honors again in this year’s Communicator Awards. The radio show, hosted by Southeastern Communication Professor Joe Burns, picked up its seventh statue in the 23rd Annual Awards competition for the episode “Jackson/McCartney and the ATV Catalogue.”
     The Communicator Awards are presented and voted on by The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, a group of 600 media professionals from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries.
     “This is our seventh time taking a Communicator Award but it’s only the third time Rock School has been awarded the gold statue,” said host Burns. “It’s also our biggest win because we took top honors in the Production, Programs and News Program categories.”
     Rock School aired its 521st episode this year on April 9, passing the 10-year mark. During that time, the radio show has never run a repeat. Every week, a brand new show aired on KSLU, was podcasted through iTunes, and posted to the PRX network to run on affiliate radio stations, Burns said.
     Rock School is currently syndicated in 17 markets, including Salamanca, Spain. Rock School’s Christmas and beginning of the year shows are often picked up as additional programming by radio stations across the country.  
     It is also listed on multiple “Best Rock Podcast” lists.   
     Just recently Joe and his wife and co-host Tammy Burns recorded the 550th Rock School Radio Show.
     After several previous co-hosts, Burns turned to his wife for assistance.
     “She allowed me to spend $3,500 to outfit a complete voice and music studio in an upstairs room of our house,” he said. “I don’t see us ever stopping production. Something is always happening in music, and I need to talk about it.”
     Rock School has interviewed celebrities, including Ben Stein, a fan who voiced the introduction of the show. Rock School has also interviewed multiple artists, including Greg Rich, a guitar designer at Gibson; Joey Sikes, guitarist with the Babys; Robert Scoville, audio technician for Tom Petty; and Noel Monk, road manager of Van Halen from 1978 to 1985.
     Although Burns has been a constant part of the show for the past decade, Rock School has had four co-hosts over its 10-year run: former Southeastern student Chad Pierce, Southeastern reference librarian Beth West, KSLU sales manager Monique Gregiore and now Tammy Burns.
The first person to sit in the co-host chair was Pierce, who went by the handle “Chap P.”
     “We went on the air together for the very first time back in 2001 when I was a radio student and Dr. Burns was my professor,” recalled Pierce. “That was the most fun I’ve ever had on the radio. That’s why when I joined the KSLU staff in 2006, I knew I wanted to repeat that gig again the first chance I got. Little did we both know that when we were given the chance to jump on together for the annual pledge drive, it would eventually become the weekly juggernaut that turned into one the most fun and rewarding experiences of my life. Doc is my radio brother, and I’ll always cherish the time we spent together making Rock School episodes.”
     “Ten years of unique and interesting show topics takes dedication and talent. Rock School is a success because of Dr. Joe Burns,” said former co-host Gregoire. “His genuine love and immense knowledge for all music is what makes listeners tune in each week. Sitting in the chair to his left remains one of the best experiences in my life.”
     The Rock School radio show is made available to radio stations and listeners free of charge. To hear the latest episode, tune into 90.9 KSLU Thursdays at 5 p.m. or Sundays at 4 p.m. Podcast downloads are also available by searching iTunes for “Rock School KSLU” or by visiting the show’s website: southeastern.edu/rockschool.
Joe and Tammy BurnsRADIO ROCKS - Southeastern’s 90.9FM KSLU’s Rock School radio show has earned top honors in this year’s Communicator Awards. The radio show, hosted by Southeastern Communication Professor Joe Burns, left, and co-hosted by his wife Tammy, picked up its seventh statue in the 23rd Annual Awards competition for the episode “Jackson/McCartney and the ATV Catalogue.”

Jerry Sanson

Constitution Day Lecture will address civil liberties and equal rights in a world at war 
Southeastern will present its annual Constitution Day Lecture at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in Pottle Auditorium.
     Professor of History and Political Science at LSU Alexandria Jerry P. Sanson will deliver the lecture titled “Louisiana, the United States Constitution, and World War II: Civil Liberties and Equal Rights in a World at War.”
     Open to the public, the free lecture is sponsored by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of History and Political Science, and the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies.
     The author of “Louisiana During World War II: Politics and Society 1939-45” and scriptwriter for the film “Louisiana During World War II: A Documentary Film,” Sanson will discuss the challenges Louisiana citizens faced in balancing the civil liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the need for security and unity during World War II.
     “We are delighted to have Dr. Sanson back on the Southeastern campus for the latest of many lectures he has made here,” said History and Political Science Department Head William Robison. “Dr. Sanson is the leading expert on Louisiana during World War II. He is the script writer of ‘Louisiana During World War II: A Documentary Film,’ advisory committee member for ‘The Pelican State Goes to War,’ and former Louisiana Historical Association President.”
     For more information, contact the Department of History and Political Science at 549-2109.

 

SOUTHEASTERN IN THE NEWS

Baton Rouge Advocate
Booster beers: sampling and scouting Louisiana college sports-affiliated brews
Partnership to host Young Entrepreneurs Academy in Tangipahoa
SLU professor named Louisiana Poet Laureate

SLU students view eclipse
Hammond Daily Star
Downtown draws crowd
Livingston Parish News
Southeastern radio program 'Rock School' wins top honors

THIS WEEK IN ATHLETICS

The Southeastern football team will open its 2017 home schedule, while the soccer and volleyball teams will also be in action during this week in Southeastern Athletics.
     The Lions (0-1) will host Bethune-Cookman (0-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium. SLU will be looking for its first win of the season after dropping a 51-48 thriller at FBS opponent UL Lafayette on Saturday. BCU heads to Hammond for the first-ever meeting between the two schools after dropping its opener at Miami (Fla.), 41-13.
     The game will be televised on Eleven Sports Network (check cable/satellite provider for availability) and will be streamed live on the Southland Digital Network at www.southland.org. The game can also be heard on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, WFPR 1400 AM), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.
     Saturday will also be Faculty, Family and Band Day at Strawberry Stadium. SLU faculty and staff will receive two free tickets with the presentation of their university ID at the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office. Local high school band and spirit members will join SLU’s Spirit of the Southland band for the halftime show. Fans are encouraged to get to the stadium early as the new Roomie will be revealed prior to kickoff. For more information visit www.LionSports.net/footballpromos.
     The SLU soccer team (2-3) has two matches on tap this week. On Thursday, the Lady Lions will travel to South Alabama for a 7 p.m. match in Mobile, Alabama. SLU will return home Sunday for a 5 p.m. match versus ULM in Strawberry Stadium.
     Sunday will be Academy Day at Strawberry Stadium, as fans will receive free giveaways courtesy of Academy Sports and Outdoors. The Southeastern Channel will also stream Sunday’s match for free via its website.
     The Southeastern volleyball team (0-6) will continue its season-opening nine-match road swing this week, competing in the ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational in Montgomery, Alabama. The tournament opens with the Lady Lions facing host Alabama State on Friday at 6 p.m. On Saturday, SLU will face Jacksonville at 9 a.m. and Western Carolina at 3:30 p.m.
     The Ron Roberts Radio Show is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Tope La Catering on East Thomas St. in downtown Hammond. Starting Sept. 11, the show will return to its regular Monday at 7 p.m. time slot for the remainder of the season. The show is hosted by Allen Waddell and Roberts. It will air on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, WFPR 1400 AM). Fans can also listen to the hour-long show online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.

TUES

SEPT 5

Football, Ron Roberts Radio Show, Tope La Catering, 7 p.m. (KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, WFPR 1400 AM)

   
THURS
SEPT 7

Soccer, at South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, 7 p.m.

   
FRI
SEPT 8

 Volleyball, at Alabama State (ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational), Montgomery, Ala., 6 p.m.

   
SAT
SEPT 9

  Football, vs. Bethune-Cookman, Strawberry Stadium,

7 p.m. (Eleven Sports Network/Southland Digital Network/KSLU 90.9 FM, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, WFPR 1400 AM)
     -  Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
     -  Band Day
     -  Family Day
Volleyball, vs. Jacksonville (ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational), Montgomery, Ala., 9 a.m.
Volleyball, vs. Western Carolina (ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational), Montgomery, Ala., 3:30 p.m.

   
SUN
SEPT 10

  Soccer, vs. ULM, Strawberry Stadium, 5 p.m. (SE Channel)
     - Academy Day

Southeastern home events in bold.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Robert Martin (Sociology and Criminal Justice) presented a research paper titled “Cross-National and Individual Variations in Trust of Physicians: A Multilevel Analysis of 24 Countries” at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association in Austin, Tex. He also co-authored an article published in the June issue of the journal Politics and Religion titled “Explaining Discrimination against Religious Minorities.”

     Dr. Debra Jo Hailey and Dr. Stacy Garcia (Teaching and Learning) presented “Neighborhood Explorers” at the International Literacy Association conference held in Orlando in July. The presentation was a part of the broader topic “Reimagined Engagement and Success for ALL Students Through the Language Experience Approach” and examined the hands-on cross curricular experiences of young children at a university-based school as they practiced standards-based skills and developed a sense of place and shared experiences with parents who were students on the same campus. Both were elected to positions while attending the conference. Garcia is the new president of the Language Experience Special Interest Group and Hailey will continue in her position as newsletter editor for the same special interest group.    

 

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