Sen. Ben Nevers to address Southeastern's Commencement
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – Louisiana State Senator Ben Nevers will provide the keynote address at Southeastern
Louisiana University’s graduation ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the
University Center.
The university will confer approximately 1,150 degrees on students who are graduating
with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Nevers, who represents Louisiana’s District 12, was first elected to the Senate
in 2003, after serving in the House of Representatives for five years. A member of
the Northshore Legislative Delegation, his district covers areas in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa
and Washington parishes, including Southeastern.
Most recently Nevers has been asked by Governor-elect John Bel Edwards to oversee
his administration’s transition and to serve as chief of staff for the Office of the
Governor.
A 1969 graduate of Louisiana Technical College, Nevers served in the U.S. Army
from 1965 to 1971. The Bogalusa Democrat owns an electrical contracting business and
serves as deacon in his church. He has also served as a member of the Bogalusa City
School Board and has developed in the Legislature a strong, long-standing commitment
to improving education at all levels.
He also serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary A Committee and as a member
of several other committees, including Transportation, Highways and Public Works;
Health and Welfare; Select Committee on Vocational and Technical Education, the Joint
Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay and the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.
Nevers serves on several other bodies, including the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority,
the Louisiana High School Redesign Commission, the Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational
Excellence, and the Education Commission of the States. He is a member of the Louisiana
Educational Assessment Testing Commission, the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education,
the Deep Water Port Task Force and the Southern Regional Education Board’s Legislative
Advisory Council.
Nevers serves with several non-profit organizations that reflect his interests
in agriculture, economic development, education, health care and infrastructure. He
is a former president of the United Way, serves on the executive board for the Istrouma
Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the St. Tammany Right to Life Association,
the Louisiana Farm Bureau, the Louisiana and Washington Parish Cattlemen’s associations
and Washington Parish Forestry Landowners Association.
Nevers is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2015 Mondale-Brooke
Award for Fair Housing Leadership and Civic Participation, the Louisiana Association
for Justice Public Service Award, the 2011 Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award
by the Louisiana Rural Health Association and the Louisiana Public Health Association’s
Public Service Award. He has also been recognized with the President’s Award from
the Louisiana School Psychological Association, the Louisiana School Board Association’s
Legislator of the Year Award, and several awards from Louisiana Family Forum.
