Southeastern's Swank recognized by National Resource Center
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Center for Student Excellence director
(CSE) Lorett Swank has been recognized by the National Resource Center for The First-Year
Experience & Students in Transition. Swank is one of only 10 recipients nationally
receiving the Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award, which she will receive
at the organization’s upcoming annual conference.
Now in its 29th year, the award honors college faculty, administrators, staff
and students for outstanding work on behalf of first-year students and for the impact
their efforts have on the students and culture of their institutions.
At the conference, Swank will participate in an advocates’ session, where she
will respond to questions about the challenges of teaching college success and share
best practices.
“In her short time as director of the Center for Student Excellence, Dr. Lorett
Swank has completely revamped the first-year experience for Southeastern’s freshmen,”
said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tena Golding. “Working with her
dedicated team of advisors, changes include a complete revision of Southeastern 101
to a freshman success course; enhancing orientation; embracing proactive advising,
early intervention strategies and academic coaching; creating a freshman academic
coaching course (SE 102) for freshmen on academic probation; and developing a freshman
seminar series to help freshmen establish campus connections.”
In addition to the activities for students, Golding said, Swank has strengthened
the CSE’s connections with faculty, academic departments, department heads and other
units on campus, such as Career Services, Alumni Association, Enrollment Services
and the Division for Student Affairs.
“Through numerous conversations, Dr. Swank has positioned the CSE as a recognized
and respected component essential to the success of our students,” she said. “With
the tremendous strides she has made in enhancing the first-year experiences for our
students and rallying campus around those experiences, I cannot imagine anyone more
deserving of an award that recognizes Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates.”
A resident of Covington, Swank received a bachelor of arts in psychology from
LSU, a master of education in counseling from Southeastern, and a doctorate in educational,
leadership, and research: higher education administration, as well as an education
specialist certification in educational leadership from LSU.
