Campus Involvement Resources
National Board members bring talents and direct impact to students, faculty, and the LSU community. National Board Members have opportunities to engage with the campus community through both exclusive National Board events and individualized opportunities tailored to each member’s areas of passion and expertise.
Strategic National Board Campus Involvement Goals:
- Create connections with students who are actively pursuing involvement in philanthropy.
- Build valuable relationships with graduates who are starting their careers in geographic regions relative to National Board members.
- Foster affinity to LSU that drives philanthropic participation.
Summaries of recent National Board virtual events are as follows.
-
March 12, 2025: Dr. Jason Droddy, LSU's vice president of strategy & public policy, discussed the university's intentional steps toward earning AAU designation. Dr. Droddy provided data about LSU's current rankings in comparison to peer and aspirational institutions, along with current planning and initiatives in progress in LSU's pursuit of top 50 public research university status.
-
December 4, 2024: Three of LSU's most accomplished students discussed their LSU experience with our National Board. LSU’s Udall Scholar, Peter Kelly, and Astronaut Scholars, Tiernan Dautle and Peter Vallet, showcased highlighted how their time at LSU has shaped their post-graduate plans and future goals.
-
September 19-20, 2024: The National Board met in Baton Rouge, LA for the 2024 National Board Summit. The weekend was highlighted by panels from students from multiple community clinics and our future scholars students. Members also got a first-hand look at multiple hands-on educational experiences on campus like the PERTT Lab, Wildlife Hospital, Ceramics Studios, and the Oschner Wellness Center. Members heard updates and presentations by President Tate and Provost Haggerty along with joining deans from all senior colleges at lunch.
-
August 10, 2023: The National Board participated in a discussion with Provost Roy Haggerty and LSU’s four new deans and newly appointed interim deans. The provost shared an update on key academic initiatives related to cybersecurity, faculty recruitment, the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation, and research. Each dean shared a brief self-introduction and their initial priorities for their respective colleges.
-
May 12, 2023: President Tate discussed scholarship excellence and the importance of research and student success. President Tate spoke about the recruiting process for high-achieving students and faculty and the importance of competitive scholarship support. The call highlighted the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College through the participation of Associate Dean Dr. Drew Lamonica Arms and Tay Moore, a Truman Scholar and Honors student.
-
March 7, 2023: Greg Trahan, LSU director of economic development, and Professor Ibrahim “Abe” Baggili, Department of Computer Science, explained the significance of LSU’s receipt of an elite cyber designation from the National Security Agency and the university’s academic priorities in the area of cybersecurity.
-
October 19-21, 2023: The first in-person meeting of the National Board in four years occurred with the first National Board Summit. Programming included lunch with President Tate, enrollment strategy update, student panel that featured pre-scholars academy and best-in-class, latest on capital projects, a panel on LSU’s research efforts, a campus tour highlighting capital projects made possible by philanthropy, dinner and an in-depth tour of Huey P. Long Field House, and workshop sessions.
-
February 27, 2024: Matt Lee, vice president of agriculture, discussed the impact of agriculture on the state of Louisiana and in the Scholarship First agenda. Dr. Lee highlighted LSU’s achievements in research with crop genetics, plant health, and plant breeding along agriculture’s interaction with the other four areas of the Scholarship First Agenda.
-
May 15, 2024: The National Board participated in a discussion of LSU’s research priorities with Dr. Robert Twilley, vice president for research and economic development. Dr. Twilley recapped a historic year of research advancements and expenditures and outlined LSU’s future goals as a premier research institution. Dr. Twilley shared a list of research wins, specifically apart of the pentagon priorities of the scholarship first agenda which is linked here for your reference.
National Board Members have numerous opportunities to engage with students, faculty, and the LSU community on an ongoing basis. We strive to help you feel connected to LSU in your specific areas of interest and are happy to facilitate opportunities that align with your enthusiasm. Examples of opportunities for personal involvement include:
-
Speaking Engagements: Share your time as a guest speaker for a class or lecture in an area related to your degree, industry, expertise, or interest.
-
Mentorship: Connect with a current student or recent graduate interested in your field to assist with their transition into the workforce.
-
Internships: Provide employment opportunities to current students or recent alumni to learn in your industry.