The Lion's Roundtable (Guest: SLU President Dr. William Wainwright)
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Todd Delaney:Discussing topics of interest to the university, Hammond and the surrounding communities. This is the Lions Roundtable. Now here's your host, Doctor. Amber Narrow.
Amber Narro:Good day, good day. This is Amber Narro. It is 90.9 FM, the lion. We are on the roundtable today with doctor Wainwright. I'm so glad I have doctor William Wainwright here.
Amber Narro:He's gonna talk to us a little bit about the Inspire North Shore event that's happened the North Shore Slam that's happening tonight at the Columbia Theater, as well as a little bit about 2026 and how what's happening this year at Southeastern after our awesome Centennial celebration. Welcome, doctor Wainwright. Glad to have you.
William Wainwright:Thank you so much. Happy New Year to all who love Southeastern. We're excited about what's to come. And really excited to kick the year off with tonight's event at the Columbia Theater, the Inspire North Shore Slam Competition and the best way people are like, know, what does that, what does it mean? Well first it means free food, free drinks, and it means an opportunity to come witness three individuals who are coming forward to demonstrate their concept, their business model.
William Wainwright:These are three emerging entrepreneurs who have competed. They've made the final three. Imagine Shark Tank, so that it will be a Shark Tank experience on the stage of Columbia Theater with judges who are all local and regional entrepreneurs who are going at the end of the night to select a winner of the top three entrepreneurs and those, the winner will walk away with a $100,000 in cash prize and also in support and mentoring to sustain their idea and their business model.
Amber Narro:Okay, so last night, Jennifer, your lovely assistant Jennifer, contacted me and she said, I think doctor Wainwright wants to talk about the North Shore Slam Event. And I said, okay. Well, I've heard a little bit about that, and I go on and I start researching last night, three companies. Mhmm. Right?
Amber Narro:Three local, because this is a North Shore event, so they are from this area. They've got some really cool ideas,
William Wainwright:They do, they do. I believe two of them have some incredible opportunities in the skin care industry and one on the technology and security side. So I know this will be our third year running hosting it at Columbia Theater and having witnessed not only all of the participants present their ideas and their concepts but watching those, not only those who've won, but those who did not win the competition just continue to thrive and grow their business. We're very fortunate, especially in Hammond, we are a hub of entrepreneurism, and so, so many of our entrepreneurs in this area continue to support those who are emerging and striving for success.
Amber Narro:Well this is the only opportunity I'm ever gonna get to do this, but bruh.
William Wainwright:Bruh, I know. Bruh. You Male need skincare. Need
Amber Narro:exfoliate, bruh.
William Wainwright:Yes. Without a doubt. Can't wait to hear hear more about bruh. Yeah.
Amber Narro:It is that is the name of the company. I was looking at it last night. I was like, I'm gonna an opportunity to call my big boss Bruh. That's great.
William Wainwright:And especially, you know, culturally in South Louisiana. We are all, you know, you go to other parts of the country and they're not as familiar with Bruh Yeah. We are here certainly in South Louisiana. But again, it goes it it just speaks to all that goes into, you know, creating your product, building your brand, the marketing aspect. And Cinzo Corona, who is the entrepreneur in residence at St.
William Wainwright:Tammany Economic Development Corporation, He also teaches adjunct for our university in the College of Business. He works very closely with
Amber Narro:How fortunate is that? Oh, it's incredible.
William Wainwright:Works closely with Tangipahoa Economic Development. Tonight's event is sponsored by both St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Economic Development North Shore Media supporting us as well. And so just help us get the word out again. If you look up Inspire Startup Slam, please RSVP just so we can plan accordingly.
William Wainwright:But there's no admission, free food and drinks, and the you can arrive as early as 04:30. The competition will begin promptly at six.
Amber Narro:Right. And I see that 08:00 tonight the winner is gonna be announced and they're gonna get a $100,000 check and all sorts of support around what's happening. I mean, that is amazing.
William Wainwright:It is amazing. That's
Amber Narro:a $100.
William Wainwright:It is a $100 in support. And and you look at, certainly if you talk to many of our successful entrepreneurs throughout the North Shore, especially in the Hammond area, many of them will tell you that they would have loved to have had that type of opportunity early on And because of their generosity and their support we're able to build these packages to support. And people who are familiar with Southeastern, you're familiar with our mission, the center of our mission is economic development is to lead the educational, economic, and cultural development of Southeast Louisiana. So this is another huge opportunity for our university front and center to support our entrepreneurs.
Amber Narro:And I love, I went on their websites and did some digging last night and was kind of hearing the story of how things started. So please go on to North Shore let me see the startupnorthshore.com is the website. You can go there and find out about these three companies. Safety is one of the companies that's there. Whisper is one of the companies that's there.
Amber Narro:It's a safety company where you can actually help businesses make sure that their facilities are safe even when they're not there and it requires no WiFi and all kinds of other, so I really am looking forward to that presentation.
William Wainwright:And last year, if you look at last year's participants, I believe the winner, I believe it was Cantaloupe AI, there's, you're seeing this significant surge of entrepreneurs on the AI front coming forward.
Amber Narro:Why not?
William Wainwright:And the incredible advances in technology like what you just shared with one of the groups that we'll be presenting tonight, it's certainly leading, cutting edge, and we're so honored to be a part of it.
Amber Narro:Indeed. And also I wanna make sure, in service is is the other one. They're doing securities like surrounding police officers and how they are gonna be able to kinda match some of those records and make sure that and it even they talk about CLEARY Act reporting as well. So this is gonna be big for universities as well. So I'm this they've got three huge companies for this area and to hear their stories.
Amber Narro:And this the the Bra Company, that is they've got some marketing on there that is just fantastic. They call their their collections, you know, these bundles and other like, their brundles.
William Wainwright:Their brundles. Brundles.
Amber Narro:That amazing? I love it. So I it was so interesting. So if you're not going tonight, that's fine. I appreciate that.
Amber Narro:You still gotta go to the website and look at these three companies that are local that are doing unbelievable work.
William Wainwright:And you know, for the university, as as we continue to build and grow, you know, our college of business is one of our fastest growing colleges within the university as are others. But a lot of that is fueled through the success of our graduates and we see that through entrepreneurs. When I speak both within the region and when I speak in state and even out of state, I always tell people if you love LA Wallet and you love Gnarly Barley, you love Southeastern. And so I just share that simply to communicate then I tell the story about L. A.
William Wainwright:Wallet and Gnarly Barley and our incredible alum who've gone on to be very successful and really build community through their work. It's important we share these examples and inspire others to think big.
Amber Narro:Absolutely. Doctor. Wainwright, I woke up this morning after reading about these guys and you know, a $100,000, your business, everything feels like it's on the docket tonight. Right? And, you know, the true meaning, it's not.
Amber Narro:Whether they are the winner or not, it's not. It's just gonna be such a fuel for what they're doing right now as far as the marketing is concerned as well, but they gotta be nervous this morning. Absolutely. You know? Waking up to this.
William Wainwright:So They're presenting their baby to the public. I know.
Amber Narro:I know. Nobody gets to say ugly baby.
William Wainwright:No, no. These
Amber Narro:are great companies.
William Wainwright:Great companies and it'll be a very dramatic ending, all three will be brought on stage and then the finalists will be presented. And please, just, I'm so grateful that you mentioned it, whoever is not, the two that will not achieve the, there's gonna be other incentives that they will win as Thank By virtue of making the top three. And also through Chinzo's work with all who submitted for participation and those who didn't make the top three, they're continuing to get mentoring and support. This is also in partnership with Idea Village out of New Orleans. So we're really trying to build the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
William Wainwright:If you look at national data, Louisiana's lagging a bit in support for building the entrepreneurial ecosystem. So we're honored to, Southeastern is honored to partner with incredible economic development entities throughout our region to lead our state in this effort.
Amber Narro:Absolutely. And these companies, to that point, started this process last fall. All of their applications were due about mid November, so they've been going through the semi finalists and the and and and a lot of vetting to get here. So amazing work on the marketing though. I I just have to give them kudos to that.
Amber Narro:And I I wasn't obviously involved in the pick picking process but these three are great.
William Wainwright:They are, and then also I do wanna give a shout out to our Small Business Development Center at Southeastern, Wayne Ricks and his team. They are partners in this process if you look at the work of the Small Business Development Center, this is their twenty fourseven, three sixty five day a year work. They traditionally do and now that we're building an ecosystem around it, Southeastern Small Business Development Center's playing a leading role in providing support. So very proud of our team.
Amber Narro:While you're giving a shout out there, obviously, Torrey Lopez and all of the things that she's doing in the College of Business, working with Chambers of Commerce, making sure that Southeastern's on that front line, providing opportunities for conferences and training for local businesses through our faculty as well as her partners with all of those chambers. She is keeping us in the forefront and I gotta give her just some great kudos there.
William Wainwright:Huge kudos to Doctor. Lopez and we are going to be facilitating the third annual North Shore Business Forum this spring. And we usually have to cap registration and attendance, that's how large it has grown. We brought a business forum to the North Shore. She did under her leadership in working with her advisory committee.
William Wainwright:They brought a business forum to the North Shore, Southeastern's honored to lead it. But what I love most about it is Doctor. Lopez's intentionality in ensuring that students, College of Business students lead the forum. Lead the planning, the execution, the logistics. What an incredible real world experience for them.
William Wainwright:And we pack the forum each spring with no less than just over 400 business leaders throughout the North Shore and the South Shore. So what an incredible opportunity. Maybe I can come back or you can invite Doctor. Lopez back to talk about actual forum itself up this spring and what the topic will be. I know she would appreciate that opportunity.
Amber Narro:Indeed. She's got it. Easy. Easy. Doctor.
Amber Narro:Wainwright, speaking of kinda what's going on for the year, we're coming off of a very successful one hundred year celebration. And, you know, I love that you always when you start these things, have you heard that Southeastern is doing a hundred year celebration? Yeah. We heard. We got we got the message.
Amber Narro:And now we're kinda coming to a close with that with the opening of 2026. And a lot of the initiatives that were brought forward during that celebration will continue. Let's just kinda start the conversation with that. Absolutely. What are you excited about that's gonna continue over from the ideas that came and sprang from this hundred year celebration?
William Wainwright:Yeah, absolutely. The very first that I would like to discuss is pretty much where you and I sit today and where we're broadcasting It is yummy. Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center, Dickers Hall, at D. Vickers Hall. And I have to tell you, just looking at the technology, even though we, as part of the centennial, we cut a ribbon, we were so blessed to have Robin Good Morning America with us to really educate the world, right?
William Wainwright:This is a global opportunity for our university, for our community just by virtue of Robin's influence and her leadership, her recognition across the globe. Now even though we've cut the ribbon, as you know, it's vital that we really continue to build the momentum as it relates to curriculum and innovation, ensuring that our technology is cutting edge so certainly working with our Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Doctor. Wright, and working with the communications team, ensuring that now's not the time to put our feet up. Actually now's time to put the pedal to the metal.
Amber Narro:Yeah. And
William Wainwright:continue this momentum for the broadcast media center. So that's one piece coming off of this centennial that I'm really excited about. If you haven't been to campus lately, we were very grateful to the legislature and also Northrop's Health System, of which is a board you serve on, for working with us last legislative session to get through the capital outlay process for the North Oaks Academic and Athletic
Amber Narro:is gonna be a facility.
William Wainwright:It is and if you've not been on campus lately, I will tell you, you're gonna see, we're now. Phase one, which is the new section. Once phase one is complete, you will see an incredible transformation this fall football season. And I gotta give it to Coach Selfo. He is doing an incredible job of maximizing the opportunity in a very dynamic athletic recruitment environment right now.
William Wainwright:Coach Selfo, our athletic director J. R. Teague are working tirelessly to maximize this investment as certainly part of not only their recruitment, but to really explain and educate to athletes and community the vital role of the athletic program that will be housed there but also the vital role of the facility. And just like D. Vickers Hall, I'm so proud of how our university continues to add new construction but blend it with existing infrastructure that was built years ago which has been tested and weathered and so I can't wait as excited as I am about phase one when Dugald Hall which is phase two is completely renovated and the two are connected like D.
William Wainwright:Vickers, Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center it is going to be a statement piece for our community. It's gonna be a blending of tradition as we've always known our campus to look and feel but also with innovation and new infrastructure. It's gonna be exceptional.
Amber Narro:Doctor. Wayne, right, you used the word proud there and I'm excited that you used that because you have to be. Coming off of last year's football season and the success that Frank Selfo saw on the field as well as the success that the Southeastern Channel, KSLU, Department of Communication, the Lions' Roar has had in earning awards and scholarships for those students as well. We did that without these buildings.
William Wainwright:Correct.
Amber Narro:We did that without the technology that we now have and that we are actually gonna step into in 2026.
William Wainwright:Yeah.
Amber Narro:I don't know if the community realizes that when we opened this building, Southeastern Channel had already kinda set up for this semester over at the UC, so they haven't quite moved in to D. Vickers Hall yet. So you just wait to see what Steve Zaffuto, his team, Jamie Bass, what they're gonna be able to do with this new facility and all of the equipment that's in here when they move in. These rooms have been in preparation, we've still had lots of construction going on in the fall even around the opening of the building, specifically in the technology area in this building and I can't wait to see what this team is gonna do with what they have now.
William Wainwright:Oh I agree. If you recall when Robin Roberts was providing remarks at the ribbon cutting, she said while buildings are important, what happens inside the walls is vital. Yes, yes. Something to that effect, don't quote me specifically. Sure.
William Wainwright:But she made that point. And that's what I'm most appreciative of, especially of our faculty because if you look day in, day out, Dee Vickers is an incredible academic investment as is Dugas and North Oaks Academic and Athletic Training Facility. But another one that not many people in Hammond may be as familiar with but is extremely vital to the core mission, even dating back to the history, right? I think College of Nursing celebrated their sixtieth anniversary fall before last. And so we were successful in working with the legislature, shout out to our legislative delegation on the North Shore but also specifically to Representative Muscarella, Representative Coates and Senator Wheat because we worked with the Commissioner of Administration.
William Wainwright:We are, we have completely redesigned and have received funding to initiate the process to go to bid for the renovation of the Baton Rouge Nursing Campus. And I get asked all the time, why do we have a campus in Baton Rouge? And so if you go back to the founding of the healthcare programs on our campus, and I'm also asked why does LSU have a program in New Orleans and Southeastern have a program in Baton Rouge? At the time, years ago, it had to do with increasing opportunities for diversity in clinical space at the time on the North Shore, which North Shore has since transformed between St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Livingston Parish, lots of clinical opportunity and diversity in those clinicals.
William Wainwright:But we still have significant opportunity through continued growth in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area. So very proud of Doctor. Carruth, Doctor. Damiano, Doctor. Tillman, the entire team in the College of Nursing because what we've done is, what they have done is they have, they have with intentionality designed innovation and advanced simulation not only to prepare the current nurses that are going through our program but to also be a resource to all healthcare providers in the region specific to their needs of those who are already working who have advanced simulation needs.
William Wainwright:So you will have pretty much not only a renovated Baton Rouge Nursing Campus but you're gonna have a center of excellence for healthcare simulation and we are so proud of that. And again, hats off to our dean, assistant dean, faculty because of their intentionality in the design of that campus for that purpose. And hats off to Women's Hospital Renee Ragas, CEO contributed financially through their hospital to help us achieve this goal along with the Schlitter Family Foundation because that private support is vital when we go to the state seeking additional capital outlay.
Amber Narro:Yeah, it's match, you know? Vital. It is absolutely important to have that community support and that community backing because these legislators understand that they are representing the people. And if the people are backing it
William Wainwright:Yep.
Amber Narro:And they can also clap onto that as well, that's that's good for everybody involved.
William Wainwright:Absolutely. And it also it's also great when the CEO of Women's Hospital is a Southeastern alum. And, and, and, Doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt but also sees and knows the value. Hires our graduates in, in the College of Nursing and sees the opportunity.
Amber Narro:I'm gonna try to talk about Woman's Hospital without crying right now but that's where my baby was this summer. My little, my little preemie grandson Brooks was, born at Woman's and they kept him for a month and I can't say enough great things about the nurses that were at Woman's Hospital, by the way, Southeastern Alam. Yes. So they Not a they were amazing and took care of my sweet little baby and swaddled him up, you know, and he is he is good and strong now and that's because of our Southeastern nurses. Outstanding.
Amber Narro:And that was interesting because at graduation this year there was a big shout out to the Southeastern nurses.
William Wainwright:It was, yes. Our commencement speaker with Paige Carter with Louisiana Economic Development shared her story of a very similar experience as to what you experienced and that both from the moment of birth of her child to the day they were released, her child was released from NICU, the importance of the Southeastern graduates who were there to really shepherd the family and support them. Because beyond the bedside, beyond the care, our faculty in nursing teach quality patient care and that's comprehensive. It is beyond a procedure. It's beyond the administration of a, you know, of an IV or medication.
William Wainwright:It is so much deeper than that.
Amber Narro:A name that
William Wainwright:you're That inspires me.
Amber Narro:Absolutely, absolutely, excuse me. A name that you're very familiar with, Bridget Laborde comes here and talks every month with me about how, what's going on at North Shore Technical Community College and she always comes in with her big bright smile, right? What she is known for. Sits with me in your chair and she tells me that the nursing program there, we talk about how there are still 16,000 people in this area who do not have a high school diploma. Mhmm.
Amber Narro:But right here in Tampahoe Parish, you can go get your high school diploma, start your nursing classes at NTCC, transfer over to Southeastern and then the way through your NP if you want to.
William Wainwright:And we have countless examples, yes.
Amber Narro:Isn't that amazing?
William Wainwright:What a treasure. And if you look at education and access throughout Louisiana but also throughout the nation, I believe sometimes we take that for granted. Not all communities, not all zip codes have those same opportunities that we have here And at I think we're seeing that. I think as we're looking at enrollment growth what we're seeing is that the value proposition, is a college degree worth it? Our faculty demonstrate that value every day.
William Wainwright:I could not be more proud of what they do in the classroom but also their connections outside of the classroom with business and industry to ensure the success of our graduates. So certainly demonstrating that value proposition but also we know access, affordability, looking holistically at the student experience. Hats off to student affairs, the Office of Student Engagement. When you compare what we do strategically to engage students throughout their time at Southeastern it far exceeds what other universities do. It's not a one and done event.
William Wainwright:It is a continuous engagement with students because the research tells us the higher the engagement, the quicker their speed to completion.
Amber Narro:It is amazing. Ryan Prieto and what he's doing as well as Zach in student government, government. They are doing some amazing work over there. They call it the Zach and Ryan show right now because they are making sure that they are visible, and they're showing up at everything.
William Wainwright:Yes.
Amber Narro:They're showing up at honors events. They're showing up at academic events as well as athletic events and and things that they're putting on as well in the office of student engagement. So they they're everywhere.
William Wainwright:Yes. Absolutely.
Amber Narro:I love it. I love seeing them and and the support that they're giving our students and people know him, and he's walking around with a big lion necklace that was made over in the iHub, you know. He has been such a great support of this university. Absolutely. Another guy always smiling.
William Wainwright:We have incredible team members who've been at our university for years and decades who are providing just invaluable support and leadership and then we also have new family members who are just joining and bringing, you know, additional skill sets and additional experiences whether from other institutions or just the usual I graduated from Southeastern, I want to live, work and die there, right? Like I just never want to leave and we have such respect and value for those team members as well. So it's a great time to be in higher education. It's very dynamic, technology's advancing. We launched our AI strategy last fall.
William Wainwright:We've got task forces for each of our pillars currently in progress working on each of the elements of the AI implementation strategy. To me it's a very exciting time because once you get past the fear, then you see the opportunity. The opportunity is endless.
Amber Narro:Thank you for choosing us. Oh my goodness. We so appreciate having you here and your energy and your absolute commitment to the university and to Tangipaho Parish in this area. We are so fortunate to have you at Southeastern and loving on us for a little while. Thank you
William Wainwright:I for choosing appreciate that, grateful to you and just all of our communications family both within the curriculum and within the division of communications. Telling the story has never been more important. And I do wanna say before we end, we do have some unfinished business from the centennial.
Amber Narro:Yeah, we got a big block outside waiting
William Wainwright:The on one centennial event we were unable to achieve by virtue of supply chain and logistics issues is the
Amber Narro:Nobody knows anything about that.
William Wainwright:The monument. Our monument. So I'm pleased to report the latest on the monument is we'll see installation in January and we will shoot for a February or March ribbon cutting. And what we're gonna do is we're gonna have the ribbon cutting of the monument coincide with the burying of the time capsule. And that Oh will officially conclude our year of centennial events.
William Wainwright:And also it's vital so that, you know, we stand here today because of those who've come before us. We are here today because of those who brought a concept and idea to reality and who dedicated their lives to making Southeastern successful. So in one hundred years from now those faculty, staff, students and leaders will look back and I could not be more excited and grateful to all that our family has put in to really documenting the impact of our first one hundred years and charting the course for our next.
Amber Narro:Awesome, awesome. Appreciation, that's the mark of a good leader. Thank Thank you so much. We appreciate you. And thank you for listening here on KSLUs ninety point nine FM, The Lion.
Amber Narro:We've been at the roundtable today with doctor William Wainwright, and he has been sharing twenty twenty six's goals and initiatives, and we appreciate you coming. We're gonna get him back once a quarter to come and share the state of the union here at Southeastern and give us some encouragement and absolute fun stories here as well. So thank you for joining us.
William Wainwright:Thank you.
Amber Narro:And thank you for listening. See you again tomorrow at 9AM right here on KSLUs ninety point nine m FM. I'm Amber Narro. Y'all have a great day.
Todd Delaney:Thank you for joining us today. If you missed any part of the show, you can listen to the Lions Roundtable on demand at our website, lionupradio.org. The podcast version is also available for download from Amazon, Google, Spotify, and TuneIn.
