Remarks from Henry Cole ('71), ULM Program Chair of Marketing and Business Communication
Envision ULM 2007 Speech - November 15, 2007
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I want to give you a brief look at ULM from a faculty perspective. You probably have driven through the campus and seen how wonderful the buildings look and how the whole campus looks. I want to take you inside the buildings and give a look at my ULM.
Briefly stated, my ULM has many wonderful students, a positive, student-centered environment, and many DILIGENT faculty and staff who are touching many lives in a positive way and are making a difference in this community and beyond. My ULM is a great place to be.
Some brief examples of success stories in the three areas of faculty responsibility – teaching, research, and service - will show why I think ULM is a great place to be.
TEACHING: An example of a talented teacher is Dr. Bob Eisenstadt. He taught and guided a top scholar in Economics, preparing her for graduate work at Duke University and for a top position with a major Washington D.C. consulting firm. Bob went beyond the classroom and helped this student excel.
Another example of success is Dr. Bruce Walker teaching a hard-edged girl who started with somewhat limited academic achievements. He helped her through some rough times and was a significant influence in preparing her for the business world. She is enjoying a successful business career in a neighboring state. Who would have thought it?
Bob and Bruce are excellent in the classroom, and they also display a DILIGENCE beyond the classroom. Their stories are not unique; similar stories are happening across campus everyday ….. in History, English, Pharmacy, Dental Hygiene and every other area.
RESEARCH: In the research area, an example of excellence is Dr. Ken Clow. In the last year, he completed three books, two of which are textbooks that are used at various universities across the country. In addition, he completed 15 other publications in the past year. This is DILIGENCE – prolific DILIGENCE.
Some exciting research is being done by Dr. Tammy Parker. She is using some information from the Swiss National Bank and collaborating with people from the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations to produce a very interesting project.
SERVICE: In the area of service, one of my examples is someone many of you know: Dr. Paul Dunn. Paul has helped literally thousands of business people from all over northeast Louisiana through the Small Business Development Center. He is a treasure to the business community. What a great job of service he has been doing for this community as he has been DILIGENTLY going about his job everyday. There is that DILIGENT word again. Paul certainly has DILIGENCE - that steady, energetic effort – and he has had it for over 35 years.
Dr. Bill McConkey is another example of significant community service. He has helped in numerous civic activities for many years.
These are just a few examples to show that good things are happening. But GOOD THINGS DON’T JUST HAPPEN. For good things to happen, there must be an environment that lends itself to success. We do have such an environment at ULM. We have an environment that is student-centered, positive, fun, and respectful. You add many talented people, you add DILIGENCE, and the result is that good things will happen and lives will be touched.
About two and a half centuries ago, Benjamin Franklin said, “DILIGENCE is the mother of good luck.” You can be assured that there will be an abundance of good luck for ULM in the coming days because there is an abundance of DILIGENCE at ULM.
That is my ULM. It is a great place to be, and I am proud to be part of it.