ULM holds groundbreaking ceremony for Freddy and Reba Nolan Early Childhood Hall

Published September 29, 2026

People stand with shovels and hard hats at a groundbreaking ceremony.

CAPTION:Pictured L-R: Vice President for Business Affairs Dr. Bill Graves, Reba Nolan, Freddy Nolan, President Dr. Carrie L. Castille, Robert Williamson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michelle McEacharn, Dean of the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences Dr. John Pratte 

MONROE, La. – The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 24, 2026, to celebrate the construction of the Freddy and Reba Nolan Early Childhood Hall. The new building will house the Emily Williamson Laboratory School (EWLS), which provides educational childcare for children from birth to age 4. The new hall is being constructed on the previous site of EWLS, which was destroyed by a fire in October 2022.  

The construction of the new building has been made possible by a generous donation from Freddy and Reba Nolan, along with additional support from the ULM Foundation and insurance proceeds. At the end of 2025, the Nolans, recognizing the value that EWLS provides to the community, stepped in and donated the funds needed to begin construction on the new, larger facility.  

Since early 2023, the Emily Williamson Laboratory School has operated in a temporary space in the Student Union Building on the ULM campus. The construction of the Freddy and Reba Nolan Early Childhood Hall will allow EWLS to have a larger and more functional space, which will give the school the opportunity to enroll more children.  

EWLS operates under the ULM School of Education and not only provides quality childcare, but gives ULM education students the opportunity for real-world experience with children. Through collaboration with university programs, EWLS integrates research-based practices and innovative teaching strategies to create a model early childhood education program. This collaborative approach ensures that every student and their family are part of a supportive and inclusive community.  

Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Dean of the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences Dr. John Pratte, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michelle McEacharn, Robert Williamson, husband of the late Emily Williamson, and ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. Family friends Terri Hoover Odom and Emily Saska spoke on behalf of the Nolan family.  

Dr. McEacharn shared a personal story of how EWLS and Emily Williamson made a difference in the life of her family, while Mr. Williamson talked about Emily’s passion for learning and her legacy of helping children to grow and succeed. 

Dr. Castille stated that early on in her presidency, she committed to helping find a way to rebuild EWLS, and she thanked the Nolans for making that dream a reality. “For the love that you have put in, for what this will bring to our community, I cannot thank you enough. This is really an honor to be standing here,” said Castille.  

The new Freddy and Reba Nolan Early Childhood Hall was designed by TBA Studio and is being constructed by JC Construction. The new building is projected to be completed and opened in Spring 2027.  

About Emily Williamson 

Emily Williamson served as the Director of the ULM Child Development Center for 16 years, from 2003 until her death in October 2019. The center was officially renamed the Emily Williamson Laboratory School in October 2020.  

Williamson began her career with an interior design degree from ULM in 1988. By May 1991, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, followed by a Master of Education in Instructional Technology in 1991, both from ULM. She received her Family and Child Studies +30 from Louisiana Tech in 2009. 

Williamson became an instructor for the ULM School of Education in 2010. She was an instructor of Family and Consumer Sciences from 2003-10. In 2008, the center gained a 5-star rating, which it maintains today. 

Williamson left a lasting legacy through her devotion to the center's children, parents, and staff, and the University of Louisiana Monroe. The staff of the ULM EWLS enthusiastically continues to carry on her work.