Religious Studies

Congratulations to Alana Guffey who just earned her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies (May 2026) from Louisiana State University at Alexandria and has been accepted into the Master’s program in Cultural Heritage Management program at John Hopkins University. Her plans are to continue to live in San Antonio and find a job preserving the cultural heritage there. We are so proud of her accomplishments!

LSUA Online graduates showed up today for pictures and to meet faculty. It is so exciting to meet these students for the first time. I am blown away because they are so personable and so grateful for the teaching we have provided. The Provost brought a student to me who was looking for "her favorite professor." It is a nice feeling to hear that. Iyana Thurman loved my Happiness Experiment class and intends to help her future students with practices she learned in that class. Alana Guffey is aspiring to graduate school at John Hopkins. I will be writing a wonderful recommendation for her. She has shown her skill in writing research papers and time management in our Religious Studies program. I met their families too, and it was so heartwarming. Tomorrow we meet for breakfast and then head over to commencement.

LSUA recognized Outstanding Faculty and Staff at Annual Awards
The following faculty are from the Department of English, History, and Humanities:
The Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship was presented to a full-time faculty member who has contributed to peer-reviewed scholarly work that has advanced their field of study. This year’s recipient is Holly Wilson, P.hD., Professor of Philosophy and Religion.
The Mark Eugene Howard Endowed Professorship was awarded to Eric Alai, M.A., Instructor of English.
The following faculty are from the Department of Communication and Arts:
The Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence is presented annually to the full-time faculty member who best exemplifies the University’s commitment to teaching, service, and professional development. The recipient of this honor is recognized with a cash award and a plaque for outstanding contributions to the University. The Bolton Award recipient for 2024-2025 is Melissa "Missy" LaBorde, M.A., APR, Associate Professor of Communication Studies.
The Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Innovation Award and Grant are given to showcase and reward innovative teaching in the classroom. This work is made possible through financial support from the LSUA Foundation. The Teaching Innovation Award recipient was Cole Franklin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, honored for his work with the Speaking Center.

Congratulations to all the faculty winners in the LSUA College of Liberal Arts!

National Student Exchange : NSE There are still slots for exchange all over the US and Canada for 2026-27. Please apply at NSE.org.

Deadline for priority placement for 2026-27 is tomorrow at 11:59 pm CST.

Some pages are meant to be written somewhere new. 🌄

Spend a semester away through NSE and experience a new campus, new community, and new perspective.

Fall 2026 is open. Rolling deadlines mean there’s still time to apply at nse.org!

Major in Africana Studies, Religious Studies, or HIistory