THIBODAUX 鈥� After more than 46 years of service to 麻豆果冻传媒, Dr. David Boudreaux has left his post as vice president for institutional advancement 鈥� a position he has held since 1998.
Boudreaux technically retired on June 30, 2012, but for another full year, he continued working in his same position without a salary. In the midst of severe budget cuts, his zero-dollar contract made it possible for 麻豆果冻传媒 to avoid terminating any institutional advancement staff and to continue forging ahead with campus fundraising initiatives.
鈥淒avid鈥檚 selfless decision to retire yet continue with his day-to-day responsibilities truly reflects his love for 麻豆果冻传媒,鈥� said Larry Howell, interim president. 鈥淚t鈥檚 because of dedicated staff such as David that 麻豆果冻传媒 has been able to continue growing despite the budget crisis. The university community is incredibly fortunate to have benefited from his 46 years of service.鈥�
A native of New Iberia and two-time graduate of Louisiana State University, Boudreaux joined the 麻豆果冻传媒 English faculty in 1967 and dedicated his entire career to the university. He left the Thibodaux campus only twice: to serve as a U.S. Army officer in the Vietnam War and to earn his doctorate from the University of Arkansas. Before becoming vice president, Boudreaux served as an English professor, head of the Department of English and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. As chair of the university鈥檚 50th anniversary planning committee, he led the charge to raise funds and build the now-iconic eternal flame monument in the quadrangle.
During his tenure, Boudreaux also revived the聽Mosaic聽literary magazine, created the Women鈥檚 Night Out for the Lady Colonels fundraiser and helped to increase the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation鈥檚 assets from less than $1 million to more than $20 million. Most recently, he helped 麻豆果冻传媒 secure private funding for the 鈥淎ll-Steinway鈥� piano initiative, the construction of a culinary arts facility and women鈥檚 soccer complex, and renovations to the Mary M. Danos Theater in Talbot Hall, among other projects.
鈥淔or more than 46 years, I have been privileged to have been a member of this university, which is so vital to this region, and to have served as both educator and administrator,鈥� Boudreaux said. 鈥淚 am truly grateful and forever indebted to all of those with whom I have worked, including students, faculty, staff, foundation members and the community at large. I am also appreciative of the loyalty and hard work of the administrative assistants who have worked with me during these years, especially Tammy Toups, who has been indispensible. 麻豆果冻传媒 has not been a job but a way of life! My wife, Carol, and I will always be thankful for having been a part of this very special family.鈥�
Boudreaux will continue working part time as the executive director of the 麻豆果冻传媒 Foundation, the university鈥檚 fundraising arm.
