Many women have made a significant impact on Northwestern State University of Louisiana throughout their careers.

Leah Jackson, the NSU director of Public Life and Media Relations, is one of those women. Not only is Jackson the head of the media relations department, but she has also been working for NSU since 2004, where she started in the News Bureau.

In an interview with The Current Sauce, Jackson noted that the influence of other women affiliated with NSU has made an impact on the institution as a whole

Jackson gave the example of long-time administrator Lucile Hendrick, who was “very involved with the students, a mentor to women, and had a personal impact,” said Jackson.

Jackson also recognized the women who “pioneered” at NSU, like the first Black female students June Cofield, Doris Ann Roque-Robinson, Johnnye Britton-Paige and Pearl Jones-Burton. These women were honored in a dedication at Seven Oaks Stage in Oct. 2021.

The first female SGA President was Eloise Richmond from 1943 to 1944, and Isabel Williamson (Mrs. S. J. Cumming) wrote the words to the NSU Alma Mater in 1906.

There are also many buildings named after these impactful women, for instance, Russell Hall, named after Scharlsie Russell, a long-time librarian at NSU.

At NSU, there are many current members of the staff, faculty and administration who are making an impact on the school and students’ lives as well.

Denise Patrick is an alumnus of NSU’s New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts department who was honored with a Distinguished Communications Professional Award on Friday, March 17.

Patrick co-teaches alongside Melody Gilbert and assists communications students, while also assisting students in her free time. She has been at NSU since 2021.

“I am constantly finding out more about NSU women of the past who did pretty amazing things in classrooms, boardrooms, newsrooms and elsewhere,” Patrick said.

Patrick believes it is important to celebrate the women at NSU.

“Of course, there is no ‘community’ without women,” Patrick said. “We make an impact by simply being.”

Jessica Parr, a professor of costume design at the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts, won a 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award. Parr has been at NSU for 17 years and has made a significant impact at CAPA. Parr is not only a professor to the students but also a mentor.

Parr believes “people should be recognized especially at a school as good as we are.”