Northwestern State University of Louisiana hosted a ribbon cutting inside the lobby of Robert Alost Hall on Oct. 3 to celebrate the grand opening of the newly-built $45 million building.
The 73,000 square foot infrastructure was named in honor of Robert Alost, a former president of NSU. Alost graduated from NSU in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science and obtained a master’s degree in 1958. He became an artillery officer in the U.S. Army via the ROTC program and served two years on active duty, achieving the rank of captain.
Alost came back to NSU to serve as a faculty member after earning a doctorate degree from Louisiana State University, and later became the dean of NSU’s College of Education. He helped oversee the development of the Louisiana Scholars’ College and cofounded the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in 1982.
Alost returned as university president in 1986. Under Alost’s leadership, the university’s enrollment increased from 5,272 to over 9,000 students. In 1992, he was named to the 46-member National Collegiate Athletic Association Council Board of Directors.
The ribbon cutting for Alost Hall hosted James Genovese, the Alost family, former presidents of NSU, faculty and staff and more. Some of the speakers included Genovese; Greg Handel, executive vice president and provost; Chris Maggio, the 19th president of NSU; Marcus Jones, the 20th president of NSU; Madysen Morgan, NSU Student Government Association president and Wes Alost, son of Robert Alost.
“Today is a celebration of partnership, perseverance and vision,” Genovese said. “This university confirms my belief that here at Northwestern, you get the best education, the best price and the best access.”
The new academic building was created to give students better learning opportunities. Alost Hall features large multipurpose classrooms, simulation labs for nursing and anesthesia programs, a café and open seating areas where students can work and study together between classes.
“Robert Alost was not only a president that led Northwestern to unprecedented growth but also an educator, coach and visionary,” Handel said. “Alost Hall stands as a state-of-the-art facility that will transform how we teach, learn and conduct research.”
During the ceremony, a portrait of Alost created by Edgar Cano Lopez, a Fine and Graphic Arts faculty member, was unveiled to honor his leadership and dedication. This portrait serves as a reminder of his vision of growth and lasting impact on NSU.
“He stood for innovation, he stood for growing, he stood for making it the very best for our students,” Maggio said.
Alost Hall will carry on the former president’s legacy by giving students more chances to learn, grow and explore new ideas throughout their years at NSU.
