When Martha Genovese first attended Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 1968, she had no idea that she would one day return as the university’s first lady.
“It never crossed my mind that I would ever end up back here,” she said. Like many students, Genovese did not know what she wanted to do when she started college. Ultimately, she decided to join the U.S. Air Force.
“My dad was a World War II veteran in the Army, and he told me, ‘I can’t have a daughter in the Army.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m not joining the Army—I’m joining the Air Force,’” she said. “I knew in my heart what I wanted to do, so my parents signed the papers for me on Sept. 26, 1969.”
Her journey as a veteran saw her traveling from base to base across the country, working in every health department.
“They put us in every department in a hospital—we delivered babies, we worked surgeries, orthopedics, we ran immunization clinics, urology, everything,” Genovese said.
Her two younger brothers felt inspired by her path, choosing to follow in her footsteps. All three of her siblings ultimately joined the Air Force, and at one point, all four served simultaneously—a story that earned them coverage in Air Force Times. Her oldest brother even served as a fighter pilot in Vietnam.
“That year was stressful for my parents, but they were very proud of their children for being in uniform. All four of us made it home,” she recalled.
After her seven years of service, Genovese explored a variety of careers: business, real estate and newspaper work, all while living in Colorado. When her father became ill, she returned to her hometown of Opelousas, La., where a familiar face reentered her life: James T. “Jimmy” Genovese.
The two had known each other since they were teenagers. They shared friends, rode to school together and kept in touch over the years. When their paths crossed again, things simply fell into place. “We were friends for the longest time,” she said. “We just knew we wanted to be together. We’ve been married for 37 years.”
Their wedding was just as casual and heartfelt as their relationship: a courthouse ceremony in Panama City with their five children. “We picked up breakfast afterward and brought it back to the kids,” she said, laughing.
Today, as the first lady of NSU, Genovese devotes much of her time to supporting programs that help students, especially those facing challenges many never see.
She volunteers with the Women’s Resource Center, which provides baby items, classes, counseling and support for expectant mothers and new parents. She also promotes NSULA Food Pantry, which offers weekly groceries to students who may struggle with food insecurity.
“It’s a fabulous program,” she said. “Some students can’t go home on breaks or some don’t always have a place to eat. Every little thing helps.”
Many days, you can find her in Iberville Dining Hall with President Genovese chatting with students and faculty. They make it a point to show up and connect with the NSU students and get involved with campus life.
“Everybody here has been so welcoming, and it’s a breath of fresh air to see how nice the people are,” she described.
Genovese said NSU’s biggest strength is its size, big enough to offer endless opportunities, but small enough to feel like home. “You’re not one student among 250 in a classroom,” she said. “Here, your professors know you. They know your story. They want you to succeed.”
When she’s not on-campus, Genovese enjoys reading, needlework and bass fishing at her family’s camp on the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
For Genovese, success isn’t measured in awards or titles. It’s measured in happiness. “To me, being successful is doing something that makes you happy,” she said. “And this place—these people—make us very happy.”
