Bobby Ardoin
Editor/Contributing Writer
NATCHITOCHES — Opelousas native Jimmy Genovese strode into his first public function Tuesday as Northwestern State’s 21st president to the groove of his beloved zydeco music.
The soundtrack quickly shifted to the Demon Fight Song as Genovese and his wife Martha, and three of their five daughters, made their way to front-row seats at his welcome reception and introduction on campus.
Genovese further amped up the energy level of an overflow audience at the Friedman Student Union with his passionate remarks reflecting on his joy at taking the helm at his alma mater, and expressed determination to revitalize his alma mater.
He also unabashedly asked for the audience’s buy-in.
“It’s overwhelming. I want to thank each and every one of you for being here because I need you and you are part of the overall plan,” he said. “I have a lot of institutional knowledge, having served on the Supreme Court for eight years and having handled 200 employees, 19,000 lawyers, 372 judges and a budget of $208 million.”
He recognized his wife Martha and their adult daughters Stephanie, Adrienne and Sarah. Daughters Celeste and Elizabeth were too far away (one vacationing on the Gulf Coast, and the other living in Denmark) to attend.
“Having five daughters and lived through that, I think I can take on this job,” he said, grinning broadly.
He also thanked outgoing president Dr. Marcus Jones for his service to the university and assistance in the transition of office.
“I commend him for what he has done. His heart and soul are with Northwestern, and he has now levitated into a position in the UL System, but he has been there for me and I speak with him on a regular basis.”
Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington, president of the state DA’s association and an NSU alum who has tried cases in front of the new president, said Genovese has a reputation for treating people with dignity and respect and will bring experience, leadership and energy to his new role.
“If you watch President Genovese, he is exhilarating, he is exciting, he is full of energy and that is going to translate into Northwestern, into all of us. That will translate into getting more students here and benefit our town,” Harrington said. “President Genovese has so many layers of experience, leadership, administrative leadership and those layers are going to be wonderful for Northwestern.”
Earlier in the morning, Genovese met with students who provided a lively welcome, introduced themselves and showcased campus life. During the program, student leaders and student-athletes presented gifts to the new first couple, including a Demon fan starter pack, and offered encouragement and insight.
“How invigorating it is to be with the students and see their joy and their excitement,” Genovese said. “It brings back memories and I emphasize how they are the lifeblood of this institution.”
The new president noted there are abundant points of pride at NSU and said he will focus on increasing enrollment and addressing inadequate financing.
“We’ve got great programs, and I want to get out and I want to sell it,” Genovese said. “My vision is to reinvigorate and rejuvenate Northwestern and bring it back to the prominence that it once had and certainly deserves today.”
Genovese was named as the incoming president last Thursday by the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, and will officially assume office Aug. 5 as the university approaches its 140th academic year.
He is a lifelong resident of Opelousas and a 1971 graduate of NSU who went on to earn a law degree from Loyola University in 1974. As an undergraduate, Genovese was a four-year letterman in tennis.
He was named to Who’s Who Among Universities and Colleges, Who’s Who Among Greek Fraternities and Sororities of America and Outstanding College Athletes of America. He was also president of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and was president of the Interfraternity Council, while also being a Student Government Association senator and participating in intramurals.
In his brief remarks during Tuesday’s introduction, he fondly recalled camping trips to nearby Kisatchie National Forest and to area waterways to fish. He now has a camp on nearby Toledo Bend Lake.
Genovese was inducted into the Long Purple Line, NSU’s alumni hall of distinction, in 2018.
Mrs. Genevese, the former Martha Anne Janes, also attended Northwestern as a nursing major, but chose a military career and retired as a staff sergeant in the Air Force. In addition to five daughters, they have four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
