By Xavier University of Louisiana
Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr., presented Xavier University of Louisiana President, Dr. Reynold Verret, and other representatives of Xavier with a $2.5 million dollar check to jumpstart the university’s renovations for a new STEM and Pre-Health student advising center in the historic St. Michael resident hall, affectionately called “St. Mike’s” by the university community.
“This effort to establish the Pre-health and Stem [Advising] center here at St. Mike’s [dormitory] is crucial not only for the future of Xavier, but also this community,” President Verret stated during his remarks.
St. Michael played a key role in history; In the early 1960’s, Xavier President Emeritus, then the Dean of Men, Dr. Norman C. Francis, arranged for the legendary Freedom Riders to shelter in St. Michael residence hall after the riders were beaten, arrested, and firebombed by those who wanted to deny their activism.
“I am so proud to have secured $2.5 million for Xavier University of Louisiana’s new STEM and Pre-Health Advising Center in the historic St. Michael’s Hall as one of my federal community funding projects,” said Congressman Carter. “Representation matters now more than ever, and HBCUs across the country can follow Xavier’s lead and help create a future where the doctors, nurses, technicians and scientists of our nation look like the Americans they serve. With this project here at St. Michael’s, I am confident we will make a positive difference in both the lives of students and in our greater community.”
Thanks to this infusion of cash, St. Michael will be renovated to house a center for expanded pre-health advising, tutoring and career services on the ground floor. Additional funding will turn the upper two floors into new classrooms and labs for STEM education, and there will be historical markers and other artifacts honoring the Freedom Riders throughout the space.
President Verrett, several Xavier students, faculty and staff, and members of the New Orleans City Council were in attendance. Noah Williams (‘22), who just graduated from the university and will be attending Howard University College of Dentistry in the fall, also gave remarks about how the new center will improve the lives of generations of Xavierites to come.
