THIBODAUX – The Executive Master of Business Administration program at Nicholls State University acquired a new home Friday, June 20, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Theodore “Teddy” Duhé Building in Houma.
The Barker Family Executive Classroom, named for the family of Nicholls State University Foundation board member and university alumnus Dickie Barker, will accommodate 20 students in a boardroom environment. Suitable for case discussions, seminars and lectures, the room encourages interaction among students and professors via state-of-the-art, user-friendly technology. Teaching tools include a viewing monitor that allows interactive writing and recording on the screen, ceiling-mounted surround speakers and a high resolution projector.
“Nicholls is so very fortunate to have the Dickie Barker family among its most loyal and generous supporters,” said Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, president of Nicholls. “Those who are familiar with the history of locating the Duhé Building in Houma know that Dickie played a key role in making that happen. For Dickie and his family to make possible the conversion of an ordinary classroom into an extraordinary high tech boardroom for students in our EMBA program is both special and significant.”
The Nicholls EMBA program, a hybrid system utilizing on-line and face-to-face instructional methods, is designed to meet the scheduling needs of professionals who have chosen to advance their education. Students complete about half their coursework online, on their own schedule, and spend the balance of their coursework in a face-to-face environment approximately every other Saturday.
“It was a pleasure to work with Dickie Barker and his family to secure the funds for this project,” said Dr. David Boudreaux, vice president of institutional advancement. “Dickie’s understanding of the importance of Nicholls to this region and his leadership as an officer of the foundation have helped to make good things happen over the years. He and his family are focused on serving the people of the Bayou Region.”
The foundation contributed the balance of the funds to the classroom’s construction, Boudreaux said. The total cost was approximately $60,000.
“My family and I are pleased that Nicholls selected Houma and the Duhé Building for the Barker Family Executive Classroom,” Barker said. “Throughout my adult life I have recognized what Nicholls means to this community and to this region. The growth and development of Houma and Thibodaux have paralleled the growth and maturity of Nicholls. An executive MBA program that is accessible right here at our doorsteps will help to make us more competitive in a global economy. My family and I appreciate what Nicholls, Dr. Hulbert, his administrative team and the College of Business Administration have accomplished to make this a reality.”
Dr. Shawn Mauldin, dean of the College of Business Administration, said the Barker family is to be commended for “allowing the College of Business Administration to achieve its vision of being recognized as a leader in business education.”
