THIBODAUX – Mr. Lionel Naquin and Dr. Terry Dantin, both retirees of Nicholls State University, were awarded the titles of vice president for finance and administration emeritus and professor emeritus, respectively, on Thursday, Jan. 12.
The emeritus title recognizes exceptional dedication, outstanding accomplishments, professional contributions and years of service to the university.
- Naquin
Lionel Naquin Jr., who retired from Nicholls in January 2011, served as vice president for finance and administration since 1986.
A Thibodaux native and Nicholls alumnus, he graduated magna cum laude in business in 1968 and received his Master of Business Administration from Nicholls in 1972. He became a certified public accountant in 1975, later joining the Nicholls staff as an auditor, and afterwards, controller.
“He gave 35 years of his life to this institution,” Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert, university president said. “He always put the integrity of the institution first.”
- Dantin
Dr. Terry Dantin, who retired in spring 2011, spent his entire 42-year career at Nicholls. He developed and implemented the civil engineering technology curriculum, served as a charter member of the 1973 Faculty Senate and received the presidential citation from the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors in 2003 for his leadership in creating the geomatics program.
In addition to teaching, Dantin contributed heavily to research. He was the principle investigator of a $370,000 grant for the NSU Energy Audit Program, funded by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources from 2000 to 2002, and he co-authored several equipment grants and donations to the geomatics program totaling around $450,000.
More than 4,000 students at Nicholls have benefitted from Dantin’s teaching and research methods.
