Nicholls to honor Dr. Clune with gala, investiture

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University will celebrate the investiture of its sixth president, Dr. Jay Clune, with a gala and formal investiture on Sept. 27-28.

The Presidential Investiture Gala will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 in the newly renovated Cotillion Ballroom, located in the Bollinger Memorial Student Union.

Gala-goers will be treated to a cocktail hour with music from the Nicholls String Quartet, followed by a four-course meal. Dr. John Doucet, Distinguished Service Professor and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will emcee the event.

Reservations must be made by Sept. 17. To reserve your ticket, visit nichollsfoundation.org.

Net proceeds from the event will go to the Nicholls Bridge to Independence Program and the Greenhouse Renovation Project.

Dr. Clune’s investiture ceremony will be held the following day at 3 p.m. in Peltier Auditorium.

Considered one of the oldest traditions in academia, an investiture is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the act of establishing in office.” The ceremony is a symbol of passing on the official powers of the president’s office, as well as the responsibility, to the university’s new leader.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and University of Louisiana System President Dr. Jim Henderson will speak during the investiture ceremony.

A reception will follow the ceremony in the Cotillion Ballroom, with music from the Cajun Music Preservation Society.

“It is humbling to be able to come back home and lead a place that meant so much to my life,” Dr. Clune said. “I’m glad that my investiture aligns with our university’s 70th birthday because we can not only celebrate our history of academic excellence, but we can also think about how we continue that momentum moving forward. Our students will continue to be my top priority.”

Dr. Clune became president of Nicholls State University on Jan. 1, 2018. Before he was named President by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, Dr. Clune served as the interim dean of the graduate school at the University of West Florida.

A Houma native, Dr. Clune graduated from Nicholls State University with a bachelor of science degree in marketing in 1986. In the fall of 1987, he entered the Peace Corps and spent two years in Guatemala. He received a master’s degree in Latin American studies, with concentrations in history and international business, from the University of Alabama in 1990. In 1997, Dr. Clune obtained his doctorate in history from LSU, where he earned a Fulbright scholarship to study in Seville, Spain.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 7, 2018

CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator, 985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@www.nicholls.edu

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