Dr. Norman Francis honored as nation's longest-tenured college president

Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis was honored by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) April 17 for his commitment to minority education and service to the community during the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Francis has served as Xavier’s president for 44 years, making him the longest-sitting college president in the United States.

In recognition of this achievement, the AT&T-NAFEO Francis Fellows Award, a need-based, exemplary achievement scholarship program, has been created in his name.

The inaugural scholarship program will consist of two $5,000 awards for students attending Xavier, and one $5,000 award for one student from each of the following institutions: Dillard University; Grambling University; Southern University in Baton Rouge; and Southern University in New Orleans.

Recipients, who will be selected by their respective schools, must be currently enrolled, full-time students in good standing who are majoring in the sciences, computer science/technology, engineering, mathematics, physics, the health professions, law, economics, or education students teaching one of the “STEM” disciplines of science, technology, engineering or math.