New Orleans, La. - ��Ƭ��Ƶ’s annual Black History Month Convocation will take place on . at ��Ƭ��Ƶ’s Convocation Center. The annual event is the university’s official celebration of Black History Month. Each year, ��Ƭ��Ƶ University honors the achievements of African Americans to recognize the vital role Blacks have played throughout history. ��Ƭ��Ƶ’s Black History Convocation ceremony is a celebration of Black excellence and the success of ��Ƭ��Ƶites who have and continue to make history while striving to bring about a more just and humane society. This year’s guest speaker is ��Ƭ��Ƶ University alumna Dr. Kim LeDuff ('96), the Vice President of People and Culture at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“During Black History Month, we honor and celebrate the success of our ��Ƭ��Ƶites who make history every day,” said Dr. Reynold Verret, President of ��Ƭ��Ƶ. “Dr. LeDuff’s work to advance diversity and equity, and promote community engagement are reflective of the institution’s values. We are honored to share in the successes of Dr. LeDuff, and we hope that her words of wisdom inspire the next generation of ��Ƭ��Ƶites who seek a more diverse and equitable world.”

Dr. LeDuff is a visionary leader with a knack for building and motivating strong teams. In her role as the President of People and Culture, role, she manages Human Resources, diversity and inclusion efforts, strategic planning, and community engagement. She takes pride in that inclusive excellence is always at the heart of her work.

"As we celebrate Black History Month and, coincidentally, Valentine's Day, I want to remind students how fortunate they are to be here at ��Ƭ��Ƶ. They benefit from the love and support of those at home, faculty, staff, administrators, peers and even perfect strangers who give because they believe in them and in the mission of ��Ƭ��Ƶ University. In my experience, that support extends well beyond your time on campus,” said Dr. LeDuff. “Being a ��Ƭ��Ƶ graduate means being part of a vast network that is like family. We support one another and always remember that each of us has the capacity to make a positive impact in the world. I hope that all members of our ��Ƭ��Ƶ community continue to be motivated by the legacy of those who came before us and that each of us will give of our time, talent and treasure to create new pathways for future generations."

Prior to joining the Museum in January of 2022, Dr. LeDuff spent 23 years working in higher education. In her last role, she served as Vice President for Academic Engagement and Student

Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola. Under her leadership, the UWF won six Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Awards from Insight into Diversity Magazine.

As the founding Vice President of the Division of Academic Engagement at UWF, she brought units together and strategically allocated resources to increase student success. She created UWF’s Cross Cultural Competence Certificate program and was part of the leadership team that led UWF to top status in the Florida Board of Governors’ metrics for three consecutive years. Dr. LeDuff was a tenured professor at UWF and an associate professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she held leadership roles in the School of Mass Communication and Journalism. She has previously served as faculty at Hampton University in Virginia and her alma mater, ��Ƭ��Ƶ. Her research focuses on representations of race, gender, and class in mass media.

She has authored many articles, book chapters and presentations. Dr. LeDuff authored “Tales of Two Cities: How Race and Crime Intersect on Local TV News (based on her dissertation research)” and is the co-author of “Race and News: Critical Perspectives.”

Dr. LeDuff completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and earned the Fundraising Management Certificate from The Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI). After earning her bachelor’s from ��Ƭ��Ƶ in 1996, she went on to earn her master’s from the University of Maryland-College Park and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Indiana University. In 2020, Dr. LeDuff received the Leadership in Education Award from the Greater Pensacola Chamber. She was also recognized by ��Ƭ��Ƶ University with a 40 under 40 Alumni award. In 2012, she was honored by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning as Diversity Educator of the year.

The event will be live-streamed .

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��Ƭ��Ƶ, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, ��Ƭ��Ƶ produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Additionally, ��Ƭ��Ƶ’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country.

Established in 1925, by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African American and Native Americans to receive quality education, ��Ƭ��Ƶ has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided ��Ƭ��Ƶ students (2815 undergraduates and 787 graduates) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities and life experiences. ��Ƭ��Ƶ students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning ��Ƭ��Ƶ formula is to provide students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all. For more information about ��Ƭ��Ƶ, visit us online at www.xula.edu or contact Regi Reyes at (504) 520-5240 or rreyes@xula.edu.