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Blue Cross to establish LSUS professorship

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana has agreed to fund an endowed professorship at LSUS according to Glenda Erwin, interim vice chancellor for university development.

Sydney Kent, president of Kent, Kent and Tingle, and an LSUS Foundation member, approached Erwin suggesting that she meet with Claude DeBeaux, chairman of the board for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, about establishing a professorship. After meeting with Kent, Erwin, and Chancellor Vince Marsala, DeBeaux called with the exciting news that they would fund a professorship with an initial $10,000 donation and complete the funding within the next five years.

“We are extremely appreciative of the confidence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana has shown in our university by establishing a professorship at our campus,” Marsala said. “I also want to thank Sidney Kent, Claude DeBeaux and many others for their efforts in bringing corporate institutions together in support of our faculty and students.

“The LSUS Foundation continues to play an essential role in securing private support for LSUS. Since 1999, we have increased our endowed chair and professorship program from one chair and two professorships to two chairs, two super professorships and nine professorships.

“We are indebted to the many individuals and businesses that have chosen to honor family members or academic programs through these endowed programs.”

Erwin said the creation of the professorship by Blue Cross/Blue Shield is a perfect example of the important role that the LSUS Foundation members play in establishing relationships with community leaders.

“Sidney’s relationship with the Foundation and his support of the university,” Erwin said, “allowed him to be aware of professorship opportunities and to think of LSUS when that opportunity was presented.”