LSUS Alumni Association
announces Marsala Professorship
11/09/04

The LSUS Alumni Association has announced the formation of a steering committee to raise funds to establish the LSUS Alumni Association Vincent J. Marsala Professorship to honor the university’s chancellor.

The announcement, a surprise to Marsala, was made Tuesday night at the LSUS Foundation’s annual member appreciation dinner, which this year featured John Douglas Hall’s character interpretation of James Madison, fourth president of the United States.

John Good Jr., developer of Louisiana Boardwalk on the Bossier City riverfront and a member of the first LSUS graduating class, said he is excited about chairing the steering committee for the Marsala Professorship and made the first alumni pledge toward reaching the initial campaign goal of $60,000 by March 1, 2005.

“Vincent was one of the first teachers I had at LSUS,” Good said, “and he is the last (active) member of our original faculty. He’s an example of tenacity and staying the course. He didn’t turn his back on us and made LSUS what it is today.”

When the professorship was announced Tuesday night, the committee had raised more than $43,000 toward the initial goal. When $60,000 has been raised, the LSUS Alumni Association Vincent J. Marsala Professorship will be formally presented to the Louisiana Board of Regents for matching funds of $40,000, bringing the total amount of the endowed professorship to $100,000. The future designate of the professorship will receive annual interest income of about 5 percent ($ 5,000) to use for special programs and projects.

According to Good, who is a member of the LSUS Alumni Association Board of Directors, the board and other alumni want to expand the professorship in the future. “When we reach our objective for the professorship,” he said, “we would like to set a goal of another $60,000 for a super professorship. Then it would be great to move on to funding a Chair. The Alumni Board is committed to seeing this project through to completion.” A $1 million endowed Chair requires total seed funds of $600,000 with a $400,000 match from the state.

In the evening’s featured program, Hall delighted his audience with his portrayal of James Madison. Hall has been the singular person of the fourth president since 1986 at James Madison’s Montpelier and James Madison University. He is well known for his ability to represent Madison on constitutional issues for legal and academic forums, including the celebrated Virginia “Debate on the Ratification of the Constitution” between Madison and Patrick Henry.

Hall is scheduled to return to LSUS in 2006 for the International Lincoln Center for American Studies Presidential Conference Series symposium on Madison.