On Par with the President
By LSU
On Par with the PresidentJan 31, 2024
Aspiring Physician-Scientist Kenedi Lynch on Balancing Her Multiple Scholarly Pursuits
In this episode of "On Par," meet the LSU student who's in a league of her own: scholar student and undergraduate researcher, Kenedi Lynch. Kenedi is a senior in the Ogden Honors College. She is a 2023 Goldwater Scholar and Astronaut Scholar, as well as a Stamps Scholar. She's the president of LSU's Research Ambassadors and the President of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-medical honor society on campus. Find out how she balances it all and what she still hopes to accomplish as a future physician-scientist.
To see a transcript of the episode and pictures of Kenedi's time at LSU visit www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2024/01-31-lynch.php
How Spray-on Skin Helps LSU's Dr. Jeffrey Carter Improve Trauma Outcomes
In this episode of “On Par,” hear from Dr. Jeffrey Carter, professor of surgery for LSU Health New Orleans and the Medical Director of the Burn Center for the University Medical Center New Orleans. He and his team developed a spray-on skin called ReCell, which has helped reduce the length of hospital stays and the mortality rate from burns by more than half. He’s a biomedical innovator and researcher who aggressively pursues healing and is passionate about teaching.
Inside the Brain: Neurosurgeon, Athlete, LSU Alum Dr. Jason Cormier
On this episode of "On Par," go inside the brain with two-time LSU graduate Dr. Jason Cormier. Cormier is a nationally renowned neurosurgeon who also played LSU basketball under head coach Dale Brown. A Lafayette native, Cormier chose to practice medicine in Louisiana, and as a physician, he is an international expert in brain injury and concussion who said he thrives on stress. He has worked with organizations like the NFL, NASCAR, NCAA football and motorcycle racing. He shared tips on how to maintain a healthy brain and what things our brains can do that computers can't do.
The Pursuit of Truth: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist and LSU Graduate Amy Brittain
On this episode of “On Par with the President,” LSU alumna and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Amy Brittain joins President William F. Tate IV. Brittain, a Shreveport native, knew she was going to be a journalist since she was 11 years old. She started honing her craft in middle school then majored in mass communication while a student at LSU, where she wrote for the student newspaper, The Reveille. After receiving her Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia, she joined The Washington Post’s investigative team in 2013. In 2016, she was part of a team of Post reporters who were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for chronicling fatal shootings by police officers across the country. In this conversation with President Tate, Brittain shared her passion for journalism and advice for future journalists.
📸 See photos and transcript at: https://www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2023/06-15-brittain.php/
Preventing the Plastic Pandemic with Madeline Fryer
In this episode of “On Par,” LSU graduating senior Madeline Fryer speaks with President William F. Tate IV about saving the environment from single-use plastics. Fryer, a Louisiana native, became interested in her home state’s environment with her family and spending time outdoors with them. Her interest grew into her passion while a student at LSU, studying coastal environmental science. Fryer is interested in aquatic pollution and is using drones to research and document litter and plastic in Bayou Fountain watershed, which covers the southern portion of East Baton Rouge parish and includes part of LSU’s campus. She hopes to become a pilot one day to aid her environmental research. After graduation, Madeline will continue her work in a PhD program focused on the “plastic pandemic.”
Fighting Coastal Land Loss with Professor Clint Willson
In this episode, President William F. Tate IV speaks with the Director of the LSU Center for River Studies and LSU Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Clint Willson. Willson shares the reason why the Mississippi River’s coastal land loss is not just a Louisiana issue, and how he educates LSU students to be coastal land loss fighters.
Tay Moore: Advocating Through Music and Politics
In this episode of the “On Par” podcast, President Tate sits down with LSU star student, Antavion “Tay” Moore. Tay is Louisiana’s first John Robert Lewis Scholar. The LSU Ogden Honors College student and Louisiana Service and Leadership Scholar is studying political science, classical and jazz piano in Dr. Willis Delony's studio. Moore also plays in Dr. Molly Redfield's ensemble. In 2020, he was named the Louisiana Department of Education’s High School Student of the Year. While not everyone in his family had the opportunity to attend college, Tay said he plans to use his degrees and love of political science and music to advocate for social change and community development, especially in rural areas.
See photos and transcript at: https://www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2023/02-28-tay-moore.php
Watch this episode on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgxUN6JUnpM
LSU Student Researcher Unlocking Secrets of Breast Cancer
In this episode of the "On Par with the President" podcast, President William F. Tate IV speaks with Alejandra Ham, an LSU graduate student who is focused on learning more about breast cancer. The daughter of a physician and computer engineer, Alejandra said she has always been fascinated by the human body. While an undergraduate student at LSU, the COVID pandemic forced her to pivot on her research, but it led to the data being published. In this episode, Alejandra highlights that research experience, the “STEM girl boss” who inspires her, and empowering future scientists.
See photos and transcript at: https://www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2023/1-20-alejandra-ham.php
Overcoming Adversity with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
In this episode, President William F. Tate IV speaks to LSU alumna Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who has dedicated more than three decades of her life to public and foreign service. Currently the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, she discusses her journey from Baker, Louisiana to a global stage and how she manages the heavy stress that’s part of her job.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield graduated from LSU in 1974. She returned to public service after retiring from a 35-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service in 2017. Most recently in 2021 she was nominated by President Joseph Biden to be the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations. From 2013 to 2017 she served as the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, where she led the bureau focused on the development and management of U.S. policy toward sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to this appointment, she served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, leading a team in charge of the State Department’s workforce. Read more about her career: https://usun.usmission.gov/our-leaders/our-ambassador/
The Future of Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture and Farming
In this episode, President William F. Tate IV speaks to LSU assistant professor in experimental statistics, Thanos Gentimis. He discusses his field of expertise, which is data analytics with a special interest in machine learning and neural networks. Thanos created the first digital agriculture class at LSU and discusses how AI will soon shape the world of agriculture and farming. Thanos is married to Maria Bampasidou, Ph.D., who is also a professor in the LSU Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness.
Julie Lively Takes a Deep Dive into Louisiana Fisheries and the Coastline
On this episode of the "On Par with the President" podcast, President William F. Tate IV sits down with the executive director of the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, Julie Lively. Her research has centered around commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico with a focus on blue crab including soft shell crab production, which generates about $293 million in Louisiana each year. Her work also includes shrimp and the shrimping industry, which generates a $1.3 billion economic impact per year. Louisiana is the largest producer of seafood in the contiguous U.S. Lively has led a wide range of Sea Grant-related research projects supported by more than $23 million in funding for which she has been the principal or co-principal investigator. Lively, an associate professor in LSU’s School of Renewable Natural Resources and Louisiana Sea Grant’s fisheries specialist, began her career at LSU in 2010.
Louisiana Sea Grant strives to promote stewardship of the state’s coastal resources through a combination of research, education and outreach programs critical to the cultural, economic and environmental health of Louisiana’s coastal zone. Louisiana Sea Grant is part of the National Sea Grant College Program, a network of 34 university-based programs in each of the U.S. coastal and Great Lakes states, Puerto Rico and Guam.
Basketball Coach McMahon on Recruiting, Career Goals, and Joy
Is student-athlete recruitment an art or a science? How do you find the next Ja Morant? What are three things LSU Men’s Basketball Matt McMahon asks his players to control? McMahon answers these questions and more on this episode of “On Par.”
Matt McMahon is the head coach of the LSU men’s basketball team. He was the 2021-22 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, and a Naismith National Coach of the Year Semifinalist who led Murray State to the first 18-0 season in that conference’s history. His teams won four conference championships in the last five seasons, three conference tournaments, and two NCAA tournament games.
Learn more about the "On Par with the President" podcast, see photos and transcript at: www.lsu.edu/president/on-par
Dr. Dismukes Discusses Gas Prices, Energy, and Louisiana’s Global Impact
For more than 30 years, David Dismukes has worked in consulting, academia, and government service. He’s currently the executive director, director of policy analysis, and professor of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies. He is also a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences in the LSU College of the Coast & Environment. In this episode of the "On Par with the President" podcast, the energy sector expert discusses gas prices, energy supply, and Louisiana’s global impact.
To learn more about Dr. Dismukes and see a transcript of this episode visit www.lsu.edu/president/on-par
Record-Breaking Golfer Ingrid Lindblad Solves Puzzles On and Off the Course
In this episode, President William F. Tate IV speaks to LSU golfer and junior Ingrid Lindblad, who is the winner of a school record eight collegiate titles. Ingrid recently won LSU’s first individual SEC golf championship in 31 years. Currently, she is the World Amateur Golf Rankings No. 2 golfer, and she just finished tied for third place at the NCAA Championships. Ingrid talks about how school is still her main focus, despite her many athletic achievements and ambitions in the world of golf.
Learn more and see photos: https://www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2022/05-23-lindblad.php
Chemist Fatima Rivas Discovers Cancer-Fighting Potential in Mushrooms
Fatima Rivas believes she was born to be a chemist. The LSU chemistry assistant professor is fulfilling her passion and conducting breakthrough cancer research. Rivas and her team are studying a promising new treatment for an aggressive type of breast cancer: triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC. Their work looks at a compound derived from mushrooms. In this episode, Rivas shares her path from organic chemist to cancer researcher, and her commitment to advocating for women and underrepresented minorities in STEM.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2022/04-22-rivas
From Hacker to Cyber Defender with LSU’s Dr. Golden Richard III
Growing up, Dr. Golden Richard III’s fanatical devotion to computers led him to clean parking lots for a year, simply to buy a single $600 floppy drive. After 40 years, Golden is still driven by the constantly shifting world of computer science — a world of stolen encryption passwords, ransomware negotiators, high-tech chess, and sophisticated attacks. Here at LSU, Golden is educating the next generation of highly technical cybersecurity professionals ready to defend and solve these issues.
Golden Richard has more than 40 years of practical experience in computer science. He is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, the Associate Director for Cybersecurity in the LSU Center for Computation and Technology, and the Director of the Applied Cybersecurity Lab. Richard is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2022/03-29-richard
“Beam Me Up!” Talking Quantum Communication with Michelle Lollie
In this episode, President William F. Tate IV speaks to LSU physics and astronomy doctoral student Michelle Lollie. She discusses her area of expertise, quantum communication, and how it may help protect our most sensitive information — from your credit card number to health records — from being hacked in the future as well as preventing cybersecurity attacks. Lollie also discusses her advocacy for equity across STEM subjects, particularly in the field of physics.
Michelle Lollie is a physics and astronomy doctoral student at LSU. As part of the Quantum Photonics group, she is investigating high-dimensional quantum communication using twisted light. She’s an advocate for equity across STEM subjects, particularly in the field of physics, and is a steering committee member of American Physical Society's Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance. and. She holds multiple degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Clark Atlanta University, a bachelor’s degree in physics from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree in physics from Indiana University.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2022/02-25-lollie
Former LSU Football Player and Current PhD Student James Stampley Tackles Aging and Metabolism
LSU PhD candidate James Stampley has taken his passion for health and fitness and turned it into a research focus. In this episode, Stampley shares his journey from collegiate athletics and his touchdown against Ole Miss, to the lab where he is exercise training fruit flies for research into aging and metabolic diseases.
James Stampley IV is a former LSU Football player with two bachelor’s degrees, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the Kinesiology program, specializing in Exercise Physiology. His research is focused on metabolism and the role that exercise can play on aging and metabolic diseases. His current project includes exercise training fruit flies and measuring their metabolic adaptations. This idea was developed with his advisor Dr. Brian Irving, as they looked for novel methods of continuing research during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his academic focus, he is still a competitive athlete – having recently won two gold medals in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu national tournament last year.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2022/01-28-stampley
Ichthyologist Prosanta Chakrabarty reveals, “We are all fish.”
What is ichthyology? It's the study of fish, and Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty is a master of it. He joins President William F. Tate IV to discuss his journey around the world to study some of the planet's most unusual creatures. He also shares his experience as a curator for the LSU Museum of Natural Science, the importance of translating scientific work for the public, and his efforts to train and inspire the next generation of naturalists and explorers.
One of the world’s leading ichthyologists, Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the curator of fishes at LSU’s Museum of Natural Science. His research focuses on the study of fish to help understand evolution and the history of the Earth. Among other things Dr. Chakrabarty is a TED Senior Fellow, an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian, and a Fulbright Distinguished Chair.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2021/12-21-chakrabarty
Louisiana Homecoming with Coach Kim Mulkey
In this episode, President William F. Tate IV speaks to LSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey. Mulkey, a Louisiana native, has won six national championships, is a nine-time Hall of Famer, and an Olympian. She shares her own experiences playing youth sports, the mentors who guided her, and her focus on her team's success on the basketball court and in the classroom.
LSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey is the only person in college basketball history –men’s or women’s –to win national championships as a head coach, assistant coach and a player. A native of Tickfaw, Louisiana, Mulkey is a six-time national champion, a nine-time Hall of Famer, an Olympian, and was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2021/11-18-kim-mulkey
Space is Next for LSU Senior Bri Robertson
President William F. Tate IV speaks with a top LSU student scholar, Bri Robertson. Bri is a senior in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College studying physics in the College of Science and computer engineering in the College of Engineering. In this episode she shares how she is focused on artificial intelligence in medical settings and outer space, and how her scholarship opportunities have allowed her to make sure “no door was left unopened” during her time at LSU.
Bri is a Stamps Scholar, the top scholarship opportunity for LSU’s Honors College students, and in 2020 was named a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar and an Astronaut Scholar. The Astronaut Scholarship recognizes the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity, and excellence in their chosen field. She has interned for NASA and the National Science Foundation. Following her graduation from LSU, Bri will work for SpaceX as a data scientist.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2021/10-28-robertson
From First-Generation College Student to Vice President with Jose Aviles
President William F. Tate IV sits down with Dr. Jose Aviles to discuss his journey from growing up in a low-income housing development in New Jersey to the vice president for Enrollment Management at LSU. They discuss Dr. Aviles’ passion for serving students, what keeps him motivated, and his ability to consistently build the largest, most talented and diverse classes in the university’s history. Over the last two decades, Dr. Aviles has intentionally served eight different institutions, ranging from the most selective institution in the country to a community college.
Learn more at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2021/09-30-aviles
Oceanographer Nancy Rabalais Confronts the Dead Zone
What is the “Dead Zone?” And why is it growing in the Gulf of Mexico? Dr. Nancy Rabalais joins President William F. Tate IV to answer these questions; give a behind-the-scenes look at an oceanographer's life both on deck and below; and describe her journey to being elected to the most prestigious scientific society in the U.S., the National Academy of Sciences. For more than three decades, Dr. Rabalais’ determination to protect marine life in the gulf has resulted in several appearances before Congress and 35 research cruises. Dr. Rabalais is a professor and the Shell Endowed Chair in Oceanography and Wetland Studies in the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences at Louisiana State University.
Learn more and see photos at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2021/08-26-rabalais
JuVaughn Harrison’s Road to the Tokyo Olympics
What does it take to become an Olympian? President William F. Tate IV sits down with LSU track and field star JuVaughn Harrison to discuss his journey to the Tokyo Olympics, his time at LSU, and plans for his professional career. While at LSU Harrison won a team national title, six NCAA individual titles, and owns four LSU school records. Most recently, he swept the long jump and high jump competitions at the U.S. Olympic Trials to become the first man since Jim Thorpe in 1912 to compete in BOTH events for Team USA.
Learn more at www.lsu.edu/president/on-par/2021/07-juvaughn-harrision
Teaser - JuVaughn Harrison’s Road to the Tokyo Olympics
Listen to the first three minutes of President William F. Tate IV's conversation with LSU track and field star and Olympian JuVaughn Harrison.
Tune in on Thursday, July 29th for the full episode as we launch the "On Par with the President" podcast.
Inspired by his favorite sport and the idea of individuals at LSU being "on par" in their areas of interest, On Par with the President is a podcast hosted by Louisiana State University President William F. Tate IV. During each episode, he will chat with students, alumni, faculty, and staff from the LSU community who are at the very top of their game about their journey to success, setting and fulfilling goals, creating a legacy, and more.