Northwestern State University (NSU) will officially introduce James “Jimmy” Genovese as the university’s 21st president at an event on Tuesday. The public is invited to attend the welcome reception at the Sylvan Friedman Student Union Ballroom in the center of the campus at 11:00 a.m.
Genovese has represented the 3rd District of the seven-member Louisiana state Supreme Court as an associate justice since he assumed office on January 1, 2017. His district stretches along the western border of the state.
The Louisiana Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for Genovese last Thursday. He will assume office as the new NSU president in August. A university statement says Tuesday’s program will include recognition of local and regional elected officials, figures from Genovese’s personal life, special presentations to the newly-elected president and comments from Genovese.
The 74-year-old Opelousas native says before he was approached about the job six weeks ago, he never saw himself as president. “Yes, it was a tough decision. But I made up my mind that I owe Northwestern payback for what it did for me because without me going to Northwestern I never would have made it to the [Louisiana] Supreme Court. And it’s payback for me.” In a statement, Genovese says his appointment “means so much to me that I am willing to forego the remaining two years of my term.”
Genovese says his priority will be reversing Northwestern’s declining enrollment rate. The Advocate reported that university’s enrollment has dropped 22% over the past four years. He replaces Dr. Marcus Jones. In June, the University of Louisiana system appointed Dr. Jones as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
