Lemelle announces global endowment

Martin Lemelle, Jr. took advantage of the pomp and circumstance surrounding Friday’s investiture ceremony to set a tone for his tenure as president of Grambling State University.

As he took the stage to be formally recognized as GSU’s 11th president and the youngest active president of a Historically Black College and University in the nation, Lemelle announced the launch of a global experiential education endowment aimed at raising $1 million to fund study abroad programs and other experiencebased learning.

And he set the tone by personally pledging the first $100,000 toward that goal.

“Together we will create pathways for our students that are not confined by the borders of our campus but extend to the far reaches of the globe,” Lemelle said. “Join me in this endeavor. Together we can provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to learn, to grow, and to lead on a global stage.”

The new endowment, provided through the Grambling University Foundation, aims to raise $1 million in the next five years.

In a recent interview with the Leader, GSU’s new president said this fund will be three-pronged: allowing more Grambling students to study abroad, equipping students and faculty to apply for competitive national scholarships and fellowships, and bringing in top-end talent from various industries to provide lecture series to students.

“What I have experienced both as a learner myself, as well as by observing different colleges and universities, is a very intentional focus on diversifying experience,” Lemelle said. “So we want to invest and uplift those type of activities for our students and faculty.”

Lemelle replaced GSU’s 10th president Rick Gallot in February after previously serving on Gallot’s administration. He said ideally the endowment would allow cohorts of 10-12 students to engage in a short-term study abroad program, as well as exchange formats.

The fund could also aim to secure the first Rhodes Scholarship for a Grambling State student, one of the most prestigious international scholarship programs in the world, as well as the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and more.

“Really starting to broaden both the interest of our students and faculty in those spaces, but also the access,” Lemelle said.

He also envisions funding a series in which top names from various industries, from entertainment to medicine, would give presentations to GSU students, whether in person or virtually.

“To provide our students exposure to those type of individuals who are titans in industry, who may not have the luxury to relocate to north Louisiana and be a full-time professor but could impart wisdom and knowledge into our community,” Lemelle said.

Amidst the tradition and celebration of the investiture, Grambling State’s next leader used the endowment announcement to charge the GSU community with getting involved to move the university forward.

“I encourage every one of you to see yourselves in this vision,” he said. “Your contributions, your advocacy and your passion are what will turn this vision into reality.”