SLS 23RS-746 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 46
BY SENATOR MIZELL
COMMENDATIONS. Commends and congratulates Dr. John L. Crain, President of
Southeastern Louisiana University, on the occasion of his retirement.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend and congratulate Dr. John L. Crain, President of Southeastern Louisiana
3 University, on the occasion of his retirement.
4 WHEREAS, Dr. John L. Crain has served as the 14th President of Southeastern
5 Louisiana University since his appointment to the position on February 17, 2009, by the
6 Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System; prior to his appointment, Dr.
7 Crain served as the interim president beginning in July of 2008; and
8 WHEREAS, Dr. Crain previously served as Southeastern's Provost and Vice
9 President for Academic Affairs, a position he held for seven years; and
10 WHEREAS, his prior experience at Southeastern includes head of the Department
11 of Accounting, chair of the Council of Department Heads, president of the Faculty Senate,
12 director of the Small Business Development Center, and 13 years as a full-time member of
13 the accounting faculty; and
14 WHEREAS, a native of Franklinton, Louisiana, Dr. Crain was the valedictorian of
15 the 1978 graduating class of Franklinton High School; and
16 WHEREAS, Dr. Crain received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from
17 Southeastern in 1981, attained Certified Public Accountant (CPA) status in 1983, earned a
18 Master of Business Administration from Southeastern in 1984, and received his doctoral
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SLS 23RS-746 ORIGINAL
1 degree in accountancy from the University of Mississippi in 1988; and
2 WHEREAS, Dr. Crain's scholarly accomplishments include publication of more than
3 50 refereed journal articles and numerous presentations at academic conferences; and
4 WHEREAS, in 1992, he was the recipient of Southeastern's highest faculty award,
5 the President's Award for Excellence in Research; and
6 WHEREAS, during his tenure as president, several new and remodeled academic and
7 student residential buildings were completed, including a brand new student union; several
8 new academic programs, academic assistance, and campus life activities were introduced;
9 multiple online programs were initiated; Lion athletics witnessed competitive successes by
10 numerous teams, as well as strong academic achievements by student athletes; and the
11 Southeastern Foundation expanded significantly as private fundraising gained prominence
12 in the face of public financial shortages; and
13 WHEREAS, also during his tenure, nearly 31,800 degrees were awarded; the six-year
14 graduation rate increased from 28.6% in 2008 to 43.8% in 2022; minority enrollment
15 increased from just over 20% in 2008 to over 30% in 2021; the honors program grew 292%,
16 and an official Honors College was launched in 2023; and
17 WHEREAS, Dr. Crain also served as a member of the Louisiana Blue Ribbon
18 Commission on Educational Excellence, the Louisiana Board of Regents Master Plan
19 National Advisory Panel Workgroup on Retention and Completion, and chair of the
20 Accounting Education Issues Committee of the Society of Louisiana CPAs; and
21 WHEREAS, Dr. Crain is a member of various professional, civic, and academic
22 organizations, currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Southern
23 Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a member of the Executive
24 Committee of the North Shore Business Council, a member of the board of North Oaks
25 Foundation, and as an advisory member of the Board of GNO, Inc.; and
26 WHEREAS, Dr. Crain is a member of the Committee of 100 for Economic
27 Development, the Hammond Rotary Club, and he has previously served on the Boards of the
28 Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum and the Louisiana Children's Discovery
29 Museum.
30 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
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SLS 23RS-746 ORIGINAL
1 does hereby commend and congratulate Dr. John L. Crain, President of Southeastern
2 Louisiana University on the occasion of his retirement and offers heartfelt wishes for success
3 in all his future endeavors and health and happiness in the years to come.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
5 Dr. John L. Crain.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Kathy Liberty.
DIGEST
SR 46 Original 2023 Regular Session Mizell
Commends and congratulates Dr. John L. Crain, President of Southeastern Louisiana
University, on the occasion of his retirement.
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