David Boudreaux, vice president for institutional advancement, has been part of the Nicholls family for 44 years.
“I oversee alumni affairs, athletics, development, university relations and printing and design services,” Boudreaux said. “I also serve as liaison to the Nicholls Foundation, kind of as the executive director because they do not have one.”
Boudreaux’s current job is less interactive with Nicholls students, but he is still doing many things for the University.
“I’m out there trying to get students scholarship dollars and things like that, so I still have an attachment,” Boudreaux said.
Boudreaux is originally from New Iberia, but he has lived in Louisiana, Kentucky, Kansas, California, Texas, Panama, France, Vietnam and Pennsylvania throughout his years as an “army brat.” His father was an officer in the army.
In 1967, after finishing his master’s in English at Louisiana State University, Boudreaux was asked to accept a position teaching English at Nicholls.
“Nicholls was really growing at that time, and there was a critical shortage of English instructors,” Boudreaux said. “I was allowed to give my exams early in order to report to active duty on time.”
At the end of the semester, when Boudreaux planned to resign, former University president, Vernon Galliano, suggested that Boudreaux take a military leave of absence.
“He said ‘when you come off of active duty, you’ll have a home at Nicholls,'” Boudreaux said.
Boudreaux reported to active duty in Vietnam on May 3, 1967 and was stationed there for two years.
Boudreaux returned to his position as an English professor in 1969. In 1977, he became head of the English department while continuing a full teaching schedule. In 1995, he became dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and in 1998, he became vice president for institutional advancement.
Until this year, he continued to teach at least one course every spring.
“If I have one regret about this job, it’s that the longer I stay in it, the greater the distance is between me and the students,” Boudreaux said.
He said that as a teacher, he was able to plan events for students and get to know them personally. His new position is not as publicly recognized.
“I’ve enjoyed my time immensely,” Boudreaux said. “It’s a blessing to be able to live in Thibodaux, work at Nicholls, raise a family and enjoy everything else that’s here. It’s been an incredible adventure.”
