After 20 years as University President, Dr. Donald Ayo announced that he will retire June 30, 2003.
Ayo, who remained president of Nicholls longer than anyone else, seems to have accomplished everything he set out to do two decades ago.
In 1983, Ayo listed the long-term goals he wished to accomplish during his tenure: getting different departments accredited, offering more workshops and short courses, enhancing professorship and building a relationship with the surrounding business community.
Most of these tasks have been completed. There are few curriculums remaining unaccredited, workshops, short courses and continuing education courses are abundant, and Nicholls has received countless professorships just in the last year.
Ayo has also been successful in building a relationship with local businesses and government. Many local businesses contribute scholarship money to Nicholls students, and Ayo was instrumental in rallying the community to support the Saints’ training camp in Thibodaux.
More recently, Ayo took it upon himself to oversee the development of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. Though the program has been established, the Ruth Furtel building that will house the institute off-campus has not yet been completed. This is the last project Ayo hopes to see come to fruition before his retirement.
The University will miss him tremendously, and The Nicholls Worth wishes to express gratitude toward Dr. Ayo personally.
Members of The Nicholls Worth’s staff have had the pleasure of working with Ayo on many occasions.
When graduation was going to be limited by allowing each student only a certain number of tickets, two graduating staff members went to Ayo with the situation, and he listened. This resulted in graduation being split into two ceremonies.
Other staff members have had the opportunity to serve on University committess with the reccomendation of Ayo. These instances help staff members to become better leaders, and also helped student input to be brought to the committees.
He has been true to his word when working with our staff, and has gotten to know some of us by name.
These instances and accomplishments, along with many other things are what helped to shape Ayo not only as a president but as a person students could feel comfortable talking to.
Whoever follows in Ayo’s footsteps will indeed have big shoes to fill. Hopefully, the new lifeblood will continue to uphold Ayo’s legacy.