Nicholls State University has bid farewell to three faculty members this summer after many years of service.

Allayne “Laynie” Barrilleaux , Vice President for Academic Affairs, announced her retirement in March after 33 years of being a part of Nicholls’ faculty.

“It was a very tough decision to leave my Nicholls family,” Barrilleaux said. “I have been here for so long that it has become a part of me.”

Barrilleaux was invited to join the faculty once she graduated with her master’s degree at Nicholls. She only left for a short time teaching at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, but she ended up back in Thibodaux.

“I couldn’t stay away from the university because it became my second home,” Barrilleaux said.

Barrilleaux made the decision to retire in order to find new opportunities and spend time with friends and family.

“I don’t want to make any commitments for the next six months,” Barrilleaux said. “Then I will see what doors will open up for me, and the next adventure that awaits.”

Larry Howell, the former interim university president and executive vice president, retired on July 18, after 40 years of service to Nicholls.

“My years at my alma mater were wonderful because of the people I worked with and the students it serves,” Howell said.

Howell was a native of Paris, Ill., before coming to Nicholls to receive his bachelor’s degree in computer science, with minors in mathematics and business, before earning his master’s degree in applied mathematics from Clemson University.

He began teaching at McNeese State University before returning to Nicholls to teach computer science. He then served as director of institutional research, assistant vice president for academic affairs, interim vice president for academic affairs and associate provost.

Howell also served as interim university president, after the departure of former Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert in August 2013, until the appointment of current President Bruce Murphy in January.

Michael Naquin, chief financial advisor, retired June 6 after more than 35 years of service to the university.

Naquin is still serving as a temporary appointment while the university prepares its annual budget and searches for his replacement.
Murphy said, “He [Naquin] has taken us through financial good times as well as lean times, and done it superbly. He is well-respected, not only on campus, but also in Baton Rouge at the University of Louisiana System office, and he will be missed.”

Naquin is native to Thibodaux and is a certified public accountant. He graduated from Nicholls with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1978. He began his career at Nicholls in 1979, initially as a staff accountant. He was promoted to assistant controller, controller and was eventually named assistant vice president for business affairs and controller in July 2001, a position that later became the assistant vice president for finance.

His predecessor, Lionel Naquin Jr., Nicholls vice president for finance and administration emeritus, said he knew the university’s finances would be in good hands when Naquin took over.

“Through the years, Mike learned the ins and outs of Nicholls. There’s nobody there who knows better the intricate details of what it takes to keep that financial system going strong,” Naquin Jr. said.