Audience members clap and watch as speakers reflect on Xavier University of Louisiana’s legacy during its centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Everyone deserves access to quality information. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Community members, local politicians and university faculty reflected on Xavier University of Louisiana’s impact on students and the local community during several speeches commemorating the 100th anniversary of the country’s only Catholic HBCU on Friday (Jan. 17).
Speakers discussed the contributions and generosity of St. Katharine Drexel, who founded Xavier in 1925, and former university president Norman C. Francis, who was the first Black and first lay president.
“What is most important to know is that we all stand on the shoulders of a couple of extraordinary people,” said Tim Francis, a Xavier alum and son of Norman Francis.
Francis, who is also the brother of Verite News executive director David Francis, said that Drexel was a “visionary” and a civil rights pioneer who dedicated her life to creating institutions around the country that would provide African Americans and Native Americans with an education.
PHOTOS: Xavier University celebrates its 100th anniversary
New Orleans City Councilmember Eugene Green (center, plaid tie) sits in the audience and smiles during Xavier University centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Xavier University provost Marguerite Giguette gives a speech during Xavier University of Louisiana’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Xavier University of Lousiana President Reynold Verret gives a speech during Xavier University of Louisiana’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-New Orleans) gives a speech during Xavier University of Louisiana’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Tim Francis, a Xavier alum, attorney and brother to Verite Executive Director David Francis, gives a speech during Xavier University of Louisiana’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Youma Diabira, the 89th Miss Xavier, gives a speech during Xavier University of Louisiana’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Xavier University of Lousiana students pose for a picture after the university’s centennial celebration downstairs outside of the University Center on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Xavier University of Lousiana President Reynold Verret (left) talks to U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-New Orleans)(right) at the university’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
Xavier University of Louisiana students gather outside of the University Center to partake in events and eat food after the university’s centennial celebration on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Credit: Arielle Robinson / Verite News
And he described his father as a working class young man when he came from Lafayette to New Orleans, a city where he “didn’t know a soul.”
Yet, Norman Francis went on to become a successful student and eventually the longest-tenured president in Xavier’s history.
Current university president Reynold Verret highlighted the multitude of public servants who graduated from Xavier.
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-New Orleans), who graduated from Xavier in 1986, also spoke highly of the university, saying its “determination to create space for academic and spiritual growth for African Americans and underserved communities has blossomed into a legacy of greatness.”
Xavier will hold more events to honor the centennial throughout the year, including a gala on May 8 and a mass commemorating Drexel’s canonization on Oct. 1.
Unless otherwise noted, you can republish most of Verite’s stories for free under a Creative Commons license.
For digital publications:
Look for the “Republish This Story” button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS).
You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style.
You can’t sell or syndicate our stories.
Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization.
If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook and @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter.
For print publications:
You have to credit Verite. We prefer “Author Name, Verite News” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Verite News” and include our website, veritenews.org.
You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style.
You cannot republish our photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor Tim Morrisfor more information).
Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories.
You can’t sell or syndicate our stories.
You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection.
Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization.
If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook and @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter.
If you have any other questions, contact managing editor Tim Morris.
Xavier University kicks off yearlong centennial celebration
by Arielle Robinson, Verite News New Orleans January 17, 2025