03/05/2026
Last month, just after celebrating Mardi Gras, we lost Dr. Norman C. Francis, the longest serving university president in the nation. He proudly guided us at Xavier University of Louisiana from 1968 to 2015. We honor the life and legacy of a man who lived a remarkably influential life of service to us, Xavierites, and the ripple effect that came from his dedication. As a biology pre-med major, I spent probably 90% of my time at Xavier in the building named in his honor.
During the turbulent times early on in the Civil Rights Movement, he returned to Xavier, committed to helping more Black students to pursue medicine as a career. Throughout his more than forty years, the university has more than tripled its enrollment, broadened its curriculum, and expanded its campus. XULA remains #1 at placing African-Americans in medical school.
Dr. Francis also served as the chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the state agency in charge of planning the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. For his various avenues of service, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2006, and the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame in 2019. He received 35 honorary degrees from colleges and universities around the country.
If you ever wonder why HBCU Alumni geaux so hard for their school and the deep bonds created during that time, it’s because that time represents the 4-5 years in our lives in which we weren’t the minority, an affinity group, or an afterthought. It’s Black sacred ground and we hold that near and dear.
“Mr. Dr. NCF Building,” thank you for inspiring us and helping us to confidently move through the world… knowing we belong in any space we want. Your memory and legacy will always be remembered and treasured. ✨️💫
XavierProud xucentennial Nola HBCUlove