We are pleased that you will be joining us as we continue the journey that began over 141 years ago when a group of free people of color and former slaves, with the support of the Missionary Association of the Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ) and the Freedman’s Aid Society of the United Methodist Church, founded Straight University. In 1930, New Orleans University and Straight College merged to form Dillard University.

Dillard University has triumphed over many challenges over the years, but none greater than its near destruction caused by the breeching of the levees during Hurricane Katrina five years ago.  The campus was submerged in up to ten feet of murky, diseased flood waters. It was weeks before the flood waters receded enough to allow us to access the buildings and assess the damages, of which there were many.

With hard work, perseverance and tenacity, our Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters and students banded together to ensure that Dillard University would return bigger and better than ever! And we have!

This past year, Dillard University entered into a new teacher education training program with the New Orleans Recovery School District that will, we are hopeful, revolutionize teacher education in New Orleans, and eventually throughout the state.  Under this program, our students who choose to become educators can participate in paid internships during their junior and senior years, followed by an intensive training summer program that will result in teacher certification.  This will afford our students multiple opportunities upon graduation – to work in their major field of study, enter graduate school, or teach.

Because of Katrina, every building at Dillard is now new inside.  All of the labs and technical facilities and requirements are currently state-of-the-art.  We have also completed construction on two magnificent energy-efficient, Gold LEED* Certified buildings that will house laboratories, a moot courtroom, amphitheater, and the first ever student union on Dillard’s campus. We have come a long way!

Through challenges and disasters, it is imperative to rise to new heights. As you walk the beautifully landscaped campus it is hard to imagine that five years ago there were no rose bushes, and the lawns were brown, having endured toxic water for weeks.

We survived. We triumphed. We rebuilt. We are Dillard University, and our best is yet to come!

*(LEED) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design is an internationally recognized green building certification system. It ensures that a building was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.