NEW ORLEANS – May 1, 2025 – Dillard University is proud to announce that Gwendolyn Victoria Rainey, a distinguished business professional, community leader, and cultural visionary, has been selected by the Dillard University Honorary Degree Committee to receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during its 2025 Commencement Ceremony.
A native New Orleanian, Ms. Rainey has dedicated her life and career to breaking barriers, building community, and preserving New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Economics from Xavier University of Louisiana, she embarked on an extraordinary journey through the corporate world — becoming the first African American woman to serve as a Trader in the Municipal Bond Department at Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs. Over her 21-year career in the financial sector, she worked with global corporations such as The World Bank, Merrill Lynch, and Goldman Sachs, traveling extensively, including to Wall Street and South Africa with the African Development Bank. Transitioning into public service, Ms. Rainey made significant contributions across the judicial and nonprofit sectors. Her roles have included Chief Deputy of New Orleans First City Court, JDAI Coordinator at Orleans Parish Juvenile Court advocating for youth justice reform, and Program Associate at the Children’s Defense Fund, where she supported early childhood
education and legislative advocacy for children and families.
Ms. Rainey’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through her leadership in her family’s business, Rainey’s Restaurant and Catering, a beloved New Orleans institution for over 50 years. She and her brother later expanded the family legacy by becoming certified vendors at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Her most celebrated achievement is founding the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale (MKFF), the first Mardi Gras krewe established specifically for women of color. Since its founding in 2013, MKFF has grown from 52 members to nearly 1,900, providing a powerful and visible platform for Black and Brown women within New Orleans’ iconic Mardi Gras tradition. Rainey’s lifelong connection to Mardi Gras, nurtured by her father’s decades-long involvement with the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, inspired her to create a space where “little brown and Black girls could see themselves in Mardi Gras.”
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms. Rainey has been a tireless public servant and civic leader. She has worked on numerous political campaigns, graduated from leadership programs such as the Metropolitan Area Committee and the Council for a Better Louisiana, and received recognitions including YWCA Role Model (2000) and Woman of the Year by the American Women’s Business Association.
“Gwendolyn Rainey’s pioneering spirit, unwavering commitment to community, and visionary contributions to New Orleans’ cultural landscape embody the values Dillard University holds dear,” said Dr. Monique Guillory, president of Dillard University. “We are thrilled to honor her remarkable legacy and welcome her into the Dillard family.”
The 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, on Dillard
University’s historic campus.
