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Kristine Calongne has turned her love for LSU into a full-time career. Calongne has been with the university’s public affairs department for more than 14 years, rising from a student worker to the head of the organization.

“I’m a Tiger from birth,” Calongne says. “I’ve been very lucky to get a real breadth of professional experience without having to leave LSU.”

Calongne says what’s kept her at the job for so long are the things that happen each day. This year has been no exception, as the university has replaced its chancellor, seen new deans come in and dealt with Hurricane Gustav.

“Every year has its own challenges,” she says.

One of the biggest challenges turned out to be one of Calongne’s professional high points. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, she was in charge of letting the media know what LSU was doing to help people in the aftermath. That included bringing reporters and photographers into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, which had been converted into a field hospital, and into residence halls that were housing displaced family members of students.

“It was tough to watch people go through the hurricane and all the difficulties that it created for people in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the whole state,” she says. “But I felt I was really making a difference by showing people the positive influence LSU was having to help a really, really difficult situation.”

Because of Calongne’s work, the school’s public affairs department was nominated for a Silver Anvil Award, the highest honor from the Public Relations Society of America. She and other staff members traveled to New York for the ceremony.

“I love LSU so much, it was just an honor to be up there representing the school,” she says. “It’s so rare to be acknowledged at that level. We were up against agencies with a lot of money and a lot of manpower.”

Age: 36

What is the one thing Baton Rouge can do to help attract and retain highly educated young people?

“Continue to draw new businesses here, like EA Sports. That’s a great example of a new business coming to town. Also, to continue to improve and revitalize downtown. If you’re going to bring new people, especially young people, they need a place to hang out with their friends.”

Click here for the complete list of 2008's Forty Under 40 winners.