Low turnover ratio: Gov. Bobby Jindal has started his new term in office with little upheaval among his staff. Rather than making sweeping changes to the circle of people who lead his executive branch agencies, Jindal has retained more than a dozen cabinet secretaries as his second term began this week, including Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater, the governor’s top budget architect who oversees the day-to-day operations of state government. The governor, however, did hire a new leader for his emergency preparedness office: former St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis. He also named a new leader for the Louisiana National Guard after the previous adjutant general retired.
Porche named president: The dean of the nursing school at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, Demetrius Porche, has been elected president of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. He will serve as the board’s president this year and next. The board sets curriculum requirements and standards for licenses, approves nursing education programs, sets nursing standards and is in charge of licensing nurses. Porche was appointed to the state board by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Thiel dies at 91: The Public Affairs Research Council announced today that Art Thiel, past president, has died at the age of 91. Thiel died Saturday, Jan. 7, at his home in Wilkesboro, N.C. He first joined PAR in 1959 as research director, eventually becoming president in November 1975. He retired in November 1984. Thiel’s family will hold a celebration of his life at the Holiday Inn Express, 10989 Siegen Holiday Circle, on Jan. 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. A graveside memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Port Hudson National Cemetery, 20978 Port Hickey Road in Zachary.
SLU staff taking shape: New Southeastern Louisiana University football coach Ron Roberts announced Tuesday the additions of Greg Stevens as offensive coordinator and Pete Golding as defensive coordinator to his program. Both coaches served in those capacities under Roberts in each of the past two seasons at Delta State. Stevens has a previous coaching stop in the Southland Conference, serving three seasons as Stephen F. Austin’s offensive coordinator (2002-04). Golding is a native of Hammond who played at Delta State before coaching there.
