NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will hold formal investiture ceremonies for James T. Genovese, the university’s 21st president, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25 in A.A. Fredericks Auditorium.  NSU alumni, supporters and friends are invited to join students, faculty and staff in the celebration.

James. T. Genovese

The investiture is one of many special events set to take place during NSU’s Homecoming weekend Oct. 25-26 as the university’s celebrates the 140th anniversary of its founding in 1884.

Genovese is a former associate justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court.  Since taking office in August, he has met with students, alumni and school supporters, toured NSU’s campuses in Shreveport, Alexandria and Leesville and participated in many student and community activities.

Genovese is a lifelong resident of Opelousas and a 1971 graduate of NSU. He was a four-year letterman in tennis and was named to Who’s Who Among Universities and Colleges, Who’s Who Among Greek Fraternities and Sororities of America and Outstanding College Athletes of America. He was also president of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and involved with Interfraternity Council, Student Government Association and intramurals.

Genovese received a juris doctorate from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1974 with honors in property law and engaged in the general practice of law in Acadiana from 1974-1995 where he served as past president, vice president and secretary-treasurer of the St. Landry Parish Bar Association. His judicial career began as a judge ad hoc of the Opelousas City Court from 1975-1989. He was elected district judge of the 27th Judicial District Court for St. Landry Parish in 1995 and served as district judge through 2004, whereupon he was elected to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. He served on the appellate court from 2005-2016. He was elected Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, commencing January 1, 2017.

Genovese was a panelist, speaker and lecturer at conferences and continuing education seminars on recent updates, professionalism, ethics, summary judgment, writs and appeals, practices and procedures of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals and judicial review in the Louisiana Supreme Court.  He served on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Judicial Council Appellate Court Work Point Values Working Group and the Trial Court Committee to Review the Need for Judgeships and as chairman of its Long-Term Subcommittee and was the Supreme Court’s Appointee to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission. Genovese is a board member of the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society.

Genovese was inducted into the Long Purple Line, NSU’s alumni hall of distinction, in 2018.

Mrs. Genovese, the former Martha Anne Janes, also attended Northwestern State as a nursing major, but chose a military career and retired as a staff sergeant in the Air Force. In addition to five daughters, they have four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Following the Investiture, the campus and community will convene at a luncheon and induction program for six new members of the Long Purple Line. The lunch will be at the Natchitoches Events Center.  Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. Tickets are available at www.nsulalongpurpleline.eventbrite.com.

More information on Homecoming activities and events is available at www.northwesternstatealumni.com.