Feb. 10, 2025
NATCHITOCHES – The Lola Walker Dunahoe Endowed Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies has been established by her family at Northwestern State University, honoring her lifelong commitment to education, philanthropy and service.
Through the Dunahoe family’s generosity, $600,000 in private contributions is eligible for $400,000 in matching funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund. Upon approval of the application for matching funds submitted to the University of Louisiana System and Louisiana Board of Regents, a permanent $1 million endowment will be created to support the endowed chair.
Earnings from the endowment will be used to attract distinguished scholars to the university, further enhancing NSU’s academic excellence and impact.
“Lola Dunahoe dedicated her life to service, education and the betterment of her alma mater and community,” said NSU President James Genovese. “Her impact on Northwestern and the Natchitoches community is immeasurable. This endowed chair will ensure that her passion for scholarship and academic excellence continues to shape the future of our students and faculty.”
The establishment of the Lola Walker Dunahoe Endowed Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies is a testament to Dunahoe’s extraordinary legacy. A native of Baton Rouge, she moved to Natchitoches in her junior high school years and graduated with honors from Natchitoches High School in 1968. She went on to earn dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics education and biology, both with honors, from Northwestern State University in 1971.
While her early career was spent teaching mathematics at Istrouma Junior High School in Baton Rouge and later at Natchitoches Central High School, Dunahoe’s passion for education extended far beyond the classroom. She dedicated her life to advancing educational opportunities, preserving local history and serving her community through leadership roles in numerous organizations.
Dunahoe had a far-reaching impact at Northwestern, including her service as president of the NSU Foundation, where she led the university’s first capital campaign, surpassing its $18.84 million goal by raising an unprecedented $32 million to enhance the institution. Additionally, as chair and CEO of the Board of Trustees of the Mary R. Gallaspy Charitable Trust No. 2, she oversaw the distribution of more than $11 million in scholarships to over 3,000 NSU students as growth of the Trust progressed to a current value in excess of $43 million.
In 2015, Governor-elect John Bel Edwards appointed Dunahoe to his Higher Education Transition Committee. In 2016, she was appointed by Edwards to the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, where she played a pivotal role in the selection of eight university presidents, including three at Northwestern. Her unwavering dedication to higher education earned her some of the university’s highest honors, including the NSU Distinguished Alumna Service Award in 2021 and induction into the Long Purple Line in 2022, the most prestigious recognition for Northwestern alumni.
Beyond her contributions to education, Dunahoe served as a member and officer of several philanthropic, preservation and service organizations, including the Natchitoches Historic Foundation, the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, St. Denis Garden Club and chapters AU and BK of the PEO Sisterhood. Her priority always centered on First Baptist Church, particularly its children and music ministries. In 2018, she co-chaired its $2.5 million restoration project.
As a member, president, and sustainer advisor of the Service League of Natchitoches she chaired the total restoration of the Prudhomme-Rouquier House, built in 1790, including solicitating and obtaining a $366,000 Save America’s Treasures grant that funded the restoration, then the creation of the Prudhomme-Rouquier House Foundation, serving as its first president. One of the cornerstones of Mrs. Dunahoe’s legacy will always be the St. Denis Art League, where she served for nearly 50 years as a director and then chair of its annual Spring Festival, which annually recognizes young ladies and gentlemen in their senior year of high school.
Of all her accomplishments, the greatest was her family. Dunahoe is survived by her husband of 53 years, Edwin Dunahoe; her daughter, Ashley Renee Dunahoe Reynolds and husband Jason; her sons, Jason Edwin Dunahoe and wife, Lexie; and Jared Ryan Dunahoe and his wife, Danielle, and nine grandchildren.
Reflecting on his mother’s commitment to NSU, her son Jared said, “Other than her faith and her family there was nothing more important to my mom than NSU. She firmly believed in the importance of NSU to the lives of the people of our community. She devoted a large part of her life to improving NSU and our family hopes the establishment of this endowment will continue to advance her goal of improving NSU and, most importantly, the lives of its students. Our family will be forever grateful to all of the wonderful people she worked with at NSU, and we would especially like to thank President Genovese for providing us with this opportunity to honor our mother.”
Edwin Dunahoe remarked, “Between the University and its Laboratory schools, Northwestern has contributed to every member of our family’s education. Lola cared deeply about providing every child a quality educational opportunity. She dedicated a significant portion of her life working to ensure Northwestern was the best university in Louisiana. We hope the establishment of this endowment will help future generations of NSU students to achieve their goals and obtain a great education.”
NSU Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Greg Handel emphasized the significance of the endowment in advancing academic excellence and honoring Mrs. Dunahoe’s legacy: “This endowed chair will not only honor her legacy but also enhance academic excellence, providing opportunities for faculty to engage in innovative research and teaching that will benefit our students for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for this investment in our institution and excited about the opportunities it will create.”
Through this endowment, Dunahoe’s family ensures that her spirit of service and academic dedication will live on, inspiring generations of scholars at Northwestern.
For more information about giving opportunities at NSU, visit https://northwesternstatealumni.com/waystogive/.
