NATCHITOCHES – A Natchitoches couple who are longtime supporters of Northwestern State University have created a professorship in the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts. The donation of $80,000 will be matched by the Board of Regents Support Fund to present the fully endowed Shawn and Linnye Daily Endowed Professorship at the $100,000 level. Interest generated by the endowment will fund faculty research, travel, professional development, software, equipment and other necessities to enhance classroom instruction.
Mr. and Mrs. Daily have been devoted supporters of CAPA and other programs and development initiatives at NSU. Mrs. Daily served two terms as president of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society, on organization in which the couple have been platinum underwriters for many years, and has served on the NNSS board of directors since its inception. Mr. Daily has also been an instructor of finance in NSU’s School of Business for many years. Last year he returned a portion of dollars he earned as holder of the Charles Ragus Chair in Business by donating it back to the NSU Foundation to support the Shawn and Linnye Daily Endowed Scholarship, along with a portion to support the Columns Fund. He created the scholarship to benefit students pursuing degrees in business fields, such as accounting, finance or marketing. Mr. Daily also previously served as chapter advisor and financial advisor to NSU’s Beta Omicron chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
Mrs. Daily, a pianist, loves music and has hosted Symphony events in their home, her husband said.
“Linnye thinks the world of CAPA programs and the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra,” Shawn Daily said. “Looking at the needs there, and considering her feelings towards CAPA, it made sense.”
“CAPA has wonderfully talented faculty and students, but they don’t have the number of professorships that other departments at NSU have. We very much appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Daily investing in NSU and CAPA in particular,” said Director of Development Jill Bankston, CFRE. “In addition, enough funds were leftover to also create a scholarship in the School of Business.”
According to Scott Burrell, director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts, the Daily Professorship is CAPA’s sixth professorship and will rotate between faculty in Fine and Graphic Art, Music, New Media and Theatre and Dance.
“CAPA is thrilled to have the Dailys fund an endowed professorship. They have always been proud supporters of CAPA and they have a played an integral role in the growth and continued excellence of our school,” Burrell said. “Their funding of the professorship will provide our faculty opportunities to enrich their knowledge and expertise, which in turn, will serve our students and community.”
Information on NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts is available at https://capa.nsula.edu/.
