LSUS business dean a finalist for ATHENA award to honor top female leader

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LSUS business dean a finalist for ATHENA award to honor top female leader

SHREVEPORT - Engagement.

If one underlying principle could best encapsulate LSUS College of Business dean Dr. Mary Lois White, her engagement of campus and community members has allowed her to play an impactful role in the Shreveport-Bossier community.

White is one 16 finalists for the ATHENA award, an honor that recognizes professional excellence, engagement in community service and active assistance of others, particularly women.

"I truly appreciate the recognition and am honored to be recognized with such tremendous community leaders," White said. "I love the Shreveport-Bossier community, and we are fortunate to have so many great organizations that actively work in many different areas to support its development."

All finalists will be honored at Thursday's ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon with one leader being selected as the ATHENA International Leadership Award recipient. The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce operates the event and the selection process.

Professionally, White leads a college of business that enrolls nearly 7,000 students, contributing to LSUS's recent enrollment records.

More than half of those business students are women.

One of White's most significant administrative achievements is her role in extending the college's accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which the most recent extension came this year.

With only six percent of business schools earning AACSB accreditation, LSUS is able to attract quality students both in person and online.

The College of Business successfully engages these quality students through programs like Pilot Pitch, which guides students in creating business plans and pitches for their new product, service or technology.

Pilot Pitch matches entrepreneurially-minded students with mentors in the local business community.

The program relaunched in 2022 through a partnership with the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program.

The Economic Dashboard, a product of LSUS's Center for Business and Economic Research, further engages the business community by providing access to valuable economic data that assists businesses in decision-making.

"Pilot Pitch has been a great way to engage with the local business community through the volunteer mentors who meet with the students to develop their proposals and for the finalists who present their final pitches to judges from our business community," White said. "The Economic Dashboard is not only a great source of information for our community members, but also a great conversation starter -- whether about interesting data points or learning what additional information our community needs access to.

"We have now also launched a Business Student Networking event for students to meet with local businesses leaders. Our goal is to continue expanding these opportunities for our students to help them develop the skills they need to be successful business professionals."

In addition to being involved with various internal LSUS committees, White served on the LSUS Women's LeadHERship Steering Committee, which developed a conference focused on women's health, empowerment and resiliency. The conference will be an annual event.

The 2023 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman nominee was personally engaged in the community long before ascending to the dean role in 2021.

Arriving as an economics faculty member in 2008, White quickly became an active member of Slow Food North Louisiana, where she currently serves as vice chair.

White is also involved with Robinson's Rescue (treasurer), the Philadelphia Center (past treasurer), Authors in April (chair) and People Acting for Change and Equality.

"My deep involvement with these organizations as a faculty member laid a strong foundation that has been invaluable in my transition to the role of dean," White said. "I am also fortunate to work alongside strong leadership teams in my professional and nonprofit work that enhance my ability to juggle these responsibilities.

"The relationships I have cultivated through my work with nonprofit organizations have proven instrumental in advancing various initiatives within the college. We are fortunate to have a vibrant network of LSUS alumni throughout northwest Louisiana."