Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985-549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 4/22/02
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   28

Editors: Photo accompanies release
BETH COURTNEY TO PRESENT SOUTHEASTERN COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
     HAMMOND   Beth Courtney, president and chief executive officer of Louisiana Public
Broadcasting, will be the keynote speaker at Southeastern Louisiana University's May 18
commencement program scheduled at the University Center on University Avenue.
     Southeastern will confer more than 900 associate, bachelor's and master's degrees at the
10 a.m. ceremony. The university also will recognize the 2002 recipients of the President's
Awards, the university's highest faculty and staff honors for research, teaching, the arts and
service.
     Also at the ceremony, President Randy Moffett will present the university's prestigious
"Golden Ambassador Award" to retired 21st Judicial District Judge Leon Ford III of Hammond.
The award honors outstanding service, achievement and/or humanitarian efforts. Ford, a 1951
Southeastern graduate, has had a long association with Southeastern. In 1999, he endowed the
Leon Ford Family Endowed Chair in Regional Studies, now held by Southeastern history
professor Samuel C. Hyde Jr. 
     In 1996, Courtney was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Southeastern, which has had
an educational partnership with LPB Network for more than a decade. From 1990 to 1994, LPB
and Southeastern conducted a joint project that provided satellite-delivered college credit courses
leading to certification in English as a second language for more than 800 teachers from
Louisiana and nine other states. From 1994 to 1996, the two institutions expanded the satellite-
based program to transmit college courses leading to certification in special education for 450
Louisiana teachers. Currently, Southeastern offers telecourses throughout Louisiana through the
LPB Network, which includes stations in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake
Charles, and Baton Rouge. 
                             (MORE)
COURTNEY   Add One
     Courtney is past chair of the board of America's Public Television Stations (APTS) and
former vice chair of the board of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). She is co-chair of a
PBS/APTS board initiative to negotiate carriage of public broadcasting channels on digital cable
and direct broadcast satellites She has chaired the PBS education, membership, and common
carriage task.
     As an advocate and spokeperson for public broadcasting, Courtney  has testified before
Congress on numerous occasions, including the House Appropriations and Commerce
committees. She has appeared on William F. Buckley's "Firing Line," CBS "Sunday Morning,"
CNN's "Crossfire," and the "Freedom Forum." She shares her expertise as a broadcasting
professional on numerous telecommunications technology advisory committees on national, state
and local levels.
     Courtney has a bachelor's degree in history and speech and a master's degree in European
history and government from Louisiana State University and completed the University of
California/Berkeley's course in public broadcasting management. Prior to her appointment as
chief executive officer, she was LPB's executive producer. During her tenure numerous award-
winning programs were produced and aired statewide, nationally and internationally.
     Courtney began her career in broadcasting as a capitol correspondent, reporting on state
government and moderating numerous political debates. She was named Communicator of the
Year in 1984, elected Broadcaster of the Year by American Women in Radio and Television in
1988 and was one of the YWCA's Women of Achievement in 1991. She was inducted into the
Louisiana Center for Women in Government Hall of Fame in 1999. 
     She is active in many community and civic organizations, including Rotary, the Public
Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, Inc., Junior League Advisory Board, Leadership
Louisiana and is vice-chair of the WLAE board. She was appointed to the Governor's Task Force
on Telecommunications and the State Coordinating Council for Telemedicine and Distance
Education. She is a member and past president of the Baton Rouge Press Club, a member of the
State Technology Advisory Committee and a member of the Women's Network.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/news/spring02.html