University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Liberal Arts

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

Dr. Foster to Speak at Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center on September 19.

Speaker Series: Forgetting and Misremembering Black Life in Louisiana Through Civil Rights: The McDonough Three & Ruby Bridges

WHAT: Presentation by Dr. Theodore Foster
WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2026
TIME: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: 315 N. Main Street, Opelousas
CONTACT: Patrice Melnick 337-948-2589; [email protected]

Join us for a presentation of the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail by Dr. Theodore Foster on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The presentation will take place at the Opelousas Museum at 315 N. Main Street, Opelousas, LA 70570.

Dr. Foster will discuss how the making of the Louisiana civil rights trail reproduces broader problems with remembering the modern civil rights movement through tourism, racial icons, popular images, individual names, and events. The talk asks, what genres of black life fall in and out of the narrative of civil rights then and now...in Louisiana and beyond?"

Dr. Theodore Foster III is an Assistant Professor of History and Black Studies at the University of Louisiana. Currently, Dr. Foster is on sabbatical as a post-doctoral Civil Rights Scholar research fellow with the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina and will return to UL in Civil Rights TrailFall 2027. His work explores the U.S. Black Freedom Movement and Civil Rights Movement history, political theory, and Black visual culture. Dr. Foster holds a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Northwestern University, an M.A. in African American and African Studies from Ohio State, and a B.A. in African American Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Foster’s presentation is a part of a speaker series titled Opelousas, Up Close and Personal. The Speaker series is funded by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ 2026 Rebirth Grant and will cover topics pertaining to Opelousas’ rich history. Other presentations in the series cover topics such as indigenous peoples of Opelousas, the Yambilee and Yamba Celebrations, the Civil War, and local participation in the Civil Rights movement.

Funding for the 2026 Rebirth Grant has been provided by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by this organization do not necessarily represent those of either the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities or the State of Louisiana.

For more information, contact Patrice Melnick 337-948-2589; [email protected].

08/27/2026

Mark your calendars! Award-winning novelist Brandon Taylor will be this year's fall keynote speaker for the Levy Humanities Series on September 23rd. Both the reception and the talk are free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase at the event and
there will be a signing after the talk. Hope to see you there!

https://louisiana.edu/news/novelist-brandon-taylor-will-open-levy-lecture-series-semester

08/27/2026

We had a great turnout for this year’s State of the College! The event showcased successes across the College of Liberal Arts, celebrated the achievements of our faculty and students, and highlighted upcoming priorities, including new faculty mentoring and council initiatives and the expansion of our peer mentoring program.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

08/24/2026

Welcome back, students!

07/16/2026

If you are interested in expanding your liberal arts skill set, then visit https://www.careeraccelerator.louisiana.edu/

06/28/2026

Amazing coverage in the New York Times of the tremendous work that Josh Caffrey is doing at the Center for Louisiana Studies to help preserve Cajun French through AI. Link in comments.

06/19/2026

On June 19, 1865, news of freedom finally reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom, even when declared, has not always been immediate or equal.

Today, we remember that history, honor the resilience it took to endure it, and continue the work toward a more just and informed society.

06/16/2026

“...[A] champion for this culture long before it was in style, and she never needed credit for it,” said filmmaker, photographer and Creole Culture founder Milton Arceneaux referring to acclaimed journalist and historian, Ruth Foote. Ruth lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday, June 9.

Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, Foote remained deeply rooted in Acadiana’s Creole community. She used her voice, her time, and her skills to provide a voice for those often silenced.

After graduating from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a Bachelor of Arts in English (Journalism), she worked for local publications such as Opelousas Daily World, The Advocate, and The Current. Her diligence contributed to the publication of Creole Magazine launched in the 1980s.

After returning to UL Lafayette to obtain her master’s degree in public history, Foote published her thesis as the book, “Just as Brutal but Without All the Fanfare: African American Students, Racism, and Defiance during the Desegregation of Southwestern Louisiana Institute, 1954-1964.”

Foote was a champion and friend to many, and while she is gone, her work will continue to speak volumes for the people and the region she cherished.

Lafayette, LA - Funeral services for Ruth Foote are scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, for 1200 A.M. at Kinchen Funeral Home Chapel -- 1011 N Saint Antione Street. Visitation will be from 1000 A.M. until time of service.

05/25/2026

Today, we take a moment to pause and remember the brave individuals who have given their lives in service. We honor their sacrifice, the families who continue to feel its impact, and the gratitude we carry for both.