Seven LSMSA employees to be honored at retirement reception

Shirley Dobson worked at Northwestern State University for 26 years before she began her career at the Louisiana School in September of 2016. After working as Administrative Assistant for LSMSA Executive Director Steve Horton, she announced her retirement, which was official in January of 2020.

 

Dr. Victor Feske, Senior Lecturer in European History, worked at LSMSA for 22 years before retiring in August of 2020. He joined the faculty in 1998. He received his Ph.D. in European History from Yale University. His areas of specialization include the history of modern Britain, diplomatic and strategic history, European intellectual history, the history of the second world war and the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth.

 

Ruth Prudhomme began her state service at Northwestern State University in 1991 and left there as the Bursar. She came to LSMSA in 2000 as Comptroller and is retiring as Associate Director/Comptroller. She is a graduate of NSU and the University of North Alabama. During her career at LSMSA, Ruth always kept the needs of the students paramount, as well as the staff and faculty. She successfully negotiated, navigated and maintained a successful operating budget, ensuring the school was a good stewards of its appropriated funding.

Lucille Washington worked as a custodian at LSMSA from July of 1984 through October of 1992 and January of 1994 through October of 2019.

Renowned mathematician, educator and mentor, Mike McGrath, retired after 32 years of service as educator, department chair, and representative to the LSMSA board. During his long career as an educator, he taught advanced concepts in every level of mathematics from Geometry to Calculus II, and for more than 20 years at LSMSA, he served as chair of the Department of Math and Computer Science. He achieved the school’s highest faculty rank of senior lecturer, and in 2013, he was elected by his peers to serve as the faculty representative to the school’s Board of Directors, a role in which he spent six years. 

In retirement, McGrath hopes to travel more and spend time with his grandchildren.

 

Science Lab Technician Ken Stevens retired in October of 2020 after 36 years. Ken started working at LSMSA when the school first opened its doors in 1983. Ken has served as a lab technician, stock room manager, and a sponsor for the chess and anime club. He’s a Natchitoches native and a product of Natchitoches Central and Northwestern State University. 

 

Physical Plant Supervisor Chuck Stoker began the next chapter in his life in April after 29 and a half years of serving LSMSA and the State of Louisiana. Chuck kept the physical plant of the school humming along - even during the big budget cut years. Chuck is looking forward to spending more time fishing, riding motorcycles and traveling with his wife Mimi.