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Professor Michelle Thompson, Dean Susan Krantz, Sen. Mary Landrieu and Acting Chancellor Joe King during Landrieu's campus visit.
United States Senator Mary Landrieu toured the University of New Orleans campus on Saturday, April 16 to see the improvements made as part of the University’s “Students First” initiative. Sen. Landrieu, as well as Sen. David Vitter and then-Congressman now Governor Bobby Jindal, was instrumental in helping to secure more than $2.2 million in federal hurricane recovery money for this most recent series of upgrades to UNO’s lakefront campus.
The improvements include campus-wide wireless Internet access; technology upgrades to labs in music, fine arts, engineering and math departments; and new equipment and furnishings in the University Center, career counseling center, health services center and the UNO Lakefront Arena.
“UNO offers an extremely high quality education at an affordable price, which makes it key to the recovery of the greater New Orleans region,” Sen. Landrieu said. “I never ceased to be amazed by the level of research taking place at UNO, and the opportunities it creates for students.”
During the tour, Sen. Landrieu was escorted by UNO officials including Acting Chancellor Joe King, College of Liberal Arts Dean Susan Krantz and Vice Chancellor for External Affairs Rachel Kincaid.
Sen. Landrieu also attended an on-campus strategic planning meeting on the Lower 9th Ward with Michelle Thompson, UNO assistant professor of planning and urban studies. Thompson has spearheaded Whodata.org, a powerful community data internet mapping service launched by the UNO Department of Planning and Urban Studies. Whodata.org allows citizen groups to contribute and track information on the progress of New Orleans’ neighborhoods; it is a powerful tool in identifying and eliminating blight.
“I am particularly impressed with the important work taking place in the Department of Planning and Urban Studies, and am going to support it every way I possibly can,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Further, I have urged the Governor and Legislature to embrace and build this unique and critical capability.”