NEWS

Former Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, Louisiana’s current Commissioner of Administration, has created a lively, funny, and entertaining presentation about why Louisiana differs from every other state in America — and every other place in the world.

He’ll share Why Louisiana Ain’t Mississippi Tuesday, March 14 at 1 p.m. in Howard Auditorium on the Louisiana Tech campus. All are welcome to the free event, made possible through the support of Tech graduates and longtime friends of the University Mr. and Mrs. James Davison.

Parking is available in the Ropp Center Parking Lot, 213 Wisteria Street, on campus.

Please register for the event here.

Dardenne said the title is “in no way a putdown of the state of Mississippi; I could have just as easily called it Why Louisiana Ain’t Montana, Or Anywhere Else.”

Instead, he said the presentation hopes to serve as a reminder that Louisiana, because of its cultural history, its geography, its demography and characters and politics, is “not like any other place,” he said.

More than two hours with music and visuals, the presentation includes a whirlwind tour of every parish, laced with fact, lore, and trivia. Why Louisiana Ain’t Mississippi explains that the cultural gumbo that makes Louisiana unique is not a delicacy recently created in a Creole kitchen; instead, the recipe was developed and seasoned long before statehood and the Louisiana Purchase and has simmered for the past two centuries.

The event is presented by the Management & Leadership Institute for the Universities of Louisiana (M&LI), a two-semester program for mid-career faculty and staff who aspire to broaden academic, professional or administrative leadership roles. Contact the Institute to get more information from a team member.