NEWS

Louisiana Tech friends Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Congressman Mike Johnson will serve as the keynote speakers for Louisiana Tech University’s pair of 2023 spring commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 20, in the Thomas Assembly Center on the Tech campus.

Letlow will address the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, the College of Business, and the College of Education at their commencement at 9:30 a.m. Johnson will address the College of Engineering and Science and the College of Liberal Arts at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

Bill Bailey

Also, William C. “Bill” Bailey Jr., who graduated from Tech in March of 1987 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, will become the University’s newest Tower Medallion recipient and be inducted by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association into Tech’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

The Tower Medallion Award signifies membership in the Hall and is awarded to Tech alumni who have distinguished themselves by exceptional achievement, community service, and humanitarian activities.

Bailey is CEO of Radiance Technologies, the No. 1 small business provider for non-medical research and development services for the Department of Defense and one of the largest mid-cap companies in the industry.

Family and friends unable to attend commencement can watch the event via Facebook Live.

Congresswoman Letlow represents Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is Louisiana’s first Republican woman elected to Congress and the first woman to represent Louisiana in the House of Representatives in 30 years.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow

Letlow serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, holding seats on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. 

A native of Monroe, Letlow is a mother and professional in education who has dedicated her life to promote and advocate for higher education in Louisiana.

Letlow graduated from the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM), with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in speech communication. After completing her doctorate in communication from the University of South Florida, she returned to ULM as the ombudsperson and special projects coordinator for the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, where she contributed to the development of the university’s strategic plan. 

Letlow is raising her two young children in Start.

Congressman Johnson is currently serving his fourth term representing Louisiana’s 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He is Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference, a Deputy Whip, and a leader on the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. He is also appointed to the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, and previously served as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus in Congress.

Congressman Mike Johnson

Prior to his service in Washington, Johnson served in the Louisiana Legislature, and spent two decades serving as a constitutional law attorney and federal court litigator. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1998, and his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from LSU in 1995.

He and his wife, Kelly, a Licensed Pastoral Counselor, have four children, Hannah, Abigail, Jack and Will.