Southeastern Louisiana University recognized distinguished alumni recently at is annual Alumni Awards Evening during Homecoming week. Honored at the event were Rob Dugas, a retired business executive and part-time business coach and consultant, as the Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year and Nyoki Mokeba, director of equipment sourcing at Performance Contractors, Inc., as the Young Alumnus of the Year.
Dugas is a 1986 graduate of Southeastern. With a career spanning more than four decades, Dugas has built a reputation for leading with humility, innovation, and a genuine commitment to helping others reach their full potential. He began his professional career in broadcasting, serving as on-air talent at WHMD-FM in Hammond before joining Southeastern’s staff as KSLU radio station’s operation manager. He later transitioned into the restaurant industry, most notably with Chick-fil’-A, a move that would launch an accomplished career in operations, supply chain, and strategic leadership.
Mokeba graduated from Southeastern in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and in 2013 with a master of business administration degree. At Performance Contractors, he provides enterprise leadership for equipment sourcing, pricing strategy, capital planning, and asset profitability across the company’s operating divisions. During his tenure with Performance Contractors, Mokeba has helped transform equipment operations through innovative sourcing strategies, utilization analytics, pricing optimization, and contract governance.
The event also included recognition of distinguished alumni from the university’s academic colleges.
Recognized by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences was Brigadier General, USAF (retired), Former Commander, Air Force Officer of Special Investigations Amy Bumgarner. A Southeastern alumna, she earned a bachelor’s degree in government in 1991 and a master’s degree in history in 1994. Bumgarner entered the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant in November 1995 after graduating as a Distinguished Graduate from Officer Training School. Her first assignment was to the Air Force Pentagon Communications Agency as a communications-computer officer. She cross-trained into the AFOSI career field in July 1999.
Managing Director at Stifel’s Baton Rouge office and Owner and Founder of Summit Bike Academy, Toby Cortez was honored by the College of Business. Over more than 27 years in public finance, he has helped raise more than $10 billion for schools, universities, utilities, local governments, and other public institutions, advising clients on some of their most important financial and capital decisions.
The College of Education honored Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Educator Talent and Workforce Development for the Louisiana Department of Education Arthur Joffrion. He oversees educator credentialing, certification, preparation, evaluation, and teacher and leader development. With a career spanning 35 years, Joffrion began his journey in the classroom, first serving as a 6th grade teacher in St. Mary Parish.
Senior Director of Event Operations and Community Affairs for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, William Dede was honored by the College of Nursing. He develops and executes operational event plans for major sporting and city-wide events in the greater New Orleans area. Dede also serves as community relations liaison with the City of New Orleans for the local organizing committees and community affairs initiatives implemented by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.
The College of Science and Technology honored Dale Baker, a 1996 graduate with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. Baker currently serves as principal software engineer and group leader with Applied Research Associates, a national research and engineering company. Based in Baton Rouge, he leads ARA’s Software Applications and Modular Programming Group and has played a significant role in growing the company’s software engineering capabilities in Louisiana.
The College of Honors and Excellence recognized Timothy Reling, a first-generation college student and 2014 alumnus. Reling serves as an assistant research professor at Mississippi State University’s National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, where his applied research informs criminal justice and workforce policy across Louisiana and Mississippi. He conducts research on the collateral consequences of incarceration for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, where he has helped develop reentry assessment tools now used across the state’s corrections system to connect returning citizens with treatment and employment.
Other special awards were presented at the event including the Kathy L. Pittman Distinguished Service Award to Assistant Vice President of People Operations and Human Resources at St. Tammany Health System Amy Gowland; the L.E. Chandler Award for student assistance to Director of Southeastern’s Career Services Craig Marinello; and the Alumni Association’s Friendship Oak Award to Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company Vice President and Branch Manager Becky Ferrara.
