[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING AN EXTRAORDINARY CITIZEN, DR. NEARI FRANCOIS WARNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2004

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
extraordinary citizen from the Fifth District of Louisiana, Dr. Neari 
Francois Warner, who will soon be retiring as acting President of 
Grambling State University. Dr. Warner's tireless service and genuine 
commitment to education, and to GSU, her alma mater, are remarkable and 
inspiring.
  In January 2001, Dr. Warner became the first female to hold the title 
of acting president of Grambling State University, a position she held 
with great honor and distinction for three years. In this short period 
of time, Dr. Warner successfully obtained 100-percent accreditation of 
Board of Regents-mandated programs, from 87 percent when she accepted 
the position. Under Dr. Warner's leadership, six endowed professorships 
and a mini college by the Division of Continuing Education were 
established. She also took the leading role attaining the unconditional 
reaffirmation of Accreditation by Southern Association Colleges and 
Schools at Grambling State University.
  Dr. Warner has shown many noteworthy accomplishments throughout her 
tenure at GSU. The Fall 2003 enrollment showed the first increase in 
three years, and retention rates increased system-wide and campus-wide. 
Under her leadership, funding was raised and groundbreaking began on 
the new Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building and Multi-
purpose Center. Additionally, Dr. Warner signed several strategic 
partnerships in distance learning and created student and faculty 
computer labs.
  I thank Dr. Warner for her outstanding contributions to the 
university and to our community and am proud to recognize her notable 
accomplishments and manifold contributions. I extend congratulations to 
Dr. Warner and best wishes for her future endeavors as she retires from 
acting president of Grambling State University.

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