Meet the Board

Amanda has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Information Administration from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.  She also has her Masters in Healthcare Administration and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. 

Amanda is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as a member of the Board of the Acadiana Business Bureau for the last 11 years. She has also served on the LSUE Foundation Board for the last 3 years.  She has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field, which includes: Marketing and Public Relations, Medical Staff Services, Physician Recruitment, Physician Services, Employed Physician Practices, Maintenance and Construction Services, and various other departments.

As the Vice President of Marketing and Physician Services, Amanda is responsible for oversight of marketing, advertising and public relations for Opelousas General, along with physician services, such as medical staff credentialing, bylaws, committee meetings, physician recruitment, and 15 employed physician practices with over 50 employed providers.

David is the Chief Science Officer for DynaChem Research Center, LLC, committed to developing and supporting well-frac and completion technology. DynaChem Research Center, LLC is affiliated with Downhole Chemical Solutions, LLC, and Dynamic Chemical Solutions, Inc. David carefully examines the scientific aspects of well-frac and new product development in his role and offers analytical analysis commentary. As an active scientist and entrepreneur, he constantly innovates and files patents for his inventions while collaborating with development partners, either directly or indirectly.

David has a wealth of chemistry, biology, and physical sciences knowledge. He graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1976, earning his Bachelor of Science from the College of Biological, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences.

With 45 years of experience in the energy industry, David has focused on developing and commercializing chemical or process solutions for oil and gas and industrial operators, with particular expertise in industrial chemistry.

Tim is currently a Vice President in Commercial Lending with Rayne State Bank & Trust Co. Originally from Rayne, LA, Tim currently resides in Crowley, LA with his wife, Jami, their two kids, Jackson and Madison and the family's miniature Dachshund, Cooper.

Tim graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2005. In 2009, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and an MBA in 2014.  Upon completion of his MBA, Tim earned a diploma from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in 2016.

Tim is an outgoing, friendly person, and pride himself on being dependable, prompt and well-prepared. 

Growing up with a mother who was a devoted nurse and a father who instilled in her the importance of reaching out and making a difference, Lizzy was surrounded by compassion, community involvement, and volunteerism from an early age. Unsurprisingly, she found herself drawn to a healthcare career serving her community.

As Marketing Creative Director, she channels her creativity and compassion to foster growth and promote connections within the healthcare space. The Legacy Project at HOPE Healthcare and Hospice was inspired by her mother's passing after a battle with breast cancer. The development of Beth's Playlist further reflects the deep-rooted connection to Lizzy's "why" and demonstrates her unique ability to infuse empathy and innovation into her work.

Lizzy's journey toward professional accomplishment has been marked by loss but also by dedication and resilience; she started college later in life as a non-traditional student and ultimately graduated Magna Cum Laude the same week her dad passed away. Beyond professional roles, her involvement in civic and business organizations such as the Eunice Rotary Club,  Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce, Eunice Chamber of Commerce, Eunice Community Garden, and her position on The LSUE Foundation Board are examples of her commitment to actively engaging with the community and contributing to its welfare. Additionally, her initiative in co-founding scholarships for non-traditional college nursing students and high school students focused on community involvement and volunteerism reflects her dedication to nurturing the next generation of compassionate and engaged individuals. Lizzy and her husband, Willie, reside in Richard and share eight children - and six grandchildren.

A proud graduate of Eunice High School, Northeast Louisiana University and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center of Louisiana State University, Anthony “Kip” Bertrand, is passionate about his family, the community in which he lives and leads with the goal of creating a successful and positive business environment for his customers, clients and employees.

In his current role as President and CEO of Washington State Bank, since 2020, he started in banking and finance in 2004 as Vice President of Basile State Bank before becoming President and CEO of St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings in 2010. Prior to that his career in law included his own Private Practice of Law (1996-2010) serving as Assistant District Attorney for St. Landry Parish under Earl Taylor, 27th Judicial District Attorney, from 1997 to 2005, as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Aarron Frank McGee, Judicial District Judge, 1995-1996, Judicial Clerk or the Honorable Guy Holdbridge, Judicial District Court Judge, 1994-1995 and Law Clerk for the Louisiana State Department of Environmental Quality, 1993-1994. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar, a Louisiana Licensed Insurance Producer, Life, Property and Casualty, Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, the American Bankers Association, Louisiana Bankers Association and Board, and the Independent Community Bankers Association.

His devotion to his community has led him to serve on the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce, One Acadiana, Vision St. Landry, an active member of the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Woodmen Life, Eunice Rotary (former President) and currently the Immediate Past President of the LSUE Foundation Board, and a Foundation Board Member since 2019.

Jeffrey joined NeunerPate in 2009, and he is currently a partner, serving on the firm’s four-person management committee.

Jeff's primary areas of practice include admiralty and maritime, toxic tort and mass tort litigation, accident investigation, environmental litigation and regulatory matters (federal and state), commercial/business matters, and real property disputes. He has successfully represented clients in a broad range of matters including: Jones Act and General Maritime Law claims; asbestos/hazardous material exposures cases; catastrophic accident investigations; state and federal regulatory compliance and investigations (e.g., MSHA, OSHA, LDNR, LDEQ); environmental contamination/legacy, well blowouts, and mass tort suits; aviation matters (fixed and rotary wing); commercial/business disputes and general advice; disputes involving immovable property and related access rights (e.g., servitudes/easements, boundary disputes, passage/access, and agriculture/timber rights); and election law.

Jeff is admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in Louisiana, including the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.  He formerly served as Magistrate Judge for the City of Carencro and is former City Attorney for the Town of Washington.

Jeff has been happily married since 2010, and he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two boys. Raised in Ville Platte, Louisiana, Jeff enjoys almost all outdoor activities, including: hunting, fishing, hiking, CrossFit, snow skiing and coaching his boys’ sports teams. He is also active in several local non-profits and a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Angel’s Church.

Celeste Dossmann Gomez is a resident of Eunice, Louisiana.  Gomez is an alumna of LSU Eunice where she began her college studies in 1977 and LSU Baton Rouge, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 1981.  She was a faculty member and coach at St. Edmund School in Eunice for ten years.

Celeste held the position of Executive Director for the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission from 1997 until retiring in 2019.  During that time, she led the effort in marketing and positioning St. Landry Parish as a leading tourist destination.   She also served as President and Treasurer of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association, now LTA.  Celeste continues to serve as Member-at-Large of the Louisiana Tourism Development Commission. 

Currently, Celeste is a board member of the Association for the Liberty Theatre of Eunice and member of the Bulb & Blossom Garden Club, Cajun Prairie Habitat Preservation Society, and Petals of Mercy Theresian Community.  She and her husband, Jaime, are owners of Excel Fire Protection Systems Ltd. and are proud parents of two sons and three grandchildren.

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Michael J. LeJeune is the current Chief Executive Officer for Acadia St. Landry Hospital in Church Point. With over 18 years of healthcare experience, Michael began his career as a paramedic at Acadian Ambulance, obtained a degree in nursing, then served as an Emergency Room Nurse at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Director of Education and Clinical Manager for a remote occupational medical company, XstremeMD, and a hospice nurse for Hospice of Acadiana.  While working as a hospice nurse, he completed his MBA, where he transitioned, from clinical to business, by becoming the Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO of Hospice of Acadiana.

A native of Roberts Cove, Michael and his wife, Lainie, currently reside in Lafayette, with plans to move back to Acadia parish. He earned his Associate of Science Degree from LSU-Eunice and a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, as well as his MBA, from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Michael is involved in business and civic organizations such as OneAcadiana, Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, the Roberts Cove Germanfest Association, and now, the LSUE Foundation Board.

Caroline Marceaux MS, RN is a senior level nursing and hospital executive with over 25 years of experience, including diversified clinical department management that includes hospital operations in Woman and Children’s Services, Perioperative Services and Critical Care. Leadership Experience includes acute care and ambulatory nursing services, utilization management, quality and performance improvement, support services and hospital administration.  

Caroline’s currently serves as the AVP Nursing and Hospital Administrator at Ochsner Acadia General where she leads the operations, regulatory compliance, clinical outcomes, and physician engagement activities. Through Caroline’s leadership, patient experience was improved, there was significant improved in quality, patient safety, and clinical outcomes, while also improving operational efficiency.  

Marceaux obtained her BS from the University of Louisiana Lafayette and her MS from the University of South Alabama. Marceaux is also a Lean Six Sigma Certified Green Belt Elite and has a passion for process improvement and organizational efficiency.  

Marceaux has been recognized for professional involvement at local, state, and national levels. She previously served on the Goodwill Industries Board of Directors from 2015-2018, serving as the 2017 Board Chairperson. Caroline also serves on the LSUE Foundation Board, currently serving as the nominating committee chair. Caroline also served as Region 4 (FIMR) Fetal Infant and Maternal Death delegate, LAHART Region 4 Committee Member. She also served on the 2015 Go Red for Woman Executive Team to raise awareness and funding for heart disease in woman. Caroline served on the Nurse Leadership Steering Committee which developed the first Nurse Leadership Institute which is now held annually. She continues to serve as faculty. Marceaux participated on the Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce Woman in Leadership Panel in 2024. She is also an active member of the Louisiana State Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, American Organization for Nursing Leaders, and the Louisiana Organization for Nursing Leaders, currently serving on the LONL Board as the Acadiana District Delegate.

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Melissa is a native of Iowa, Louisiana. She earned her Associate of Arts (Business) from LSU Eunice, Bachelor of Business Administration (Management) from Loyola University in New Orleans, and Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge.

Melissa was previously a partner at Simien & St. Mary, LLC (Lake Charles) and Pitre Law Firm (Opelousas) where she practiced in the areas of personal injury, successions/probates and general business services. Currently, Melissa serves as District Judge for the Office of Workers’ Compensation, District 3, in Lake Charles.  

For over 35 years, Jennifer has been a noteworthy leader in the world of public service. National, state, and local officials in Louisiana know her primarily as a passionate advocate for the city where she served as mayor for three (3) terms – City of Ville Platte, Louisiana.

Upon completion of her secondary education, Jennifer graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Master of Public Administration at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs at Southern University. She would continue her life’s pursuit of education by completing the Senior Executives in Local and State Government Executive Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) and International Studies-SMU-in-Oxford at Oxford University (Oxford, England).

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Patrick C. Morrow, along with his late brother, John Michael Morrow, founded the Morrow & Morrow Law Firm in 1975. Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik has expanded to 8 attorneys, with the firm focusing on personal injury law, maritime law, and class action litigation. Mr. Morrow serves as senior partner of the firm. Patrick received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from LSU in 1969, and his Juris Doctor Degree from the LSU Law Center in 1972. 

He is admitted to practice before all Louisiana Courts, including the Louisiana Supreme Court and U.S. District Court of Appeals for the 5th and 11th Circuits. He is admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. 

Patrick is active in the legal profession, and is a member of the St. Landry Parish Bar Association, Counsel of Directors for the Louisiana Association of Justice, American Bar Association, Lafayette Parish Bar Association, Bar Association of the 5th Circuit, Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Trial Lawyers Honorary Society, and the Louisiana State Bar Association, where he served on the Medical/Legal Interprofessional Committee. He has been recognized as one of the best Attorneys in America and was listed in Acadiana Magazine as one of the top Lawyers in Acadiana in April 2018. 

He is a Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Fellow of the John M. Duhe, Jr. American Inns of Court, Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. 

Patrick has been recognized as “Best of the Best” Attorney in St. Landry Parish and has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell. In 1995, Mr. Morrow was appointed Judge Pro Tempore of the 27th Judicial District Court by the Louisiana Supreme Court and served as a District Judge in St. Landry Parish. 

As an active member of his community, he was awarded the Distinguished Citizens Award by the Evangeline Area Council of Boy Scouts in 2003 and was awarded the Elks Club “Citizen of the Year” in 2011. 

In 2015, Patrick and his wife, Alice, were the recipients of the Philanthropy Award presented by Community Foundation of Acadiana, which annually recognizes individuals, couples and/or businesses as “Leaders in Philanthropy”. As stated by the CFA, “These Honorees have made a significant Philanthropic impact in their communities throughout the Acadiana region in their benefit to non-profit organizations, Churches, Schools, and other important Community initiatives.” 

In 2016, The Louisiana Association of Justice presented the Stalwart Award to Patrick, which recognizes association members who have given extraordinary service to the Association and the legal profession. 

Mr. Morrow was appointed by former Governor Kathleen Blanco to serve on the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. (2005 – 2011), serving as Chairman in 2008. 

He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Law and Politics annually since 2008, and has also been awarded Lifetime Achievement Membership to America’s Top 100 Lawyers. 

Patrick was appointed to the Louisiana Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct/Class Actions Committee, and presently serves as a member of that committee. 

He also served on the LSU Law Center Board of Trustees from 2005 to 2007. 

The law firm of Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik is deeply involved in the community, and has established fifteen college scholarships annually of $2,500.00 each, awarded to St. Landry and Evangeline Parish students. The firm urges the recipients of the scholarships to complete their degree and hopefully return to St. Landry and/or Evangeline Parish to begin their careers. 

In 1984, the Morrow Family established the J. Michael Morrow Memorial Scholarship Fund at the LSU Law Center. 

Mr. Morrow serves as a member of the Hospital Service District #2 of St. Landry Parish, and served on the Opelousas General Health System Board of Trustees (2012 – July, 2020). 

As plaintiff’s lead counsel in the Crawfish Class Action litigation, Patrick was instrumental in having the court award a $300,000.00 Cy Pres endowment to the LSU Law Center for students who reside in one of the parishes where crawfish are farmed. 

Mr. Morrow is married to Alice Palazzo Morrow, and they are the proud parents of three children and nine grandchildren. Mrs. Alice, as well as their three children, all graduated from LSU. 

William F. Tate serves as president of LSU. He holds faculty appointments in sociology (primary), psychiatry and behavioral medicine (clinical), epidemiology (secondary), and population and public health (secondary) at the Baton Rouge campus, LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center respectively. 

As president, he provides overall leadership, vision and direction for all the LSU campuses across Louisiana. The LSU system is dedicated to providing a positive learning environment that enables students to achieve their full potential. It includes the LSU Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge (the premier flagship university for the state); campus units at Alexandria, Eunice, and Shreveport; Health Science Centers in New Orleans and Shreveport; LSU Agricultural Center; and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. 

As the chief executive and academic officer of both the LSU system and the LSU flagship campus in Baton Rouge, the LSU president provides strategic and collaborative leadership in developing and advancing aspirational goals and plans to achieve LSU’s mission of fostering first-class learning, the discovery of innovations, and the development of Louisiana’s human capital by applying research and scholarship in advancing intellectual, personal, and professional growth. 

The LSU system has more than 55,000 students, including 12,000 graduate students and 2,000 professional students in the Health Centers. There are 3,000 full-time-equivalent faculty members, including 1,340 tenured or tenure-track. The LSU system has an endowment with a market value larger than $900M, about $350M in annual research expenditures, and more than 200 active licenses. 

Tate has served as Executive Vice President for Academic Affair and Provost, while holding the Education Foundation Distinguished University Professorship at the University of South Carolina. Prior to that, he served as a department chair and dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education at Washington University in St. Louis from 2002 to 2020. In addition, he held the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professorship in Arts & Sciences. Prior joining Washington University in St. Louis, he served as the William L. and Betty F. Adams Chair at TCU and as a tenured faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  

At South Carolina, Tate oversaw the 13 schools and colleges on the University of South Carolina Columbia campus, UofSC School of Medicine Columbia, and the UofSC School of Medicine Greenville, as well as being responsible for the overall leadership of academic affairs of the university, including curriculum development, program assessment, establishment of academic standards and university accreditation. 

During his time at University of South Carolina, Tate launched Carolina Online as the university’s comprehensive effort to deliver degree programs and professional credentials online; established the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program, which offers postdoctoral fellowships with the specific aim of increasing faculty diversity and research productivity on campus; and guided in collaboration with the Faculty Senate the development of a “Founding Documents” course for incoming freshmen. 

Tate earned a Bachelor of Science in economics with a minor in mathematical sciences from Northern Illinois University, Master of Arts in mathematical sciences education from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a Ph.D. in mathematics education with a cognate in human development from the University of Maryland, College Park. Subsequently, he was awarded the Anna Julia Cooper post-doctoral fellowship to study social and public policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed a second postdoctoral fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine, where he earned the Master of Psychiatric Epidemiology degree. Tate is the recipient of numerous research recognitions including elections to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, National Academy of Education, Sigma Xi, and Fellow status in the American Educational Research Association (AERA) as well the association-related honors including a Presidential Citation, the Distinguished Scholar Award in Mathematics Education and Distinguished Contributions in Education Research Lifetime Achievement Award-Division G. 

Dr. Sorenson joined Louisiana State University Eunice (LSUE) in June of 2019. She has an expansive career in higher education and previously served in executive and leadership positions in Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida, in Tucson, Arizona at Pima Community College and at the IVTC Community College system in Indiana. Dr. Sorenson’s career focuses on student learning and advocacy, workforce and economic development, enrollment management and leading strategic initiatives.

 

Dr. Sorenson’s guiding principle is that “two year colleges create opportunities to upward mobility for every citizen”. Recent work that demonstrates her dedication to this is: the selection of LSUE as one of seven two year colleges in the country to be selected by Achieving The Dream ™ as a Rural Cohort Institute to prepare citizens for The Future of Work; serving on the Executive Council of the Louisiana MJ Foster Promise Program, the selection of LSUE as a 2021 Awardee of the Delta Regional Workforce Foundation; leading the continued expansion of Allied Health Programs with major healthcare providers in the Acadiana area, facilitating expanded partnerships with local school districts, and fostering a campus wide culture focused on student success.

 

Active in the community locally and nationally, she serves on the Senate District 28 Advisory Committee for Senator Heather Cloud, Commission on Women’s Policy and Research, as a board member for Acadian Medical Center, Vision St. Landry of the St. Landry Economic Development District, the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce, the Eunice Chamber of Commerce, the Acadiana Planning Commission, One Acadiana, Ellevate Louisiana and a board member of the Higher Education Research, Development and Innovation (HERDI) South Board. She is a member of the National Board of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). She completed the Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Agency Counseling at Indiana State University and holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.

 

She is the proud mother Sarah Lile and Eric Sorenson and grandmother to Carter and Addison Lile.

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