McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
McNeese State University was established by the Louisiana Legislature in 1938 and opened its doors for the first fall session on September 11, 1939, with 140 students and just three buildings. Originally named Lake Charles Junior College, it operated as a division of Louisiana State University. The following year, the institution was renamed John McNeese Junior College in honor of John McNeese, a renowned Southwest Louisiana educator and the first superintendent of schools in Imperial Calcasieu Parish.
In 1950, McNeese became a four-year institution under the authority of the Louisiana Board of Education, and in 1954 it earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The institution officially became McNeese State University in 1970.
Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, McNeese includes a 122-acre main campus; the 65-acre Doland Athletics Complex, home to the state-of-the-art Townsley Law Arena; the Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Center; the Center for Advancement of Meat Production and Processing; KBYS 88.3 FM Radio Station; and three working farms encompassing more than 1,200 acres dedicated to research, farming, and ranching. The main campus features more than 50 buildings, including its three original structures—Kaufman Hall, Ralph O. Ward Memorial Gym (the Arena), and Francis G. Bulber Auditorium, a striking example of Art Deco architecture listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For over eight decades, McNeese has been recognized as one of the finest regional universities in the South. It is a dynamic, student-centered institution, welcoming students from across Louisiana, the nation, and more than 50 countries.
Ms. Anna Grace Bizzle is an Academic Advisor for the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Secondary Education from Mississippi State University. Her favorite part of advising at McNeese is being a resource for students as they get used to the expectations of college and helping students pursue their degrees at such a wonderful school.