Dr. Marvalene Hughes, who became the first woman president of Dillard University and led the historic New Orleans HBCU through one of the most devastating natural disasters in American higher education history, died. Hughes’ presidency, which began July 1, 2005, was immediately tested when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast barely one month into her tenure. The catastrophic storm would define her legacy as a leader of uncommon resilience and determination. As Katrina approached and mandatory evacuation orders were issued, Hughes acted decisively to ensure student safety, arranging transportation to Shreveport. The storm left Dillard’s 55-acre campus with more than
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