The Nunez History Lecture Series: Hurricane Katrina, a Community College and a Community

About the Book

This is the story of a community college – and a community – through the lens of a signature series of events, the Nunez History Lecture Series. The community of St. Bernard Parish, served by Elaine P. Nunez Community College, was devastated by the greatest natural disaster ever to hit the United States, Hurricane Katrina. Before August 29th, 2005, Nunez Community College was a small college with a typical mission. Afterward, it became a symbol of an entire region’s efforts to rebuild. This story of the Nunez History Lecture Series mirrors the story of a fiercely independent community. It is a story of survival – with all the attendant hopes, fears, exaltations and disappointments.

About the Author

About the Author Ron Chapman serves as Professor of History at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, Louisiana. The college is located near the actual site of the Battle of New Orleans. Professor Chapman recently received the Preservation Award for 2011-2012 from the Louisiana Colonials, the Nunez Community College Excellence in Teaching Award for 2004 and the Meraux Endowed Professorship (2009). He has also received numerous community service and academic honors over the years including nine awards from the Louisiana Press Association for “Best Regular Column” for the St. Bernard Voice, the local community’s official journal for which he was written for over twenty-eight years. He has composed articles in Louisiana Life Magazine : “Fazendeville”, the story of a lost African/ American community (2004) and “How Louisiana Became a State” (2012) as well as a publication in New Orleans Magazine : “A Queen Falls” the story of the fall of New Orleans in the Civil War (2012). He has also written for numerous other publications and organizations. In addition, he regularly delivers lectures to a variety of associations including the Nix Library’s Bicentennial Lecture Series and the Nunez Community College History Lecture Series, The Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the War of 1812, The Roundtable Club, and the Louisiana Colonials. In addition to his regular classes, Mr. Chapman has made presentations before Regional and National Conventions of the Community College Humanities Association and the Southwest Historical Society. Professor Chapman possesses a special love for the rich history of Louisiana. Undoubtedly, Louisiana’s story is one of the most unique state histories in the Union. As he tells his students at the opening of his Louisiana History class… “This is not Kansas, Dorothy!” His story of the Battle of New Orleans reflects this unique flavor of local history.