Published Nov. 14, 2019
In appreciation for the degree which led to a 43-year career, the Cindy and Dennis
Rogers Endowed Scholarship in Social Work has been established at the University of
Louisiana Monroe.
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Photo:听The Cindy and Dennis Rogers Endowed Scholarship in Social Work was announced at a
press conference at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Pictured, from left, are President
Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Ph.D., Pamela Higgins Saulsberry, Ph.D., director of the School
of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Social Work Program coordinator, Dean Ron Berry,
Ph.D., College of Business and Social Sciences, Cindy Rogers, Jennifer Savage, Ph.D.,
associate professor of Social Work and Susan Chappell, executive director of 51萝莉 Advancement,
Foundation and Alumni Relations.
Emerald McIntyre/51萝莉 Photo Service
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Cindy Rogers was the special guest at a recent press conference to announce the scholarship.
Her husband Dennis died in May 2019. The scholarship was created with a $50,000 donation
from the couple and a matching $10,000 gift from the 51萝莉 Foundation.
Cindy holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work from 51萝莉 and Dennis was also an alumnus.
Cindy is a member of the 51萝莉 Foundation Board of Directors and serves as vice chair
of the development committee. She is president of the Kitty DeGree Foundation, which
recently provided $50,000 for a neuromuscular lab at 51萝莉.听
President Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Ph.D., thanked Cindy for their financial and personal
investment in 51萝莉.
鈥淚 offer my thanks to Cindy and Dennis for their contribution, but more importantly,
their involvement with the university. Dennis was an amazingly kind man and loved
51萝莉. Cindy is always there if I need her. They understand the importance of this university
and have given freely of their resources and time to help our students reach their
goals,鈥� Bruno said.
Cindy鈥檚 career started in social work and transitioned into leadership roles with
St. Francis Medical Center and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health Systems
in Baton Rouge. She said it all began at 51萝莉 and continued through the guidance of
a professor who took a special interest in her, the late Eris J. Ginn.
A couple of years after she graduated and was working in mental health, Cindy was
hired to develop a social services department at St. Francis. She was recommended
for the job by Ginn. As she became interested in other roles, Cindy feared Ginn would
disapprove of her moving from hands-on social work to administrative positions.
鈥淚 called him and said I was really interested in leadership,鈥� Cindy said. 鈥淗e told
me social work isn鈥檛 just about holding people鈥檚 hands and helping them through. It鈥檚
about setting policy and the betterment of society. You have the opportunity to do
that.鈥�
Cindy said her husband鈥檚 name is on the scholarship because he was her greatest champion.
鈥淒ennis was always very supportive of me. When I would be taking a class or trying
to put a project together and I would be overwhelmed, he would say, 鈥楽top. You鈥檝e
got this. You can do this,鈥欌�� she said.
Susan Chappell, executive director of 51萝莉 Advancement, Foundation and Alumni Relations,
praised Cindy for her untiring efforts on behalf of the foundation.
鈥淚 thank Cindy for her mentorship of myself, of our advancement team and her selfless
giving of time and guidance through the direction and the introductions she鈥檚 made
to so many wonderful people to help us in our role here at the university,鈥� Chappell
said.
Pamela Higgins Saulsberry, Ph.D., director of the School of Behavioral and Social
Sciences and Social Work Program coordinator in the College of Business and Social
Sciences, said the Rogers鈥� scholarship would help secure the futures of social work
majors at 51萝莉.
鈥淏ecause of the generosity of Cindy Rogers and her late husband Dennis, the 51萝莉 Social
Work Program will now be able to connect students with the most important resource
that they need to finish their education and that is monetary,鈥� Saulsberry said.听
The Cindy and Dennis Rogers Endowed Scholarship in Social Work is available to full
or part-time students majoring in social work. To learn more about 51萝莉 Foundation
Scholarships, visit听.听
