Knightly News

“We offer transformation.” Dr. Xavier Cole, President of Loyola University in New Orleans

Episcopal students and faculty recently had the opportunity to learn more about Loyola University in New Orleans from the school’s 18th president. In his second year leading the Jesuit university, Dr. Xavier Cole participated in an Episcopal College Counseling breakfast. It was an incredible chance for students and faculty to gain a better understanding of the university’s philosophy, which Dr. Cole says aligns well with the Episcopal mission.

A Reputation of Excellence

Senior Lauren Jack, who sported Loyola gear for the event, has long been interested in attending the school. “I was drawn to Loyola because of its location,” she says. “New Orleans is lively enough that if I wanted to, I could go out and have fun, but I still have the protection, security, and privacy of the campus.” She says she appreciated the opportunity to interact with Loyola leadership. “It was sort of a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she says of sharing a meal with Dr. Cole. “It was really interesting to be able to meet him. We talked about Episcopal, our interests, and any small questions we had.”

“This was a tremendous opportunity for our students and faculty and speaks well to the strength of an Episcopal education,” says College Counseling Director Justin Fenske of hosting Dr. Cole. He says the College Counseling team maintains strong relationships with Loyola administrators, and Episcopal graduates have had much success at Loyola. “Over the years, we have laid the foundation for a relationship that benefits our students,” says Fenske. “When Episcopal students represent the school well on the university level, it creates a reputation of excellence and opens the door for future students.”

A Passion for Service Sparks a Lifetime of Leadership

Enthusiastic and sincere, Dr. Cole shared how he became involved with Jesuit education. He recalled a college classmate who was “on fire” to do service and how that friend and other Jesuit-educated classmates walked differently in the world. With his curiosity piqued, Dr. Cole dedicated his dissertation to examining the development of lay leadership on Jesuit campuses. According to the Loyola website, after decades in university management, Dr. Cole is now the first person of color and the second layperson to lead Loyola.

As the school’s president, Dr. Cole values the culture on the Loyola campus. “You feel the strength of our community,” he advised. “Your student will be known, and their gifts and talents will be cultivated.” Part of cultivating those talents means maintaining a service-oriented and inclusive environment. “Because people know we respect our faith, they know we’ll respect theirs,” Dr. Cole advised.

After learning more about Loyola’s commitment to service, Lauren, a leader of the Global Initiative to Volunteer and Educate or GIVE Club, looks forward to continuing service efforts in college. “Having ways to interact with my community or peers in a positive way (preferably in a way that is not your classic tutoring) is more or less mandatory for me,” she says. Another important aspect of college life for Lauren is theater. “Loyola has a beautiful theater and a good theater program, which I have a lot of experience in,” she says. “It wouldn’t make sense for me to have a lot of honors in theater and not do something with it in college.” In addition to theater, Lauren is also interested in psychology, Spanish and neuroscience.  With more than 100 degree programs offered, Lauren is sure to find her right fit at Loyola.

The Right Fit

The College Counseling team often advises students to look for that right fit university, the school that will meet their long-term goals while providing the quality of life they desire. This is traditionally accomplished through campus visits and extensive research. Thanks to Episcopal’s reputation of excellence and a strong college counseling program, students may also find themselves experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime meeting that confirms their university choice.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.