September 17 …
Xavier University of Louisiana — founded to educate African Americans and Native Americans excluded from other institutions — has for more than a century combined Catholic mission with rigorous academics to advance social mobility, professional opportunity, and community leadership.
The institution was founded originally as a high school — known as Southern University of New Orleans — in 1915 by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. It was later renamed Francis Xavier preparatory school (after the cleric St. Francis Xavier) into a distinguished university. The school expanded into a four-year college and opened on September 17, 1925 and at that time became known as Xavier University of Louisiana.
The university’s founding mission — championed by Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament — was to offer higher education and professional training to Black and Native students during the Jim Crow era. This served to foster a just and humane society, while blending Catholic values with academic excellence.
The university launched a College of Pharmacy in 1927 and eventually first awarding bachelor’s degrees in 1928. It established a permanent Gothic-style campus in the 1930s. The curriculum emphasizes liberal arts, science, and professional programs, particularly in pharmacy and pre-medical fields, addressing social needs and aligning with Drexel’s educational vision.
Key contributors to Xavier’s success include the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Josephite priests, successive Boards of Trustees, faculty, alumni networks, as well as federal and philanthropic partners. The primary beneficiaries are generations of Black students and underserved communities who have gained unprecedented access to health-care professions, education, public service, and civic leadership.
Xavier consistently ranks as a top producer of African American graduates entering medical, dental, and pharmacy schools, maintaining a strong legacy of community health initiatives and civic engagement both in New Orleans and beyond.
The university and its leadership have earned numerous accolades and recognition. The canonization of Saint Katharine Drexel in 2000 highlights its founding legacy. Dr. Norman Francis, president from 1968 to 2015, has received national awards and civic honors for his contributions to education and civil rights.
Notable alumni of Xavier include:
- Mary Munson Runge (1948) — First woman and first African American elected president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
- Ernest Nathan Morial (1951) First African American mayor of New Orleans
- Marie McDemmond (1968) — First woman president at Norfolk State University
- Alexis Herman (1969) — First African American U.S. Secretary of Labor
The programs offered at Xavier University of Louisiana are frequently ranked nationally for producing Black graduates in STEM and healthcare fields, and both the campus and its Main Administration Building are featured on historic registers. This demonstrates Xavier’s lasting influence on American education, social justice, culture, and public life.
