WDSU TV journalist to address Southeastern commencements
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND 鈥 Award-winning WDSU-TV news journalist Randi Rousseau will address Southeastern
Louisiana University graduating students at commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May
11.
She will speak at the events scheduled for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the University
Center, where the university will confer nearly 1,100 degrees on students who are
graduating with bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees.
鈥淎n alumna of Southeastern, Randi Rousseau鈥檚 journalism experience, professional
demeanor, and love of Southeastern are commendable. We strive to expose our new graduates
to exemplary role models through our commencement speakers,鈥 said Southeastern President
William S. Wainwright. 鈥淗er words of wisdom will be invaluable to the class of 2024.鈥
A 2005 Southeastern graduate, Rousseau has been a fixture on WDSU-TV, the NBC
affiliate in New Orleans, for more than 17 years. The versatile journalist was born
and raised in Ponchatoula and currently resides in the Crescent City.
鈥淚t is very humbling to be asked to give the commencement address at the alma
mater where I found my own footing,鈥 she said.
Rousseau began her career at WDSU as an intern in 2006 and quickly worked her
way up the ranks. She served as the morning traffic reporter and then general assignment
reporter before taking on the role of anchor with the launch of WDSU鈥檚 4 p.m. newscast
in 2009.
She has covered multiple hurricanes, the BP Oil Spill, the Covid Pandemic and
countless other events that have impacted the lives of viewers across Southeast Louisiana.
Her storytelling is 鈥渄eeply rooted in portraying the passion and culture of the people
of her home state, bringing their stories of inspiration and resiliency to viewers
across the region and the nation.鈥