UL Lafayette's magazine, La Louisiane, has a new student editor. Jared Perrio, a junior majoring in journalism, was selected for the position.
The student editor serves as a liaison with the student body and is engaged in most aspects of producing the magazine, which is published by the Office of Communications and Marketing.
Perrio said he looks forward to honing his writing skills and learning more about the university. "I can get different perspectives from experienced writers and from the faculty and students whom we write about," he said.
His career goal is to work as a newspaper reporter or a freelance journalist.
Perrio's minor is Cajun and Creole studies. As part of his coursework, he recently compiled a list of area accordion makers.
"In Acadiana, people often think of music as the backdrop to life, but these accordion builders are behind the musicians and the music. They are rarely given credit, but without them, Cajun music may not have survived. I was pleased to learn that there are still local apprentices learning the craft," he said.
Perrio, 26, is a U.S. Army veteran. He was an Army Ranger who completed his service with the rank of sergeant. He is taking advantage of education benefits provided by the GI Bill of Rights to attend UL Lafayette.
Perrio is a member of UL Lafayette's Rugby Club. For the past three years, he's spent his summers as a whitewater rafting guide on Colorado's Arkansas River.
Kathleen Thames, La Louisiane's editor, said Perrio’s “curiosity and maturity make him a great addition to the magazine."